Materials stored off-site, most architectural drawings, fragile items and unprocessed materials must be requested in advance to ensure materials are available to view during an anticipated visit.
If you are planning to visit the Prints & Photographs Reading Room in person, we highly recommend contacting us through Ask a Librarian well ahead of time to ensure the materials you want to see will be ready for you to view when you arrive. The "Request This Item" button in the Library of Congress catalog cannot be used to request Prints & Photographs Division collection material.
Looking at the "Call Number" and "Access Advisory" information in catalog records, or "Access Restrictions" and "Requesting Materials" sections found in finding aids, can help you determine if materials require special service arrangements. The following are common types of special requests:
- Unprocessed Material
- Off-site Material
- Fragile or Oversized Material (including architectural drawings)
- Large Quantities of Material
- Extended Research Visit
- Class or Group Visit
Unprocessed Material
Request unprocessed material by writing to Ask a Librarian 10 business days ahead of an anticipated visit.
- Example: Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 1996:019 - Catalog Record. "Unprocessed" appears in the call number. Collections like this one are often not publicly described or physically prepared for service. A staff member will need to ensure the material is onsite for your visit and may recommend one-on-one appointment service for some material.
Off-site Material
The Access Advisory will typically note if a collection is stored off-site. Request material that is stored off-site by writing to Ask a Librarian at least 5 business days in advance. Allow more time for film-based material.
- Example: LOT 15198 (FM -- AA size, B size) - Catalog Record. This LOT record includes the designation “FM” in the Call Number and the Access Advisory notes, "Materials are stored offsite." Material must be requested 5 business days in advance of a visit.
- Example: New York World Telegram & Sun Collection - Finding Aid. The Requesting Materials section of our finding aid notes that, “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 - Finding Aid. The Requesting Materials section begins, “Researchers should make requests at least 10 business days in advance of an anticipated visit.”
Fragile or Oversized Material
Request fragile or oversized materials which need supervised handling or special preparation (such as many architectural drawings) by writing to Ask a Librarian at least 5 business days in advance.
- Example: ADE - UNIT 1052 - Catalog Record. The Access Advisory text for this record reads "Original materials served by appointment only."
- Example: Charles Goodman Architectural Archive - Finding Aid. The Requesting Materials section begins, “Researchers should make requests at least 10 business days in advance of an anticipated visit.” An appointment with a staff member is also required.
Large Quantities of Material
When interested in viewing more than 15 original items from the Division's collections of posters, drawings, master photographs, and fine prints, request by writing to Ask a Librarian at least 5 business days in advance.
Extended Research Visit
When a research project will require 3 or more days of work in the Reading Room please let us know by writing to Ask a Librarian.
Class or Group Visit
When planning a visit with a class or group use the Group Orientations Form to notify us at least 10 business days in advance.