VMI Archives Policies
How to Make an Inquiry
We welcome inquiries by email, phone, letter, fax, or in person, and we are committed to providing information as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind that we receive many inquiries every week and that we have a small staff. We respond to requests for photocopies or research in the order in which they are received by us.
Please make your requests as specific as possible. While we make every effort to provide relevant information to patrons who cannot visit the Archives to do their own research, the staff cannot undertake extensive research on behalf of individual patrons. The more focused your request, the better.
Photocopy Policy and Image Reproduction
- Copies are billed at a rate of 10 cents per page. An invoice is enclosed when the copies are mailed.
- We reserve the right to decline to photocopy or scan fragile documents.
- Although we do not set arbitrary page limits, we request that you limit your copy requests to a reasonable number of pages/items, and that you ask only for documents relevant to your research.
- Image reproduction: Contact us for details and fees.
On-site Collection Use
- For your convenience, an appointment is strongly recommended if you are traveling from out of town. We can confirm our hours and have the material you requested ready upon your arrival.
- Items may not be checked out or removed from the Archives reading room.
- Archival material is fragile. Please handle our collections with care.
- Use pencil, not pen, to take notes.
- Laptops are welcome; wireless is available throughout Preston Library.
Publication
- Permission to publish items from our collections must be requested in writing (email is fine). Our preferred repository citation is Virginia Military Institute Archives.
