The Library’s rare books and manuscript collections are housed in closed stacks and are non-circulating. (Researchers may not browse the stacks or borrow books.) No appointment is necessary to use the collections, however researchers are encouraged to contact the Research Services staff before visiting. Some collections are stored off-site, and researchers will need to make an appointment to consult those collections.

What You Will Need

• To register: Photo id
• To request books: author, title, and call number
• To request manuscripts: collection name, collection number (MSS#), and box numbers (or bound volume (BV or OBV), oversized folder (OP), or reel numbers)
• To request University Archives records: series name, series number, and box numbers (or bound volume (BV or OBV), oversized folder (OP), or reel numbers)
• To request microfilm reels: collection name, collection number (MSS#), and reel numbers

Please see Finding Books, Manuscripts and Audiovisual Materials for information about how to find call numbers, collection numbers, and box or other item numbers.

Researcher Registration

• Researchers must complete and sign an application form once each fiscal year (Sept-Aug) and must provide a photo id. No letter of recommendation/credential is required.
• Researchers must also sign the daily register during each research visit.

Requesting Materials

• To request materials, researchers must complete the appropriate call slips or request forms and submit them at the MARBL reference desk. Staff pull materials throughout the day.
• Researchers who know which materials they would like to start with can email the list of materials to the MARBL Research Services staff (marbl@emory.edu). The staff will try to have the materials pulled in advance of the researcher’s visit.

Reading Room Regulations

• Only materials directly related to the research project at hand and to note taking are permitted in the reading room. Paper, note cards, pencils, laptops, and PDAs (if they are being used to take notes or for reference purposes) may be taken into the reading room. No cases, bags, backpacks, purses, food, beverages, cameras (or other personal a/v equipment), or extraneous notebooks or papers are permitted in the reading room.
• Researchers may take cell phones into the reading room if the phones do not ring and if they agree leave the reading room when they place or answer a call. Researchers may not use the cameras in their phones to take pictures of materials or of the reading room.
• Researchers may lock their belongings in the self-service lockers provided for that purpose.

Care and Handling of Materials

• Manuscripts and books may not be leaned on, written on, folded, traced over, or handled in any way that might damage them.
• No pens or ink of any kind may be used in the reading room. Pencils are the only approved writing instrument.
• Books will be placed in book supports to protect their spines.
• Only one box is permitted on the table at a time. Only one folder of manuscripts should be removed from the box at a time. Folders must be kept flat on the table and the pages must be kept in order.

Internet Access and Computers

• Public computer terminals in MARBL provide the same level of connectivity and electronic services as the Infocommons and other public computing spaces in Emory’s libraries. Researchers not associated with Emory will be able to search Emory’s online catalog (EUCLID) and will have access to the internet through standard browsers.
• Researchers who are affiliated with Emory (and have an Emory login and password) will be able to access the internet through Emory’s wireless service.
• The reading room is equipped with outlets (110/120 Volts) that can be used to power personal computers. MARBL does not provide converters.
• MARBL does not sell or otherwise provide floppy disks, CD-Rs, zip disks, computer paper, or other computer related supplies.

Cameras and Video Recorders

• Researchers and visitors are welcome to photograph and videotape the public areas of MARBL, with the exception of the reading room.
• Unless otherwise noted, visitors may take pictures or shoot video of the exhibits.