The "Request This Item" button in the Library of Congress catalog is not available for requesting Prints & Photographs Division collection material. Some materials can be requested on demand by submitting a call slip in the Reading Room. However, other materials require working with staff to bring the materials on site and/or to help handle the material. In these cases, arrangements must be made in advance.

If planning an in-person visit to the Prints & Photographs Reading Room, we highly recommend contacting us through Ask a Librarian or calling us before making travel plans, reserving an appointment, or visiting to ensure the materials you wish to see will be ready for you to view.

Looking at the "Call Number" and "Access Advisory" fields in catalog records, or information found in finding aids, can help you determine if materials require special service arrangements.

The following are common research scenarios:

• Requesting unprocessed material (10 business days advance notice. Use the Unprocessed Materials Form on this page.)

  Example: Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 1996:019. "Unprocessed" in the call number. Collections like this one are not often physically prepared for service and have limited available descriptions. In addition to making sure the material is on site, a staff member must be available to work with you, at least initially.

• Requesting material that is not stored on site (5 business days advance notice for non film-based materials/10 business days advance notice for film-based materials. Use Ask a Librarian.)

  Example: LOT 15198 (FM -- AA size, B size). LOT with designation “FM” in the Call Number. These must be requested 5 days in advance of your visit.

  Example: New York World Telegram & Sun Collection folders and prints. Requesting Materials section of finding aid indicates “Researchers should make requests at least five business days in advance of an anticipated visit. All requests should be submitted through Ask A Librarian or in person in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room.”

  Example: Bob Adelman Photograph Archive. Access Advisory text says “The majority of the collection is stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.” These must be requested 10 business days in advance because the film is stored in special temperature conditions.

• Requesting fragile or oversized material requiring supervised handling or special preparation, such as many architectural drawings ( 5+ business days. Use Ask a Librarian.)

  Example: Charles Goodman Architectural Archive. Access Advisory text includes “All content stored offsite. Architectural drawings; Served by appointment only.” These may need 5 days or more depending upon the volume of material requested, as staff also have to arrange for appointment service.

• When expecting to view more than 15 original items from the Division's collections of posters, drawings, master photographs, and fine prints (5 business days. Use Ask A Librarian.)
• When a research project will require 3 or more days of work in the Reading Room. (Use Ask A Librarian and Unprocessed Materials Form if applicable.)
• Visits by a class or study group. (Use the Group Orientations Form.)

Note - Obtaining quality copies through the Library's Duplication Services office is a separate step that takes additional time.

To request unprocessed materials, please complete the information below, including a brief description of your research project. An acknowledgement message will appear on your screen when your information is successfully submitted.