§ 1254.16 - Prevention of damage to documents.

(a) Researchers must exercise all possible care to prevent damage to documents.

(b) Documents may not be used at a desk where there is food or liquid or where an ink pen is being used. Only pencils may be used in research rooms where original documents are used.

(c) Documents must not be leaned on, written on, folded anew, traced, or handled in any way likely to cause damage.

(d) Documents must be identified for reproduction only with a paper tab provided by NARA. Documents may not be identified with paper clips, rubber bands, self-stick notes or similar devices.

(e) Microfilm must be carefully removed from and returned, rewound, to the proper microfilm boxes. Care must be taken loading and unloading microfilm from microfilm readers. Damaged microfilm must be reported to the research room attendant as soon as it is discovered.

(f) Exceptionally valuable or fragile documents may be used only under the conditions specified by the research room attendant.