Using the Maryland Room
The Maryland Room is open to University of Maryland students, faculty, and staff; faculty, students, and staff from other colleges and universities; local, national, and international scholars; and members of the general public.
Circulation
Materials accessed in the Maryland Room do not circulate.
Computer Use
The Maryland Room computers are intended to support the academic work of UMCP students, faculty, and staff. When other users are waiting to use these computers to do library research, we may ask patrons to leave their workstations if they are engaged in activities not essential to their academic pursuits, including personal e-mail, participation in chat rooms, and playing games. Furthermore, the Library follows the campus Guidelines for the Acceptable Use of Computing Resources which we all should be familiar with.
Food and Drink
No food or drink is permitted within Hornake Library. Water is permitted in lobby areas in clear, spill-proof containers. However, absolutely no food or liquid is permitted within the Maryland Room and the Maryland Room Gallery. For more information on this policy, please read Why There's No Eating or Drinking in the Library.
Handling
Because of the fragile nature of many of the items in Special Collections, patrons may only use pencils and may be asked to wear white gloves in certain situations (for example, when using photographs).
Identification
Patrons do not have to present photo identification to enter the Maryland Room unless they will be using manuscripts, photographs, rare books, or memorabilia; if they will be working with these original source materials, they will also be asked to read and sign a use agreement form, at which time they must produce their photo ID.
Laptops and Other Equipment
Patrons may bring laptop computers into the Maryland Room in order to conduct their research. Laptop carrying cases must be left in a locker. Digital cameras are allowed on a case-by-case basis; please ask the appropriate curator for more information. Personal scanners are not allowed in the Maryland Room. Cellular telephones must be silenced, and patrons must leave the Maryland Room to conduct telephone conversations.
Lockers
Patrons must place all backpacks, briefcases, coats, umbrellas, purses, computer carrying cases, and all other materials not needed for their research in a locker before entering the Maryland Room. They must also sign in on a log sheet the first time they enter the Maryland Room each day.
Lost and Found
Items of relatively low value (e.g., coats, scarves, hats, umbrellas, notebooks, student ID cards) belonging to unknown persons found in Hornbake Library will be kept at the Hornbake Information Desk outside of the Maryland Room. When any items with monetary value (e.g., cash, jewelry, computers, etc.) or of a critical nature (e.g., check books, credit cards) are found, the Police Department (301-405-3555) will be called to pick it up and process it as lost property. The Police Department has procedures to screen persons claiming lost items to identify them and the approximate location where they were found before returning such items. Please note that Nonprint Media Services maintains their own lost and found service for items found on the ground floor of Hornbake Library.
Photocopies
The Maryland Room does contain a photocopy machine, but not all materials accessed there may be copied by patrons; they should check with the staff member on duty at the Maryland Room desk to determine if they are able to prepare duplicates. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for further information.
Retrieval
Patrons are asked to complete call slips/retrieval request forms for items they wish to see; with the exception of resources housed in the Maryland Room proper, all other stack spaces are closed to the public, and materials are paged for patrons.
