Clarke Historical Library Hours & Policies
The Clarke Library has a variety of special policies, offers a number of specialized services, and maintains a schedule of hours that is different from that of Central Michigan University’s University Library. Please press the following buttons to learn more about:
| Clarke Collecting Policy (adopted July 8th 2005 | Search Fees |
| Use of the Library | Digital Reproduction Policy and Fees |
| Moving Image Reproduction Policy and Fees |
Hours
The Clarke Library is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. The Clarke Library is closed on legal and University holidays.
Use of the Library
Although the library is funded by Central Michigan University to serve as a resource for the campus and scholarly communities, the general public is also welcome to use the facility. However, because of the rare nature of much of the library's collection, material may only be used in the Clarke Reading Room (no material may be checked out). The library is also closed stack, meaning that users are not allowed to browse the shelves. Users who visit the Clarke are asked to follow several special rules.
Reading Room Regulations
Identification may be required.
Patrons may be limited to using only one item at a time.
Only pencil may be used for note taking.
All material must be handled with care.
Tracing of maps or other material is not allowed.
Photographs may be taken only with permission.
Coats, parcels, and backpacks must left in a designated area.
Photocopying is available at the discretion of the library staff.
The library staff reserves the right to inspect personal material which has been brought into the reading room.
The staff is committed to working with users to make their visit to the Clarke as productive as possible, however the nature of the collection itself does require us to impose these rules to ensure that the material will be available for future users, and future generations.
Digital Reproduction Policies and Fees
Photocopying Policy and Fees
Photocopies of library material can be made. Because many of the items are fragile, one-of-a-kind pieces that represent significant preservation challenges, library staff make all copies. If, in the opinion of the staff, it is impossible to copy an item without causing damage to it, the staff reserves the right to refuse to copy that item. The library staff will also refuse to copy an item if, in the staff's opinion, the request would violate U.S. copyright law.
Patrons who visit the library and personally identify the material they wished copied are charged fifteen cents per copy image. Photocopy orders are processed in the order in which they are received. If the library is busy, or if an order is placed late in the day, it is sometimes not possible to fill an order while the patron waits. If this situation occurs the patron has several choices:
The patron may return at a later time to pick up the photocopies.
For pre-paid orders of 25 copies or less, the library will mail the copies without assessing any additional charges to the patron. The material will be mailed first class (or its equivalent) via the USPS.
For order for which prepayment is not received, or in cases where the order exceeds 25 copies, the library will mail the material to the patron charging a minimum of $1.00 for shipping or handling, or actual postage, whichever is greater, in addition to the photocopy charges. Material will be mailed first class (or its equivalent) via the USPS.
Patrons who mail or email their requests to the library, requiring the library staff to find the required material, are charged twenty-five cents per image. Patrons who request us to download and mail to them hardcopy of material found on our web page will also be charged twenty-five cents per 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper printed.
Reproduction policies and Fees
Because of recent changes in support services, the library staff cannot at this time arrange for photographic copies of material to be made. Currently, digital images made from photographic material can be made..
In some instances individuals may be allowed to make photographic or digital copies of material using their own equipment. Such copying, however, must be approved in advance by the library staff.
Patron fees for photographic or other images selected by patron and scanned for personal use copies in the Clarke by are as follows:
$3 for each scanned image, if original image measures 8.5x11 or smaller.
$9 for each scanned image, if the original image measures more than 8.5x11.
$2 shipping & handling fee if not delivered electronically.
$1 for each additional CD required (as many images will be put on a CD as possible).
Moving Image Reproduction
DVD’s, VHS, and similar formatted materials of less than 1 hour in length can be copied for $15, if consistant with copyright law. Eight and 16 mm film copying costs will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Clarke Historical Library Collecting Policy
Adopted July 8, 2005
Preface
The Clarke Historical Library emphasizes the preservation and collection of documents in three areas:
The History of Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory
Children’s Literature
The Archives of Central Michigan University
The collecting policy governing activities in these areas is outlined in this document. Unless otherwise stated, the criteria listed below apply to items purchased by the Library, gifts solicited by the Library, and material offered to the Library that has not been solicited.
When gathering printed material, the Library seeks to obtain hardback editions over paperback editions and original editions over reprint editions. The Library will, however, obtain an available paperback or reprint edition of any item deemed important to the collection when a hardback or original edition is unavailable. When a paperback or reprint edition has been purchased instead of the original volume, the Library will continue to seek the hardbound or original edition. Generally the Library will, in general, not obtain multiple editions of the same work. Exceptions to this policy will be made, however, when a new edition represents a substantive revision of a previous work (e.g., "new and revised").
This policy statement is intended to guide future acquisitions of material by the Library. It is not intended that material currently held by the Clarke will be deaccessioned if that material does not fall into criteria established by this policy.
The History of Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory
The Clarke Historical Library seeks published and archival material directly related to the history of the state of Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory.
