The Library of Congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections and, therefore, cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. For information about assessing rights, see the Rights and Restrictions Information page.
Obtaining Copies
Generally, catalog records for Groups of Images in High Demand describe multiple items, from which a selection must be made. The individual items in the group may or may not be represented online.
- 1. Determine whether the desired materials can be retrieved online.
- Select the "About this Item" tab
- Select the "Check for online items from this group" link
- Select the "Obtaining Copies" tab for any retrieved items that are of interest.
- 2. If the desired material cannot be retrieved online:
Select images for reproduction through one of these methods:
Access to Originals
Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints
and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is
available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.
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Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)
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Yes, the item is digitized.
Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be
viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some
cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of
Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights
restrictions.
As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image
is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference
librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and
film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see
online where they are presented as positive images.)
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No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.
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Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists,
such as microfilm or copy prints?
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Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this
surrogate.
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No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
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If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in
the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes.
Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can
advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.
To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our
Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and
5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.
