General Questions  |  Making Copies  |  Computers & Internet Access

Q. Is free parking available?
A. Yes. The library has a large, free, well-lit parking lot.

Q. Can I search the library's catalog on the Internet before I come?
A. St. Louis County Library's catalog is now on the Internet and Special Collections also has some of its Finding Aids on the web.

Q. How do I find out what is new in your department?
A. Sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter, PastPorts, giving you tips, what's new, and more. To subscribe, go to the St. Louis County Library home page. In the upper right hand corner of the page is the text, “Sign up for eNews!” Type your email address into the blank provided and follow the instructions. You will be asked to confirm your email address and provide some basic contact information. You can choose from a list of electronic newsletters offered by the St. Louis County Library, including PastPorts. Be sure to check all the ones you would like to receive.

PastPorts issues are produced as PDF files. Emails are sent to subscribers each month announcing the availability of the latest issue. In the meantime, current and past issues of PastPorts can be downloaded to your computer at: http://www.slcl.org/pastports/

Q. Can books be checked out from Special Collections?
A. Reference books have call number beginning with "R", such as R977.8. Reference books cannot be checked out, nor do they leave the floor. 

Books belonging to the NGS Book Loan Collection have call numbers that do not begin with "R" and can be checked out by local customers or are available through via Interlibrary Loan. