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African Studies Research Guide

Overview

ATTENTION RESEARCHERS: Processed Liberian Collections are open to researchers with advance notice. However, the African Studies Librarian position is currently vacant and because of this, reference and research support is limited.

The IUB African Studies Research Collection consists of secondary source material found in the stacks in the East Tower of Herman B Wells Library. This material is shelved chiefly according to the Library of Congress Classification Scheme, with notable exceptions being the Sample Serials Collection, and the Pamphlet Collection both of which are filed by country.

The African Studies Archival Collections have their own page within this guide.

Archival materials from the African Studies Collection are consulted in the Indiana University Archives Reading Room, whose hours and policies are posted here.

Researchers using African Studies Collection materials in the IU Archives Reading Room must complete a user form and adhere to IU Archives Reading Room rules of conduct and materials handling.

African Studies Collection material are also selectively consulted in the ALF Secure Reading Room, located on the main floor of Wells Library.

Rules of conduct/materials handling instructions are HERE.

The Indiana University Archives has provided a useful guide to understanding the structure/function of finding aids HERE.

Archival Collections Use Guidelines

IU ARCHIVES READING ROOM REGISTRATION

IU African Studies Collections archival materials are consulted in the Reading Room belonging to the Indiana University Archives. Therefore, African Studies Collections researchers are subject to the usage guidelines and operating hours* governing all IU Archives researchers. African Studies Collection researchers must register as visitors with the IU Archives at the start of their visit. An archivist will show you your requested collection(s) and kindly instruct you on handling the materials properly. 

*NB: While the IU Archives indicate that Saturday hours are available by appointment, this ONLY applies to IU Archives researchers and NOT to African Studies Collections researchers, unless the Reading Room is being opened for Archives researchers.

RECALLING MATERIALS FROM OFF-SITE STORAGE

IU African Studies Collections archival materials on paper are held at the off-site Auxiliary Library Facility and not at Wells Library. Materials, therefore, need to be requested by the librarian to be delivered to the IU Archives Reading Room for consultation by researchers. Researchers wishing to use materials are asked to plan their requests very carefully, in consultation with relevant finding aids (linked at left under Archival Collections), and the librarian, and to make their requests in a timely manner.

Researchers must inform the Librarian for African Studies two weeks before their arrival of the archival materials they would like to see from off-site storage. Requests may be made by emailing the librarian at African Studies Collection. When you email, please include the collection number and the box(es) you would like to see. For example: IULC022, Boxes 43, 47, and 52. 

PHOTOGRAPHY, SCANNING, PHOTOCOPYING

While we do not provide scanning/photocopying services to users, researchers are welcome to use their own equipment to take photographs of archival material. Scanning of paper material may be done on a very limited basis, pending favorable material conditions. Researchers are asked to plan enough time to consult material on-site.