Hours, Location, and Parking

Metro Archives is located on the 3rd floor of the Main Library downtown. Our hours are the same as the Main Library. There is a parking garage attached to the library, which can be accessed from either 6th or 7th Avenue. Free parking is offered for the first 90 minutes with library validation.

See Main Library info for hours, parking, and to check for service alerts.

Before You Arrive

• We welcome all researchers to the Metro Archives during regular business hours. You do not need to make an appointment, but we do recommend that you contact us before your planned visit so that we can pull the records you need before you arrive, and to ensure that there is a staff member available to assist you.
• The Metro Archives has a number of materials and collections stored offsite. If you are requesting resources that are located offsite, please allow 2-3 days for us to retrieve them. Please provide us with a phone number or email address so that we can contact you when the materials are available.

How We Assist

Metro Archives staff can provide you with information about our holdings and make research materials available as you need them. Whether you are researching by phone, email, or onsite, our staff will:

• Orient you with our facilities and resources
• Instruct researchers in the proper handling of archival materials
• Assist researchers in the use of our indexes and finding aids
• Respond to research and information requests
• Retrieve requested research materials
• Provide guidance to additional and alternative sources of information

Facility Guidelines

All materials in the Metro Archives are non-circulating and cannot be checked out. Only one request for one record will be handled at a time. Please do not send a second search request or a request for record copies while you have a request pending. Please do not send several requests in separate emails.

The following guidelines help protect our collections. Please adhere to the following rules when visiting:

• Food and drink are not allowed in the Archives.
• Only pencils are permitted. Ink, ballpoint pens, indelible pencils, and correction fluid are prohibited to avoid damage to materials.
• Laptops and cameras may be used; however, if you choose to use a camera, please disable the flash.
• Please wear cotton gloves when handling older and/or fragile materials. Metro Archives staff will supply you with a pair if needed.
• Researchers may take photos of materials in our collections, provided they do not use a flash.

Group Visits

Metro Archives offers tours and personalized instruction for classes or groups interested in research assistance. Because we are a small staff, we ask that you contact us at least a week in advance so we can prepare for your visit. In that visit, we can provide a thorough tour of the department, basic instruction on how to use our materials and proper care, and any other custom-research guide needed for your interests, depending on the size of your group.

Request a tour using our online form. Please wait to receive a confirmation email from a staff member before arriving for your tour.

Request

Materials Use Guidelines

Reproductions, Fees, and Use

The Metro Archives does not hold the copyright to the pictorial works in its collections. The nature of historical archival photograph and slide collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine. The publishing party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and adhering to the U.S. Copyright Code.

• A self-service photocopier is available for researchers. Copies are 10 cents per page.
• Researchers that wish to obtain scans of our materials in our collections may ask a member of staff for assistance. Fees for copies of photographs and/or slides are $5.00 per scan.
• Please credit the Metro Archives if you use any reproductions of our materials for public use.

Copyright Policy

The Metro Archives will provide reproductions of a reasonable amount of material from its collections, provided that such copying is consistent with donor instruction and copyright law. All duplication services are made with the understanding that the reproductions will be used in accordance with U.S. copyright law and “fair use” provisions. The person requesting the reproduction assumes all responsibility for infraction of copyright and of any use exceeding fair use.

Our physical ownership of materials does not imply ownership of literary rights or copyright, and it is the responsibility of the patron to determine copyright ownership. The Metro Archives reserves the right to limit or prohibit reproduction for reasons that may include but are not limited to the condition of the materials, security reasons, or possible violation of copyright laws or donor restrictions.