Special Collections Access and Use Policies

The special collections at the Getty Library house rare and unique materials in art history and visual culture, including archives, manuscripts, architectural materials, rare books, prints, photographs, and more.

Accessing the Special Collections

• To Request Items: Special collections items can be booked through the Library Catalog by Stack Readers, Extended Readers, Getty staff, in-residence Getty scholars and fellows, and Getty interns. Refer to Library Catalog Help for more information on requesting materials.
• To View Items: Schedule an appointment to use the Special Collections Reading Room.

Reading Room Circulation Policy

• When requesting special collections material through the Library Catalog, you will be asked to select a date or date range for your item booking. These dates should match your Special Collections Reading Room appointment date(s).
• You may place a maximum of 20 booking requests for special collections items at any time. Most items can be booked for up to two weeks at a time, and some are limited to one week. You can place a booking request for materials up to a year in advance.
• Reading Room staff page material daily at 10am and 2pm. Requests submitted after these times will be retrieved at the next paging period. Retrieved material will be accessible by 11am and 3pm daily.
• You will be served one cart of material (approximately 10–15 items depending on size) per paging period. Please place items on the “returns” cart or return them to the reading room supervisor as you finish with them. Additional requests will be paged and served at the following paging period, provided there is space on your cart.
• In some cases, item retrieval may be delayed due to material or storage conditions, item availability, or other issues. Reading Room staff will notify you of any such delays.

Special Collections Reading Room Guidelines

• Briefcases, satchels, and backpacks must be checked with the Reading Room supervisor.
• A pad of paper and pencil will be provided to you. Please return these items at the end of your appointment.
• Laptops are allowed, but leave computer cases with the Reading Room supervisor.
• The Reading Room is monitored and recorded, and the Getty Research Institute reserves the right to inspect all research materials and personal articles.
• The Special Collections Reading Room is a quiet study area. If you need to discuss materials with staff or other researchers, you can ask about reserving the adjacent Special Collections Seminar Room by appointment.
• Guests are not permitted inside the Reading Room. Special collections material may not leave the Special Collections Reading Room under any circumstances.
• Wash hands before examining special collections material.
• No food, drinks, gum, lozenges, etc. are allowed inside the Reading Room.

Handling Special Collections Materials

• The Reading Room supervisor will provide guidance, help get you oriented in the space, provide book supports, and detail specific instructions for items requiring special handling.
• Handle materials with care. Avoid leaning on, writing on, folding, or tracing over any materials.
• Only one box or book is allowed on the table at a time. Additional items can be brought once the previous one is returned.
• Maintain the order of manuscripts within folders and boxes and use provided placeholders. Examine one folder at a time before moving to the next.
• When handling unsleeved photographs or negatives, wear latex-free Nitrile gloves provided by the Reading Room supervisor and do not remove items from their mats.
• Report any items in need of repair, misfiled materials, or discrepancies in cataloging to the Reading Room supervisor.

Copies, Copyright, and Permissions

• In the Special Collections Reading Room, you may use your own camera or mobile device to take images for personal study. Guidelines will be provided upon arrival.

• Staff will assist with copyright questions, but it is your responsibility to secure rights for publication.

• If materials are not in the public domain or the copyright is not held by the Getty Research Institute, you may need to obtain permission from the appropriate copyright holder to publish items from the library’s collection.

• For objects whose copyright is owned by the Getty Research Institute, submit the appropriate Reproductions and Permissions form.

The Getty Research Institute supports loans from its collections for exhibitions. Refer to our conditions for borrowing for details on loaning materials and facsimiles.

Getty Institutional Archives is responsible for preserving the records of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which are essential for institutional continuity and research purposes. Getty is dedicated to providing registered users with equitable access to its Institutional Archives while respecting privacy, rights, and agreements.

Accessing Institutional Archives

• To Request Items: Institutional Archives material can be requested through the Library Catalog by Stack Readers, Extended Readers, Getty staff, in-residence Getty scholars and fellows, and Getty interns.
• To View Items: Stack Readers, Extended Readers, Getty staff, in-residence Getty scholars and fellows, and Getty interns can access Institutional Archives material in the Special Collections Reading Room. Refer to the Access Policy for Institutional Records and Archives for request procedures and consulting practices.

General Access Policy

• The use of Institutional Archives material follows the Access Policy for Institutional Records and Archives.

• All records that are available for public view and approved for public release are open to researchers.