Copyright and reproduction policy
The U.S. Copyright law (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain specified conditions, libraries and archives are authorized to permit the reproduction of these materials. One of these specific conditions is that the reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a patron 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.
Materials copied by or supplied to users of Rutgers University Special Collections and University Archives do not come with any copyright permissions. Our supplying of copies does not constitute copyright permission and is not an authorization for any further uses involving reproduction, distribution, display, performance, or creation of derivative works. It is the user’s responsibility to obtain permission that may be required to use works for purposes other than private study, scholarship, or research, or in excess of fair use. If Rutgers University holds the copyright in a work, it reserves the right to grant copyright permission at its sole discretion.
If Rutgers University does not hold the copyright, the user is responsible for obtaining copyright permission or a license for use of the work as needed from the copyright holder or a licensing agency. The user assumes all responsibility related to copyright, privacy rights, publicity rights or any other legal obligations in connection with the copying and use of the copies.
Special Collections and University Archives reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Ordering digital scans and photocopies
Researchers may order limited .pdf and high-resolution scans or photocopies of most materials (fragile and oversize items excluded). Contact us to request a Reproduction and Usage Request Form. Fees for use may apply.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all reproduction fees are currently waived.
Permission to publish
Special Collections and University Archives (SC/UA) cannot grant permission for any materials in which Rutgers University does not hold copyright. In cases in which Rutgers University does hold the copyright, permission to publish materials held by SC/UA must be obtained in writing. When published, the item should be attributed to the collection in which it can be found and the place within that collection where the item is located, followed by “Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries."
Citing resources from SC/UA
For manuscript and archival collections use the following sequence: Item description and date, collection name and call number, box number and folder number or title, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
- Example: Archibald Alexander to Adlai Stevenson, June 27, 1961, Archibald S. Alexander Papers (MC 1190), box 3, folder 7, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
Please note that if an existing finding aid is only a container list, please indicate the box number and a description of the folder in which the item was found.