Reading Room

Anyone who wants to engage in research in archival collections and use the library of the IISH, NEHA, and Persmuseum is welcome to the reading room.
On first arrival researchers need to sign in and agree to a set of rules about use of the collections. On each subsequent visit researchers are asked to sign our guestbook.
For questions on collections and for assistance in finding information, please contact the staff in the reading room. Please submit all document requests from the closed-access stacks to the information desk.

The reading room contains reference works on social economic history, inventories to archival collections, recent issues of journals, and publications by IISH, NEHA, and Persmuseum.

For information on requesting and consulting material from the library and archival collections, see Using the collections.

Researchers who need to spend extended periods working at the Institute can reserve a small study carrel and/or a portable computer.
Researchers have access to computers with Internet accessibility. Besides using the online catalogue and accessing the Internet, several databases are available, including the Dutch Central Catalogue en Online Contents (index to Dutch serials).

Rules

• Coats, bags, and cases are not permitted in the reading room, but may be left in the cloakroom opposite the reception desk at the ground floor entrance.
• Free lockers are available for personal belongings.
  Plastic bags are available for bringing in writing equipment and portable computers.
• Readers are not permitted to bring into the reading rooms items that may harm the collection.
• Do not write on or mark any items from the collection.
• The following items are not permitted: hand-held scanners, mobile telephones, tape recorders, personal photocopiers.
  Digital cameras are allowed only in designated areas and are subject to approval. We can discuss requirements once you are here.
• Visitors to the Institute may use the canteen on the first floor.
  No food or drink is permitted in the reading room.
• Readers causing disturbance to other reading room users will be asked to leave.