POLICIES & PROCEDURES

See a floorplan of the Society's reading room.

Policy Statement: The Lancaster County Historical Society Library provides a reading room environment that is conducive to study and research and provides for the security and preservation of the historical society’s collections. The following regulations are designed to ensure that all patrons and visitors are able to make effective use of the historical society’s resources and services. It also helps to ensure a professional work environment for staff. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a number of measures up to and including suspension of visitation and usage privileges.

Hours of Operation: We are open on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (the archives close at 6 p.m.) and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Saturday archives service is dependent on staffing). We are closed on Sunday, Monday and major holidays.

Entrance Fee: Use of the library and archives is free to members. Non-members are asked to pay a daily membership fee of $5.00 per person. Students are admitted free. An adult must accompany children under 15.

For the benefit of all patrons and staff, patrons are expected to comply with the following:

• All patrons are asked to register at the historical society reception desk;
• All personal materials including purses, briefcases, bags, knapsacks, etc., must be deposited in a free locker (and are subject to inspection). All outerwear and hats must be hung in the coatroom. Staff approval of personal materials essential to research activities must be granted before research begins;
• Lockers are provided for temporary, daily use by patrons;
• Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Loud or disruptive children and adults with them may be asked to leave;
• All historical society collections material must remain in the reading room or other space designated by a staff member;
• Most of the library’s collection is in closed stacks. Items from closed stacks may be requested by filling out a request slip and submitting it to a reference staff member;
• All materials in the open stacks in the reading room are available for patrons’ access and use. Patrons are asked not to re-shelve material, but to leave items on a table, on the reference desk, or on the small table at the end of the reference desk;
• Staff reserves the right to examine research materials, personal notes, etc., at any time.
• Photocopy machines are available and are self-serve; photocopies are .25/page, payable at the reference desk; manuscript material cannot be photocopied; support the weight of books while photocopying;
• To help ensure the long-term preservation of the collection’s resources, the historical society permits patrons to use personal digital cameras to photograph material in its holdings. The fee for digital camera use for photographing library collections material is $5/day.; personal scanners and video cameras are not permitted; For more information regarding our digital camera policies CLICK HERE. To download a copy of our Condition Agreement for Digital Camera Use, CLICK HERE.
• Microfilm reader/printers are available for patron use; printing cost is .25/page, payable at the reference desk; the historical society reserves the right to schedule or restrict use of machines during times of high use; To download a copy of our Microfilm Scanner Policy, CLICK HERE.
• Use of USB/flash/thumb drives with the microfilm reader/scanner is not permitted;
• Time and usage of patron terminals may be restricted for the maximum convenience of all patrons. Sending and receiving e-mail is not permitted;
• Patrons will keep the volume of their conversations as low as practical while in the reading room;
• Patrons will use earphones with all audio/video and computer equipment with sound;
• Cell phones must be on silent or vibrate mode; patrons must exit the library to use phones;
• Animals (other than service animals) are not permitted in the reading room;
• Any violation of federal, state or local laws, ordinances or regulations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The following regulations apply to the handling of collections material:

• Books should be removed from the shelves gently by grasping the whole volume in your hand; do not pull a book off the shelf by pulling at the top (head) of the spine;
• Books should be supported evenly and placed flat on tables – not on the table edge, in a lap, propped up against other books, or upside down;
• Original archives, manuscripts, rare books and other special collections material must be used at the designated table and are the only materials permitted for use at that table;
• Patrons consulting special collections at the reserved table are permitted to have only one notebook or notepad at the table; staff reserves the right to examine personal material;
• Notes may be taken only with pencil, audio recorder, or personal computer; pens or highlighters are not allowed in the reading room;
• Please do not make marks on materials, or take notes on top of materials; please no tracing, and do not place books or other objects on top of materials;
• Please wear cotton gloves provided by historical society staff when viewing original archives or manuscript material or objects.
• The historical society may restrict use of fragile material and may limit the number of items retrieved;
• Existing arrangement of unbound materials must be preserved at all times; advise staff of any materials you believe to be out of order but do not change the order.

Behavior that interferes with library services, staff, patrons and activities is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Disorderly or disruptive conduct;
• Obscene, profane, intimidating or abusive language or acts;
• Sexual advances;
• Possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs; intoxication;
• Mutilation, defacement, or theft of historical society property;
• Use of furniture, library equipment, and/or facilities in a manner for which they were not intended or designed;
• Harassing or threatening others;
• Selling, soliciting, or mass distribution of materials;
• Smoking, eating, or drinking;
• Sleeping;
• Loitering;
• Violation of rules concerning use of library materials.