Local History/Genealogy Department Policy

Introduction
Integral to the mission of the Portsmouth Public Library is the provision of information services relating to the local history, demography, and genealogy of the Southern Ohio area. To this end the Portsmouth Public Library endeavors to develop collections, resources and services to meet these needs. It is within this context that the Portsmouth Public Library offers a broad range of services within this department and in the community as appropriate.

Hours of Service
The Henry A. Lorberg Local History Department will be open for research during all regular hours of the Main Library.

Collections
In addition to Genealogy and Local History materials, the Department includes three other collections:

• The Ohio Room

The Ohio Room contains historically unique, valuable, rare, and/or fragile materials. Due to the preservation of archival materials, and the location of the departmental supervisor’s office, access to this area must be restricted to staff only. All non-archival materials are accessible, and will be pulled and re-shelved by Local History staff. Archival materials will be made available in other formats, if possible, and will be pulled and re-shelved by staff. All items must be utilized within the department. Materials will be provided only upon the presentation of proper identification and only three items may be used at a time. Usage may be restricted to a designated area.

• The Ohio Documents Collection

The Portsmouth Public Library is a designated Ohio Documents depository. All materials must be utilized in the Department and do not circulate.

Provision of and Fees for Service

• Research assistance and other such assistance within the Department or the library is without fee. Copies and postage are subject to fees as otherwise provided in this section.
• Telephone assistance for short reference requests or “lookups” is without fee with the exception of copies and postage as otherwise provided in this section. A “lookup” is considered a request for research in the following resources: city directory, an index, exact book page or exact date newspaper.
• Written, electronic or telephone requests by non-residents requiring extensive research shall be charged at the rate of $10.00 per hour prepaid with a minimum of one hour. Copies and postage will be billed at regular cost but no less than a minimum of $1.00. Copy charges in excess of $5.00 or more will be billed in $5.00 increments before copies are mailed by staff. Research considered extensive shall be anything other than the defined “lookup”, or anything above a limit of 3 “lookups” per request
• Copy costs shall be $.10 per page for photocopies and $.25 per page for copies from the microfilm reader/printers. Copies mailed by the staff have a minimum fee of $1.00 for postage and handling.
• Patrons with a balance due will be required to pay balance before further research is handled.
• Fax copies will be provided only to residents of Scioto County.