What you need to know before accessing the collection
We are happy to assist researchers by providing access to our collection and research library, but due to the nature of the collection and the need to keep our artifacts safe, we have several rules that we need you to look over before coming to visit the collection.
Initial Conditions of Access
1.2. All such research activity will be conducted during working hours under staff supervision.
1.3. All access to the collections takes place on the museum’s own terms. If there is reason to assume that the visitor may ignore the museum’s regulations, the visit may be denied or terminated.
1.4. Certain information, such as condition, prices, and current insurance values of objects are not available to outside users.
1.5. Researchers may come in contact with records or objects that contain private or restricted information about individuals or organizations. This information may not be conveyed by the researcher to anyone by any means.
Handling and Viewing Area
2.1. The safe handling of objects within the Museum’s care involves techniques which are not necessarily familiar either to historians, scholars or the general public. The visitor may, however, have more general knowledge about an object or research subject than does any member of the museum staff, and therefore feel him or herself the better judge of proper handling technique. With all respect to the expert knowledge of the visitor, the museum must retain the sole right to decide what is safe and therefore permissible.
2.2 Prior to engaging in handling of objects, visitors must receive training from museum staff on safe handling of artifacts. If these instructions are not adhered to, museum staff have the right to cut a visit short without recompense to the researcher.
2.3. ALL visitors to the collection will wear gloves provided by the museum. Under no circumstances will objects be handled without the provided gloves.
2.4. Objects and archival documents are not to be removed from the designated viewing area except by the designated Museum staff.
2.5. No food or drinks of any kind are allowed within the research or viewing area.
2.6. Researchers are permitted to use personal laptops within the viewing area.
Copyright, Reproduction and Publication
3.1. Artistic works are subject to copyright under the Canadian Copyright Act (C-42).
3.2. While accepting and understanding fair dealing for the purpose of research, private study, education, parody or satire does not infringe copyright (C-42 s.29) the Museum management may limit the reproduction of images of work.
3.3. Researchers who willfully disregard the Canadian Copyright Act do so at their own risk and assume all liability.
3.4. Digital cameras can be used upon approval but permission to examine art objects does not automatically include the right to photograph. The Museum may decline a request to photograph because the materials are oversize, too fragile, or fall outside fair dealing (C-42 s.29).
3.5. Written permission must be obtained from the Museum to publish reproductions of objects within the collection or substantial visual imagery or quotation from them. The Museum will only grant reproduction permission for materials in which the Museum is the copyright holder or for which there are no restrictions in terms of moral and economic rights. When the Museum does not hold copyright, staff will provide as much information as is available to aid the researcher in locating the copyright holder; however, collections staff cannot serve as an intermediary to obtain permission on behalf of the researcher.
3.6. In giving permission to reproduce photographs of collection objects the Museum does not surrender its own rights to publish the materials or to grant permission to others to publish them; nor does the Museum assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright.
Visitor Studies and Documentation
4.1. The Museum will keep a record/log of all visits to the permanent collection. The log will record the researcher’s name, purpose of visit, the object accessed, and date and time of the visit.
Credit
5.1 When the museum has assisted in research or provided an image for use in publication, we ask that we be given due credit with the line “Courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.”
Sharing Research
6.1 For the betterment of our own collection, we ask that we be provided with a copy of the product of the research once complete so that we can continue to be an industry-leading resource for baseball historians and writers.
