Policies

Information for Researchers:

Appointments are recommended for using any of the collections or items, to ensure that the Special Collections will have someone available at the appointed time, and that an item or collection is available for use. Some items may be undergoing processing or conservation measures and unavailable at that time.

Genealogists should be aware that the Special Collections does not contain standard genealogical works. There are select family histories, some family papers, and Civil War Regimental Histories that might contain some information about a particular soldier or officer. These can be identified through the library online catalog. There are also microfilms of area and some national newspapers available in the library, for obituaries.

Photocopy Policy:

Reproduction of materials is guided and governed by considerations such as donor restrictions, condition and intrinsic value (uniqueness, rarity, costliness). The Special Collections reserves the right to limit the size of duplication requests and will not reproduce an entire collection. Patrons and researchers needing to consult large quantities of material should plan to conduct preliminary research on-site. The use of portable photocopiers, scanners, recorders and other equipment to copy materials by a patron or researcher is not permitted without prior approval. Items deemed too fragile to photocopy or reproduce without risking damaging the materials in any way cannot be reproduced.

The Special Collections cannot provide multiple photocopies or reproductions for remote patrons. Remote requests for up to five photocopies or scans will be taken into account, based on the concerns and conditions of paragraph one. Patrons onsite may request photocopies or scans of some items that can be duplicated without damaging them. In many cases, Special Collections staff will do the photocopying or scanning at the patron’s expense and as time permits. If the reproductions are to be used in a publication, or broadcast the recipient must get permission from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga via the Request for Permission to Publish, Exhibit or Broadcast Form, and agrees to give proper acknowledgment to the Special Collections of Lupton Library, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The Special Collections of Lupton Library reserves the right to refuse a reproduction request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the request would involve violation of copyright law. Copyright law protects unpublished as well as published materials. If you wish to use either published or unpublished materials from our collections in a publication, you must determine whether the work has passed into public domain and is no longer under copyright protection or find the copyright holders and get permission to use the material. It should be clearly understood that the supplying of copies of manuscripts and the giving of permission to publish by the Special Collections of Lupton Library is not to be construed as a transfer of literary rights.

Copyright:

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research. If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Permission to Publish, Exhibit or Broadcast:

Permission to publish, exhibit or broadcast materials owned by the Special Collections in Lupton Library must be requested and granted in writing. The Special Collections at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga reserves the right to refuse permission to individuals and publishers who have not complied with its policies. The Special Collections requests a copy of any publication that arises from material housed and used in the Special Collections.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections material. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. The recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, its officers, employees and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions and expenses arising out of the use of reproductions provided by the Special Collections.

For more information, call (423) 425-2186 or email: archives@utc.edu