Requirements during your visit:

Northwest Room users may bring with them a laptop or tablet, cell phone, handheld camera, pencils (no pens), and paper to the table. Food and beverages are not allowed at any time. A locker is available to store your other items for the duration of your visit.

The Northwest Room’s records and manuscript holdings are non-circulating and stored in closed stacks. Northwest Room staff will retrieve and return materials requested by researchers.

The Northwest Room’s collections are rare and often irreplaceable and should be handled with extreme care. Plan to arrive with clean hands. For certain materials, it may be necessary to wear gloves provided by Northwest Room staff.

Archival materials must lie flat on the tables or using book cradles under staff guidance. If you observe a condition issue, please notify staff so they may take steps to prevent further damage.

All materials must be kept in the order in which they are found. Only one box of materials may be used at a time, removing one folder or asset at a time.

Patrons may use handheld cameras to photograph items for personal reference. No personal scanners, tripods, selfie sticks, lighting or other photography gear is permitted. Patrons may not scan or photocopy photographs from our collection. High resolution digital reproductions of photographs may be purchased for $10.00 per image.

It is the user’s responsibility to obtain any necessary permission from the holder(s) of copyright for the publication or distribution of material held by the Northwest Room. United States copyright law provides protection for unpublished materials as well as for published works.