Access & Use

I. Introduction

BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives is committed to providing open access to research materials to students, faculty, and guests. We firmly believe student engagement with original historical resources can be a vital part of an undergraduate education. Use is encouraged through finding aids and inventories, and through research services within the reading room. While many manuscript collections are open for use, we have an institutional obligation to the University and professional obligation to protect privacy and confidentiality in our collections.

II. Campus Records

Archives are campus records that have been transferred to the custody of Special Collections & Archives for permanent holding in the Library. These records are retained because of their historical, administrative, or legal value and to document the roles and responsibilities of Brigham Young University-Idaho. Records may be open to, or restricted from, use by the general public depending on the purposes and audience for which they were originally created, the presence or absence of confidential information, and the age of the records. Researchers will be informed of conditions governing access to collections.

Official personnel of the department having original custody can access records of their office in permanent library holdings. For other requests, access to restricted items is subject to approval by the College Dean over the department or other administratively authorized personnel, both in conjunction with the University Archivist.

University records that are open to the public are those that were intended for public use at the time of their creation, which includes university publications, newsletters, news releases, brochures, campus newspapers, and other materials that match this definition. These materials are open to researchers with no restrictions.

III. Non-Campus Materials

Collections of organizational records and personal papers that originate beyond the University are classified as Manuscript Collections, and are gathered largely to document the history of the Upper Snake River Valley. Manuscript Collections are acquired, often from outside donors who sign agreements giving their materials to Special Collections & Archives, to provide students, faculty, and guests with original research materials. We provide open access to these records in accordance with legal requirements, institutional policies, and donor agreements.

IV. Copyright and Permission

In many, but not all, cases, BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives holds the copyright to its materials. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the records must be obtained from the appropriate department or office head and/or the University Librarian. In all cases, the researcher must cite BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives as the source with the appropriate credit line listed below.

The information available on this site, including any text, data, artwork, video, audio, images or graphics (collectively, the "Material") may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

We encourage use of this Material for non-profit and educational purposes, such as personal research, teaching, and private study. For these limited purposes, Material from this website may be displayed and printed, and all copies must include proper attribution of the source on all copies:

Courtesy, Special Collections & Archives, David O. McKay Library,
Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, ID 83460.

Except as provided above, or any use beyond what is allowed by fair use (Title 17, § 107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any Material from this website in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the Material.

For more information, visit the BYU-Idaho Intellectual Property Office: http://www.byui.edu/copyright

V. Privacy

While we make efforts to protect privacy and publicity rights in our collections, the researcher is responsible for addressing issues of privacy and publicity in the use of the materials. Special Collections Librarians may be able to assist in this effort.

VI. Take Down Notice

We make digital copies of materials for preservation and research. Due to the nature of archival collections we are not always able to indicate copyright or rights of privacy.

We make digital copies of collections available in the following situations:

  • Item(s) are in the public domain
  • No known restrictions on use
  • We make materials accessible for education and research purposes as a legal fair use
  • We have permission to make materials accessible
  • We own rights to the item(s)

Upon request, we will block from public view or remove materials while we address a rights issue. To file a claim, please contact our Intellectual Property Rights Specialist. Information can be found at this link: http://www.byui.edu/copyright/policy/claims-of-infringement