Library Policies

Security Statement

We ask all researchers who use the Methodist Historical Society of Ireland’s collections to help preserve and protect these materials so that they will be available for future generations.

General Guidelines in the Library

To provide the most effective environment for research and study, as well as to ensure the proper security, care and maintenance of our library holdings, the society has established the following guidelines for all users of the library:

• All coats, umbrellas, bags and briefcases must be left in the designated area.
• Mobile phones must be switched off or to silent mode.
• All work must be done in pencil.
• Volumes or manuscripts may not be marked, altered or defaced.
• Users may bring their own laptop computers to use for research purposes. Power points are provided.
• Cameras (excluding flash) may be used at the discretion of the archivist.
• Gloves must be worn when handling photographs and other sensitive material.
• All materials are to be placed flat on the tables and are not to be held in the lap or propped against the edge of the table. Documents ought not to be leant on when taking notes.
• Only one folder of loose papers may be opened at one time in order to avoid mixing.
• Papers are not to be rearranged under any circumstances. If a researcher thinks something is out of order, s/he could call it to the archivist’s attention.
• Items may not be removed from the archives. In certain instances printed material may be moved temporarily to the main library for further supervised consultation.
• Food and drink is not permitted in the archives research area. There is a non-smoking policy in the building as a whole.
• Children under the age of 16 unaccompanied by an adult are not allowed into
the archives. No animals are permitted into the archives.
• Failure to observe these requirements may result in the loss of access
privileges to the Archives.