Time Period Documented
The Library seeks to document geological, biological, and human activity within the Old Northwest Territory and Michigan. Documentation of human activity will be collected from the first Native American settlements until each portion of the Old Northwest Territory was admitted into the Union as a state. The Library will neither attempt to document the history of a portion of the Old Northwest Territory after its admission into the Union (Ohio, 1803; Indiana, 1816; Illinois, 1818) nor to document those portions of the Territory that remained after Michigan's admission to the Union in 1837 (Wisconsin Territory).
The Library seeks to document the state of Michigan from its admission into the Union until the present.
Printed Material
The Library will seek to obtain monographic or serial printed items, including relevant government documents and fiction, that primarily discuss the geological, biological, and human history of Michigan or the Old Northwest Territory, regardless of where these items were published. In general, the Library will not obtain works that tangentially or occasionally discuss Michigan or the Old Northwest Territory. With one exception, the Library will neither seek a comprehensive collection of all items printed in Michigan, nor of all Michigan authors. The Library seeks to acquire a comprehensive collection of Michigan imprints issued before 1850.
Newspapers
The Library seeks a broad collection of both newspapers documenting Michigan communities and those published in the Old Northwest Territory. In general the Library will collect papers via the Clarke Library’s Microfilm Program, filming selected papers as funding becomes available and making user copies of the film accessible. The Library will, on occasion, buy microfilm of newspapers considered critical to the documentation of the state from other sources.
Archival Material
The Library seeks to obtain archival material (personal manuscripts and archival records) that were created by people from or institutions in Michigan or the Old Northwest Territory. In the case of individuals this means that a significant portion of the individual's life was spent in Michigan or the Old Northwest Territory. In the case of institutions it means that the institution was either wholly located within the state or the Old Northwest Territory, or its senior officers were headquartered within the state or the Old Northwest Territory, and thus played a significant role within the state or the Old Northwest Territory.
Emphasis will be placed on collecting material relating to business history, rural life, and Native American life. These areas of collecting will be nonexclusive, and however, material on other topics will also be welcomed.
Non-Textual Material
The Library accepts material in all formats including audio recordings, computerized records, maps and other cartographic records, postcards, and visual items such as photographs or audiovisual material in accordance with the criteria outlined above for textual material. With one exception, these types of materials will not be a primary focus of the Library. Because of the Library's preeminent collection of Michigan birds-eye views, the Library will continue to add material in this area when that is possible.
Out-of-Scope/Declined Material
In cases where the Library declines to accept gift material, the staff will make an effort to suggest another repository to the donor.
Children’s Library
The Lucile Clarke Memorial Children's Library was established by Dr. Norman Clarke, Sr., in 1972.
The Library will continue to develop and maintain an exemplary collection of significant books through which children obtain literacy skills or through which literacy skills are improved. These books will represent both fiction and nonfiction (readers) published for children. The collection consists of:
1. Authors of American children's literature whose works were published fifty or more years ago or which have been published more recently and have received regional, national, or international recognition, such as the Newberry Medal, awarded by the American Library Association, the Phoenix Award, given by the Children's Literature Association, or the Society of School Librarians Language Arts International Awards.
2. Selected K-12 textbooks with an emphasis on textbooks used to introduce young children to reading.
3. Illustrators of children's books whose works are represented in original form in the Children's Library, or other illustrators whose work is of recognized national or international importance, or which helps place in context the work of illustrators whose original art is owned by the Children's Library. To determine illustrators of national or international importance, the Library will use as the primary indicator awards made to illustrators. Examples of awards given to illustrators of national or international importance include the Caldecott Award given by the American Library Association, the Hans Christian Andersen Award, presented by International Board on Books for Young People, and the Kate Greenaway Medal, presented by The [British] Library Association.
Time Period Documented
For the purposes of this document fifty years refers to the date of a specific volume’s first publication. In the case of textbooks and of works created by illustrators, acquisitions may be less fewer than fifty years old.
Non-Print Material
The Library will not collect nonprint children’s items (with the exception of original illustrations drawn for children’s books) as outlined in the Molson Art Endowment.
University Archives
The Library serves as the archives for Central Michigan University. The archives will seek to document the University’s activities, as well as those of its faculty, staff, and students.
To accomplish this goal, staff members will work with appropriate University offices (currently Internal Audits) to identify in the University records schedule “permanent records” of historical value to be placed in the archives. The University archives will also accept records of University offices and those of current and former university employees. These may include faculty papers, and papers as well as other records of CMU alumni, or other individuals who have attended the institution, that are of permanent historical value but do not appear on the records schedule.
The Library will accept both printed and archival material that documents CMU.
Search Fees
As with all patron search requests, Clarke staff will search for a half hour gratis for images to be copied. However, if a patron desires that staff spend additional time searching for materials to be copied, the Clarke will charge $20 for each additional half hour the staff search. The patron will be notified of this fee after the first (free) half hour of research has ended. If the patron agrees to pay the fee, the paid search will be implemented. If the patron does not agree to pay the fee, the search will end. This fee will be charged in half hour increments.
Under no circumstances will Clarke staff do paid genealogical research.
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