Rare Books & Bound Materials
Staff will present your item with the most proper combination of supports designed to prevent stress to all parts of the book. Please keep books in the support, which should sit squarely on the table. Cradles and supports are designed for use by one book at a time.
The joint area of a book is very susceptible to damage. If your cradle does not fully support the boards of the book please ask staff for a futon or pillow.
Books should be closed if left for any period.
Please notify a member of the Reading Room staff if you find damage to paper or bindings which prevents safe handling.
Unopened pages (where the folds in the quires have not been cut, preventing the turning of single pages) should be referred to the reading room staff.
If your hands become soiled from viewing an item, please wash your hands again before proceeding to the next.
Never force open a book with a tight binding, ask a staff member for assistance to safely view the contents.
Do not stack opened books or place them face down.
Avoid touching the surface of pages with writing or painted or gold leaf illustrations. Inks and pigments on vellum/parchment are especially vulnerable to mechanical damage.
Be aware of the condition of the books you are handling. Even new-looking books can be at risk, e.g., perfect-bound books with pages that are simply glued into the spine and can easily pop out when roughly handled.
Do not rest anything on top of books or other materials. Special weights are available at the reading room desk to hold books and pamphlets open safely and securely.
Never put anything in a book; acid-free markers will be provided when needed. Please be sure to remove any markers after your session is complete.
To turn a page of a book, lift the top outer corner and lightly slip the fingertips down the fore-edge, supporting the page.Do not attempt to turn a page while holding something else unless you require a tool to turn the page. Other bound materials such as scrapbooks may require full page support when turning due to the increased weight of attachments.llustrations, letters, and other sheets that fold out or are tipped into books may require special handling procedures or materials; ensure they are fully supported if they extend beyond the margin of the text block. If you are unsure how to open or close a foldout, please consult a staff member.
