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Brooklyn Botanic Garden Library Rare Book Room Rules and Procedures

The Rare Book collection is available for use by appointment, subject to the rules listed below.

  1. All readers are required to sign the register and present current photographic identification.
  2. Before entering the Rare Book Room, individual titles to be consulted must be identified for the accompanying librarian. Public access catalogs are available in both the Gardener's Resource Center and the Science Library to check bibliographic information.
  3. All coats, briefcases, bags, computer carrying cases, books, notebooks, etc. must be left with the Director of Library Services and may not be brought into the Rare Book Room. Readers will only be admitted with pencil, paper, and laptop computer, and thus are encouraged to bring a minimum of other material with them.
  4. Only pencils may be used in the Rare Book Room.
  5. Readers agree to wear protective gloves if requested to do so by the librarian.
  6. No material may be removed from the Rare Book Room.
  7. The librarian will retrieve and reshelve all items, and will present only one item at a time.
  8. Guests may not accompany readers to the Rare Book Room.
  9. The attending librarian may halt use of materials at any time if these rules are not followed or if continued handling is injurious to the condition of an item.
  10. Most items in this collection are extremely rare or irreplaceable. Readers are expected to use more than ordinary care in the handling of materials, and must avoid touching text or decoration. Readers are strictly prohibited from writing, scoring or otherwise marking materials. No objects may be laid on books, with the exception of special weights placed by the attending librarian.
  11. All readers' papers will be examined before departure from the Rare Book Room.