Access to Photographs

The Photograph Archive administers and maintains all photographic material in the Margaret Herrick Library.

Core Files Photographs
Photographs from the production, biography, and subject files are available for viewing on a same-day basis without an appointment.

Archive Collections
The library’s holdings include numerous collections of photographs donated by individuals, organizations and studios. These collections are available by prior appointment only to individuals with a bona fide research need. Before archive collections are made available, the library’s "Application to Use Special Collections/Photograph Archive Collections" form (available at the reference desk) must be completed by the applicant and approved by the Photograph Curator.

Appointments must be made at least 48 hours in advance, by contacting the Photograph Archive Coordinator at (310) 247-3036, extension 280; no Special Collections material from the archive is available on a same-day basis. It is essential that specific times and dates of appointments be observed. Missed appointments may result in a week’s delay before an appointment can be rescheduled.

Because of the large number of researchers and the resulting demand for large volumes of material, as well as the obligation to protect fragile, original material from overhandling, the library must set reasonable limitations on the amount of photographic material that can be paged from the archive.

Reproduction of Photographs
All reproductions of photographs in the library’s collections are handled by Photograph Archive staff. Photo quality digital print reproductions may be purchased (per our standard schedule) as follows:

Reproduction of prints, transparencies, slides, or negatives	$40 per 8x10 b&w or color print
Rush order	$80 per 8x10 b&w or color print
Academy Awards	$50 per 8x10 print (b&w or color) [see Note]
Academy Awards rush order	$100 per 8x10 b&w or color print
Reproductions from bound volumes	$50 per 8x10 print (b&w or color)
Oversize prints, custom work (including slides)	Contact the Photograph Archive

Photograph orders for up to 10 prints placed on any day of the week are ready for pickup or mailing on Friday of the following week at 12 noon. (An order between 11 and 20 prints would be ready on the second Friday, at 12 noon, and so on...) There will be a slight delay during weeks which include legal holidays.

"Rush" orders, with a general limit of ten prints, are usually ready within 48 hours. Any work that is beyond our laboratory capabilities is sent to an outside lab. Additional costs are assessed, depending on what services are requested. At the discretion of the Library Director, arrangements may be made to film photographs in the library. A minimum of $400 is charged for the first hour of filming. For further details contact the Library Director.

Copyright and Reproduction Rights
The library provides reproductions only for the purposes of private study, scholarship, or research. The library reserves the right to refuse any order that it believes would violate copyright law. Therefore, patrons are responsible for obtaining necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies and/or individuals regarding any other uses of reproductions provided by the library. The question of legal rights is a matter that should be pursued by the user of the photograph with an attorney who specializes in copyright law. An information sheet on photograph rights is available upon request.

Note: With the exception of Academy Awards or other Academy-related photographs, and those in the Sanford Roth and the Alan D. Hunter collections, the library does not claim legal rights to grant publication of photographs in its collections. The Academy Awards images are provided by the library for private research purposes only. The library is not authorized to grant any other rights. Before ordering prints, please direct any questions you may have about potential licensing to the Academy's Legal Rights Department at (310) 247-3000, ext 115. Rights to reproduce or publish these images may or may not be available from the Academy and the library shall not issue a refund once an order is placed. An additional service fee may be assessed by the Legal Rights Department for publication or other commercial use of Academy Awards photographs, depending on the intended category of use of the photographs.

National Film Information Service (NFIS)
Individuals residing outside the Los Angeles area who are unable to visit the library in person may request copies of photographs by mail through the Academy’s National Film Information Service. The standard charges (normal time frame) are $45 per 8x10 regular print and $55 per 8x10 Academy Awards print. Service fees for use of Academy Awards photographs apply, and there may be additional charges for research.