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Reproductions Service

These rules are issued as the Lending Rules valid for offering paper copies, photographic services, microfilms, and digital copies from the collections of the National Library of the Czech Republic. They are based on the Rules and Regulations of the National Library of the Czech Republic dated on April 24, 1992, namely on the provisions of the Art. 32, para 2, in accordance with those of the Art. 26, para 2 - 4, and those of the Art. 10, para 1. Individual items of the reproductions service including fees for them are stipulated only roughly, in accordance with the valid Fees and Services Price List of the National Library of the Czech Republic, item 12 - Reproductions Service. They may alter in consequence of changes of the Price List.

1. General Principles of the National Library Reproductions Service
2. Copying from Original Printed (Graphic) Works
2.1 Self-service Copying
2.2. Copying to Order
2.3. Photographic Reproductions
3. Copies from Microdocuments Kept in the Collections of the National Library of the Czech
Republic
4. Digital Copies Made by Delimited Means
5. General Provisions for Offering the Reproductions Service


1. General Principles of the National Library Reproductions Service

1.1. These Lending Rules are only valid for making reproductions (i.e. photocopies, microfilms and microfiches) as well as copies from them, and photographic reproductions or possibly digital copies from printed or graphic documents in general, kept in the National Library´s collections. The reproductions, no matter whether they are self-service copies or those made to order, will only be supplied to readers for their personal use, private study and research or for lectures given by a reader, and if need be, for needs of current news in mass media,
  • All the other cases (like using of different means for making a digital copy than mentioned below in para 4, using of video- or traditional film technology of recording, or other use of any copy) are not subject to the Lending Rules in question. In accordance with other regulations of the National Library of the Czech Republic, these cases must be discussed with the particular collection´s administrator, or rather with the staff of the Public Relations Department.

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1.2. The National Library´s regime of providing the reproductions service is subject to two basic restrictions: to the copyright restriction and to that of preservation. The National Library´s collections, collected during the past decades and centuries, represent our national archive. The Library, thus, must preserve it for the future generations and must guarantee its accessibility to them as well.

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1.3. The Lending Rules in question also follow the aspect of taxation of such cases, when human work of a librarian is requested by a user beyond the scope of basic librarian´s services (especially when a reader only places the material for copying in the library in order to have it made to order, or if he/she does not fill in all necessary details enabling to identify easily the part(s) requested from the original volume, or when the so-called remote user gives incorrect details in his/her order form).
  • In the same sense, the orders for making copies to order from the materials permitted for self-service copying are accepted only exceptionally (if a reader is not able to make it on his/her own due to his/her handicap or remote access).

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1.4. During the self-service copying of the item(s) requested as well as during their preparation for copying to order, it is necessary to handle the documents with care in order not to wear them out excessively or damage them. Especially, it is prohibited to break the integrity of documents in any way (e.g. to make notes into them, bend pages, glue in slips of paper etc.).
  • It is necessary to use bookmarks when preparing the item(s), from which you require copies. The bookmarks are available at the librarian on duty in every reading room. When preparing documents from archival and rare collections, it is permitted to use a pencil only; in case of manuscripts, old prints, early printed books etc. only non-acid paper may be used (which is also available at the librarian on duty).

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1.5. Since the National Library of the Czech Republic is entrusted to preserve its holdings, all readers are obliged to observe the stated procedures although they might appear as very complicated in individual cases. Kindly, do not hesitate to turn to the library staff to make clear what to do.

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2. Copying from Original Printed (Graphic) Works

2.1. Self-service Copying

2.1.1. Only a librarian on duty in the particular department will decide - in accordance with demands of the collections´ preservation (namely with those of para 2.1.2. - see below)- whether the material requested can be copied by a user him-/herself or not. This librarian will also show the user the copier to be used and will mark particularly the permitted way of copying the material.


The self-service copying is permitted from bound volumes (see this para below) as well as from unbound materials (see para 2.1.2.):

