Good points by Claudia.  I'm not going to get into a semantics war, but
to ask a researcher to disclose their reasons for conducting a project
that involves your collections certainly is a form of "screening" which
incidentally wasn't a word I was thinking of when I decided to reply to
this.  I have done research at NARA and I also do it from my desk via fax
or e-mail.  But I have found that when I contact an institution and let
them know exactly why I would want to purchase a photograph or borrow an
object, that the more helpful you are in your explanations of your
project, the more helpful they are in helping you find what you need.

But we're getting away from the subject.  If a lawyer requires access to
a collection, and has a worthy explanation as to how that is being used,
then the archivist or director of the institution has the option of
allowing access for that lawyer's particular need.  It's just common
sense.  The neutrality of the museum then comes to bear on the decision
made.  If it would seem that the museum might be entangled by litigation,
perhaps the best course is to steer away from it, and let the lawyer
researcher know that they cannot have access to the collections; unless
the museum has a written policy and sufficient disclaimers, then there
should be no problem in giving access to the collection if the
researcher's request is reasonable.

O
Olivia S. Anastasiadis, Curator
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace
18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard
Yorba Linda, CA  92886
(714) 993-5075 ext. 224; fax (714) 528-0544; e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

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