The National Music Museum allows access to its collections, staff expertise, and resources by visiting scholars, qualified students, and musicians, including the reproduction of limited amounts of archival material and music (no longer covered by U.S. copyright laws, to be used for performances by individuals or organizations on a non-profit basis). In order to make this service available, the following guidelines have been established:

1. Persons needing to utilize the NMM's Sally Fantle Archival Research Center (SFARC) to look at instrument files, archives, music, or sound recordings may do so on weekdays, but must make an appointment in advance.   Please submit a completed "Request for Permission to Conduct Research at the NMM," on which you will state your credentials and purpose in writing, and await confirmation, before coming to the NMM.   Appointments must be made at least two weeks before the visit.   This allows time for staff scheduling and instruments to be moved, if necessary.

2. Only a small number of people can be accomodated at one time in the SFARC.   Please do not bring unexpected guests.   Children are not allowed in the SFARC.

3. Graduate students who need to utilize the SFARC for substantial research projects must register for an appropriate number of hours (a minimum of two semester hours) or MUS 795, Project Seminar (independent studies) during the semester (or one summer session) in which they plan to use the SFARC, even though they may be on campus for only a portion of that semester.

4. Scholars who need to utilize the SFARC for substantial research projects supported by a grant, whether those funds are provided by their own institution, a private foundation, a government source such as the National Endowment for the Arts, or whatever, must make provision in the proposal for reimbursing the NMM for its contribution of staff time, work space, equipment, and so on.

5. Whenever possible, the NMM will reproduce music from its collections, no longer covered by U.S. copyright laws, for performance by qualified individuals or organizations on a non-profit basis.   Minimal charges are necessary for written requests for specific compositions to cover retrieval, reproduction, postage and handling. Only a limited number of such requests will be accepted on this basis from any one individual or institution.   Requests should clearly state the title, composer, genre, and for what, specifically, the music is to be used.   When performed, the program notes must indicate that the composition(s) is provided courtesy of the National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota. For further information, consult the NMM's Conditions for Access to Digital Images and the Reproduction of Music and Archival Materials.

6. Requests which involve staff time for research, as opposed to the above service (which involves only the reproduction of specific compositions), can not be handled unless specific written arrangements are made to reimburse the NMM for staff time. For additional information, consult Inquiries about the NMM's Collections and Archives.

7. The NMM's archival collections are not available for circulation or Interlibrary Loan. Short excerpts (up to 50 pages) from printed materials will be photocopied, at the rates cited on the NMM's fee schedule, if a specific title, volume, year, and page reference is provided. Likewise, short excerpts (up to 30 pages) from materials in the NMM Archives may be scanned. Researchers should print and complete a Request for Copies of Archival Materials (Other than Photographs) Form (PDF file), detailing your request. The NMM does not accept telephone orders for copies of archival materials. The NMM will contact you about the status of your request and associated fees. The NMM reserves the right to restrict or deny the photocopying or scanning of rare and fragile materials.

8. Requests for the reproduction of other materials, such as photographs or sound recordings, will be answered on an individual basis, generally within the same concept as that for music. For further information, consult Access and Fees for Use of the NMM's Collections and Archives.

9. Utilization of the SFARC for educational purposes is strongly encouraged, but utilization of the SFARC for commercial purposes and/or for personal gain, without specific written permission of the Director of the NMM, is forbidden.

10. Researchers should acquaint themselves with the following document prior to their visit:  Guidelines for Patrons Using the Library and/or the Sally Fantle Archival Research Center at the NMM.

These regulations are subject to change at the discretion of the Director of the NMM.

©National Music Museum, 1996-2010
Most recent update:   February 1, 2010

The University of South Dakota
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