Using MARBL
Sharing Emory resources for the public good is an important part of the vision that guides MARBL's daily work. Everyone is welcome to use MARBL collections: students, scholars, visiting researchers, and the general public. Researchers younger than fifteen years old and groups should contact us to make special arrangements.
What would you like to see?
Begin by consulting MARBL's Research Guides, Catalogs, and Online Collections.
If you are planning to visit MARBL, please let us know when you will arrive and which materials you would like to see.
- For rare books, please provide the author, title, and full call number.
- For manuscripts and archives, please provide the collection number, collection title, and box numbers. For example: MSS644, Ted Hughes papers, boxes 1, 34–45, OP2.
Please request any audiovisual materials (including audio recordings, video recordings, and film) in advance, so staff can ensure that access copies are available. Some MARBL collections are stored offsite; thus, it may take a few days to pull those materials.
Some manuscript collections contain restricted materials. These restrictions are described in the finding aids in the Administrative Information section. Please contact MARBL librarians for more information about restrictions.
Getting started
When you arrive at MARBL, you will be asked to share some information about yourself and your research.
- First, you will complete a Researcher Application Form and show a photo id. We do not require a letter of recommendation or other credential.
- Next, you will sign in at our daily register so that we have a record of your visit.
- Then you can consult with MARBL's research services staff about your research interests so that we can help direct you to the most relevant materials.
If you have not requested materials in advance of your visit, you may request books, manuscripts, and other materials using call slips MARBL provides. Our staff members retrieve requested materials regularly throughout the day.
Reading room policies
MARBL materials cannot be checked out — instead, you may use them in the MARBL reading room. Only materials related to research are permitted in the reading room; you may take in paper, note cards, pencils, and computers, for example. A secure locker is available to you for other personal belongings.
Emory provides free wireless service for visitors.
You may be able to use a personal camera to take pictures of the materials you are using. Please ask the research services staff member who assists you whether you can photograph the materials you plan to consult. Some materials MARBL holds are governed by restrictions that prohibit photography.
MARBL's staff provides other reproduction options (photocopying, digitization, etc.) for a fee. Researchers may not do their own photocopying or scanning.
Reference services
Research questions received by phone, email, or mail are handled in the order received. The average turnaround time is five working days.
Due to the large number of research questions we receive, our staff will spend a maximum of thirty minutes on each inquiry. However, you may contact us for a list of freelance researchers who will work on research questions for an hourly fee.
Interlibrary loans
MARBL considers requests to borrow rare books and microfilm via interlibrary loan on a case-by-case basis. Researchers must make the request through the interlibrary loan offices at their home library. In general, MARBL only loans materials to institutions that have special collections and follow use policies similar to MARBL's.
Additional information is available from the Emory Interlibrary Loan Office.