The bound volumes permitted for self-service copying must comply with the following conditions:
a) physical conditions of the material to be copied
aa) a size of a closed material does not exceed A4,
ab) a binding of the material enables its opening up to the      angle of 180°,
ac) the material is of not fragile paper
ad) a spine of the material does not exceed the bulkiness
of ca 8 cm,
ae) the material is in good state of preservation (it is a      cohesive block with no loosen sheets, the sheets are
not crumpled nor are they torn)
af) inbound folded enclosures may not be copied by readers      themselves
b) only materials from certain NL´s collections (see this item below) are permitted for self-service copying, but the specifications as per item a) always must be observed:
ba) a duplicate collection for out-of-library lending      (shelfmarks of sections SF I - III) and a collection with      shelfmarks Angl.,
bb) reference libraries and reference collections except for      those of the Department of Manuscripts and Early      Printed Books and copies designated by the      administrator of a reference library as unsuitable for self-     service copying [see below, the item e)],
bc) domestic literature with the imprint date from 1935 up to      the present,
bd) all foreign literature - except for Bohemical literature      written in foreign languages - with the imprint date from      1901up to the present,
be) collections of the Slavonic Library except for documents      kept in a vault,
bf) a dislocated collection in the Library of Librarianship      Literature except for internal documents of the National      Library of the Czech Republic, intended for informing      the NL staff only and marked like that (which cannot be      copied at all),
c) Exceptions for self-service copying may be provided, after due consideration, by the responsible librarian. The exceptions, though, may not concern specifications as per item b) (from the imprints of Bohemical literature of 1934 and older), if the material to be copied is in good state of preservation and complies with the conditions as per item a) - especially in cases when paper is of a high quality and well preserved, and the binding is supple indeed and undamaged [see also below item e)],
d) Documents from the collections kept in safes in the Department of Manuscipts and Early Printed Books, in the Music Department, and in the Slavonic Library may not be copied by readers themselves as well as those from the National Preservation Collection, from the collection of domestic literature with the imprint date up to the year 1900 incl., then documents subject to special preservation regime, and documents in the collections of the Library of Librarianship Literature intended for reading only. No exception is made from this provision.
e) Exceptions for individual items mentioned in item bb) (materials in reference libraries which may not be copied, and in the Dept. of Manuscripts and Early Printed Books which, to the contrary, may be copied) and in item c) (documents of the Universal Library Holdings, the preservation of which is a part of duties of the National Library of the Czech Republic however, thanks to their good state of preservation and due to the fact that they are duplicit copies, it is permitted to copy them on one´s own) may be properly labelled by the administrator of the particular collection.
Fees

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2.1.2. Also unbound materials may be copied by readers themselves:

The librarian will decide whether the unbound material may be copied on the reader´s own or not. (In principle, it is possible to make copies from materials, which are in good state of preservation and their format does not exceed the size of the working area of the copier - i.e. the glass flatbed; it means they are up to A3 format or those which are folded into such format when kept in the stack. The folded documents may only be copied in the size corresponding to the working area of the copier.)
Fees

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2.2. Copying to Order

2.2.1. All materials, which are not permitted for self-service copying - see the provisions of para 2.1.1., items a) to d) - are intended for copying to order.

In special cases, also material allowed for self-service copying may be accepted for copying to order if a reader is not able to make a copy on his/her own (namely in case of a disabled user or of a remote one).

 

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2.2.2. Materials suitable for self-service copying, as given in para 2.1.2., which are copied to order, are charged according to the valid Price List of the National Library of the Czech Republic - hereinafter only the Price List - (A4 format - A3 format).

 

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2.2.3. If a reader does not prepare the material for copying properly (i.e. if the order form does not contain complete and accurate bibliographic details and, AT THE SAME TIME, a marker is not placed at all places in the material to be copied together with complete and accurate identification details), then different fees will be charged in accordance with the Price List (A4 format - A3 format).

 

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2.2.4. Copies from materials, which correspond with specifications as given in para 2.1.1., item a) (in accordance with its size and state of preservation they may be copied) but orherwise are not suitable for self-service copying as per para 2.1.1., item b) to d) (they are part of the holdings, the preservation and conservation of which is among basic responsibilities of the National Library of the Czech Republic), must be made in a special preservation regime to avoid any damage to the material. They are charged according to the valid Price List (A4 format - A3 format).

 

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2.2.5. All other materials, which do not correspond with criteria required for self-service copying, as stipulated in para 2.1.1., items aa) and ad), or in para 2.1.2., will first be microfilmed, if this has not already been done, and the microfilm will then be used to produce paper copies requested. The copies are charged in accordance with to the Price List, para 12, usually c) together with d).

 

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2.2.6. Whole pages are copied from the material onto a microfilm. When only a cut of the microdocument is requested, this is charged according to the valid Price List.

 

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2.2.7. If a reader does not prepare the material for copying properly (i.e. if the order form does not contain complete and accurate bibliographic details and, AT THE SAME TIME, a marker is not placed at all places in the material to be copied together with complete and accurate identification details), the amount is added to the charge in accordance with the valid Price List.

