Policy on Reproduction of Materials

Copyright Considerations

The Center limits copying and reproduction services to those permitted under current copyright regulations. The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, sections 107 and 108) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. It is the responsibility of the researcher to know and comply with all copyright restrictions. Click here for more information on Copyright Restrictions.

Receipt of reproductions does not convey copyright. The Center does not hold the copyright for all materials in its collections. Furthermore, manuscript and audio collections may have different copyright or other reproduction restrictions placed on them. It is the user’s responsibility to make sure that all necessary permissions are obtained from copyright holders.

In the case of printed music that is still under copyright protection and has not yet fallen into the Public Domain, the “Fair Use” provisions of the copyright law do not permit us to make copies for personal use or for purposes of performance. The Center for Popular Music follows the guidelines regarding copyright law and fair use in music adopted by the Music Library Association.

Duplication and Reproduction

Duplication and reproduction includes photocopies, scans, microfilm printing, and images taken with a digital camera. All duplication and reproduction of Special Collections materials is done by staff on a cost-recovery basis. The Center reserves the right to refuse to duplicate or photocopy any material based on condition of the original, on copyright considerations, or on any restrictions placed on the material by donors, depositors, or the Center itself.

Reproductions will be provided only upon receipt of a signed Reproduction Request Form and prepayment. The form covers both provisions for “Fair Use” of materials under copyright and the Center’s own requirements for citations and acknowledgment. Rush orders are accepted at the discretion of the Center and may be subject to additional charges. The Center reserves the right to limit the total number of copies it will provide. For large orders or multiple requests, an hourly research fee may apply.

The Center permits the use of digital cameras, scanners and other approved image capturing devices and technologies in the Reading Room as surrogates for photocopying on a case-by-case basis. The Center reserves the right to deny the privilege to digitize materials.

Reproductions of Center materials are available under the following circumstances.

• Copying of all Special Collections items (sheet music, rare books, trade catalogs, performance documents, sound recordings, etc.) must be performed by Center staff. Self-service photocopying by patrons for Reading Room materials only.
• The item requested must be in good condition and able to withstand handling and reproduction. We reserve the right to refuse to copy rare and fragile materials.
• Reproductions of audio materials will be processed upon receipt of a signed Audio Visual Request Form. The form covers provisions for “Fair Use” of materials under copyright. Audio reproductions will be shipped upon receipt of payment.
• Processing of reproduction requests will begin upon receipt of payment and the appropriate reproduction request form. Staff at the Center for Popular Music make every effort to fill reproduction requests in a timely manner. Allow 7 to 10 days processing time for all orders.
• Requests for rush orders may be subject to a surcharge of up to 100% of the order total.
• All copies made for off-site researchers will be sent by the most economical domestic mail rate unless other arrangements are made. All fees include postage (domestic). Additional charges may apply to international mail. 

Find out about online payment of fees.