Everyone is welcome to visit the Avery Research Center located at 125 Bull Street. While the majority of our holdings are not open for public browsing, retrieval of materials by our staff usually takes only a matter of minutes. Upon your arrival, you will be asked to register and to comply with the following policies:
- All personal articles are to be deposited in the lockers in front of the reference desk. Only items necessary for taking notes may remain with you (notepads, laptops and pencils only please).
- Use of the material is confined to the research area.
- Researchers must fill out call slip to request material. The storage areas are closed to everyone but staff. Researchers will be permitted only one folder of manuscript material at a time.
- Use of the material is confined to the research area.
- All manuscript materials must be kept in the order in which they are found. Manuscript and other materials may not be leaned on, written on, folded anew, or handled in any way likely to damage them. Post-it notes may NOT be used to mark places, only acid free slips of paper (see reference desk).
- Photographing material may be arranged only under the supervision of staff.
- Requests for a reasonable amount of photocopying may be made to the staff member on duty. Photocopy request forms are available at the front desk. Title 17, United States Code (Copyright Law) states the photocopied or reproductions are not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.”
- Researchers are asked to request no new material after 4:30 p.m. so that materials may be returned. Materials in use may be reserved for the following day. The library reserves the right to search book bags, briefcases, purses, etc. upon a researcher’s leaving the premises.
- Patrons assume all responsibility for adhering to existing copyright restrictions. Anyone contemplating publication of unpublished materials must obtain permission from the author or owner of literary rights. If permission is granted, the researcher must give appropriate credit to the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture of the College of Charleston. The department assumes no responsibility in cases of infringement.