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2.2.8. Copies made to order are supplied in terms as follows:
a) paper copies from a microfilm ......................... within 3 weeks of receipt of the order
b) other paper copies of a whole volume .............. within 3 weeks of receipt of the order
c) other paper copies of parts of books ................ within 1 week of receipt of the order
(up to 30 pages)

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2.3. Photographic Reproductions

2.3.0. A reader may order a photographic reproduction from a graphic material.

These reproductions may not be used in public without having it permitted expressly by a responsible official of the National Library of the Czech Republic (except for private study, scientific and research work, teaching and giving lectures, or topical news in mass media). To obtain the permit, kindly, contact the Public Relations Department or the administrator of the particular collection, even if you wish to use in public a copy of the document from the National Library holdings provided before.

 

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2.3.1. A charge for the photographic reproduction usually consists of two items of the Price List (i.e. one for taking the material to be copied on a negative film - a size of the negative will be determined by a photographer, and the other for making a photographic enlargement - a size of the photograph is ordered by a customer).

The customer may also ask for a sale of the negative, but only on the conditions mentioned in para 2.3.0. Fees are charged according to the Price List.

When making photographic enlagements from archival and rare collections (i.e. in the Reading Room of Manuscripts and Early Printed Books, in the Department of the Preservation Collections, seldom in the Slavonic Library, in the Music Department, and also in the Scholars´ Reading Room - when the documents are subject to special preservation regime) another sum is charged in accordance with the Price List.

Photographic enlargement is also available from a negative microfilm. However, the customer must be aware of a lower quality of the copy received. The fee is charged on the basis of really executed operations.

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3. Copies from Microdocuments from the National Library´s Collections

3.1. National Library of the Czech Republic makes the following copies from its collections of microdocuments, but only to order:
a) the enlargements from both microfilms (A4 and A3 formats) and microfiches (A4 format only) made by means of electrostatic technology; the final product is thus ´photocopy´
b) copies of microfilms - positive;
c) photographic enlargements - see above para 2.3.2.

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3.2. The librarian shall thoroughly check, whether all identification details are given in the order form (including its enclosures) and on the microdocument as well.

If an insufficient identification is given an additional fee is charged according to the Price List.

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4. Digital Copies Made by Delimited Means

4.1. National Library of the Czech Republic makes digital copies of printed (or graphic) documents in accordance with its technical equipment and sufficient number of staff, or enables to make them on one´s own.
Application of this technology is subject to preservation restrictions mentioned above - see paras 1 and 2 of these Rules. It is applied analogically depending on the character of particular procedures used and on handling with documents.
A reader is fully responsible for respecting the Copyright Law when using digital copies.
Fees

 

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4.2. A reader is permitted to make digital copies from documents kept in the National Library´s collections by the means of his/her portable electronic equipment, but on the proviso:

 

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4.2.1. The reader must always ask the responsible librarian on duty in the particular reading room for permission to use his/her own portable electronic equipment (scanner with computer). He/she will obey the librarian´s instructions unreservedly.

 

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4.2.2. The reader is allowed to make copies on his/her own equipment only from those documents, which are permitted for self-service copying (see para 2.1.) with possible restrictions in accordance with parametres of the portable scanner ( in principle, it is permitted to scan only a document up to the size of working area, i.e. of glass flatbed, scanner, and if need be, it is possible to reduce the bulkiness of a document etc.). For this reason the reader will ask the librarian on duty in a reading room for the permission to copy each individual volume. Should the reader disobey the librarian´s instruction, he/she may loose the right to use the National Library´s services.

 

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4.2.3. It is not permitted to use a scanner with uncovered intensive light that shines freely and extensively, having thus negative impact on the working environment in a reading room. The permission to use such a scanner may only be given by the persone in charge of the National Library in accordance with actual working conditions.

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5. General Provisions in Providing Reproductions Service

5.1. The reader is obliged to complete the National Library Reproductions Service Order Form duly and accurately. The librarian on duty will always check whether the details received are complete, and whether the material to be copied is sufficiently prepared. The librarian will also draw the reader´s attention to the fee per one copy unit and term of delivery (including possible range). The librarian on duty will sign the completed form and provide it with the date of receipt. The reader will sign it as well, confirming thus his/her obligation to cover the fee charged for the service requested (the fee ususally represent only direct expenses for the production of a copy)

 

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5.2. The National Library of the Czech Republic is not responsible for a lower quality of the reproduction, if this results from the quality of the material copied (incl. e.g. if a part to be copied is placed very closely to the back of the binding).

 

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5.3. If the document, from which the copies are made, is then required back to the reading room, the reader must complete a new order form, which the librarian on duty will attach to the Reproductions Service Order Form and will mention it as a note.



In Prague, August 30, 1999
Ref. Nr. OS - 45/1999
Vojtěch Balík, PhD.
Director of the National Library of the Czech Republic

March 16, 2000 Hanuš Hemola

Jana Huňová