Photography and Other Reproductions of Materials

Public state and local records in the custody of the Library of Virginia are in the public domain and may be cited and published without permission. This applies to both noncommercial and commercial use. Please credit the Library of Virginia as the custodian of these materials with the following statement: "Courtesy of the Library of Virginia." Under state and federal law, access to some records is restricted. Such restrictions should be noted in the Library's relevant finding aids, catalogs, and guides.

The Library of Virginia does not necessarily hold the copyright on nongovernmental materials in its collections. Copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) protects unpublished as well as published materials. The responsibility for ascertaining whether copyright or other restrictions exist and for obtaining necessary permissions remains at all times with the person making or requesting copies. Any restrictions based on deeds of gifts or other legal instruments created at the time of donation should be noted in the Library's relevant finding aids, catalogs, and guides.

Users may publish or reproduce materials in the collections without permission from the Library of Virginia. We request that users credit the Library of Virginia as the owner of the original materials, but this credit does not address any questions of copyright or other legal concerns that may arise in the use of Library of Virginia images.

All photography (digital and film), filming, and videotaping of archival materials must adhere to the following rules:

• Under the provisions of U.S. copyright law, libraries and archives may "for purposes of preservation, scholarship, or research" provide a photocopy or other reproduction of copyrighted material. However, the Library may refuse requests to copy or photograph materials from collections due to conditions of original material, donor or copyright restrictions, or potential for damage to material resulting from copying equipment.
• Patrons may not stand on chairs, stools, stepladders, or tables when taking photographs.
• Archival material, books, maps, and architectural drawings must remain on the table and in the folders in the room in which they are served.
• Flash photography and external lighting devices are not allowed.
• Tripods are allowed as long as the legs are not touching the item being photographed.
• Photography and photocopying of the Rare Book Collection is normally handled by the Manuscripts & Special Collections staff.

Revised January 2020