Digital camera policy

What is the procedure for arranging to use my digital camera in the Reading Room?

If you wish to photograph material, please check first with the Reference librarian. You will be asked to read and accept the terms and conditions set out in this information guide.

What materials may be photographed?

You may photograph any published material or manuscripts issued to you in the reading room unless it is likely to result in damage to the material, or in the case of manuscripts, is against the access conditions specified by the depositor.

If you are at all in doubt, please seek the assistance of the reference librarian.

Rare material cannot be photographed, however you may arrange for the Library to copy these items at a cost of 50c per page.

You may not photograph artworks and displays or other people in the reading room or in the other public areas of the Institute without the permission of the people involved and Institute staff.

You may only photograph works on the desks available for public researchers in the reading room – please do not arrange items on the floor, around the computer terminals, on librarians’ trolleys or remove from the reading room to take photographs.

Do not attempt to flatten or dismantle material/collections in order to photograph it. Items which are difficult to photograph and cannot be photocopied will need to be referred to our Digitisation section for scanning. The charge for this service is 50c per page.

Library staff are not available to take photographs for you or to assist in the arrangement and propping up of items for photography.

What types of equipment may be used in the library?

Digital cameras and mobile phone cameras may be brought into the reading room for the purposes of copying reading materials. You may not bring flatbed portable scanners, hand-held scanners (including digital pens) and drum scanners, since these types of scanners pose greater risk to the collection and may cause disruption in the reading room.

You may not use a tripod or photographic flash.

The use of moving image cameras and film crews must be negotiated with the Library Director prior to visiting the Library.

Restrictions

You may not:

Copyright and Indigenous Communal Moral Rights

Copyright notices are displayed on all desks in the reading room and in the photocopying room for your information. It is your responsibility to ensure you are not infringing copyright when taking photocopies and photographs.

Further information about the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 for research and study can be found here pdf icon.

The AIATSIS Library has adopted the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for Libraries, Archives and Information Services, in particular : 2.3: Develop ways, including the recognition of moral rights, to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and intellectual property (Charles Darwin Univercity external website icon)

Under the AIATSIS Act 1989, there is a general duty on AIATSIS not to disclose any material held in its collections, if that disclosure would be inconsistent with the views or sensitivities of relevant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons.

The Library will respect any known secret/sacred restrictions and approach possibly sensitive material with due care.

Further information

For further information please contact the AIATSIS Library Reference Desk

Postal address: GPO Box 553, Canberra ACT 2601

Street address: Acton Peninsula, Lawton Crescent, Acton, ACT 2601

Telephone: + 6 1 2 6246 1182

Fax: + 6 1 2 6261 4287

email: library@aiatsis.gov.au