According to our Research Archives (=Library) "rules", one should be affiliated with the University of Chicago and/or a member of the Oriental Institute in order to use the library collections. But in practice, visiting scholars or temporary researchers can usually come to an accommodation with our Research Archivist. The Research Archives is a non circulating collection, so the question of borrowing privileges does not occur. For access to our museum or archival materials collection, more "bona fides" are needed, but this is not a case of monetary spending so much as it is of having a definable research topic, being known to our curators, etc. An individual annual membership to the OI currently runs $20 for students, $40 for seniors, and $50 in general. Margaret Schroeder The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago 773-702-9522 You Wrote: >I'm posting this question for a colleague: > >"Do any of you charge the general public for access to your reading >room or research library? If so, how much and is that fee applied >towards something specific at your institution?" > >Thank you. > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).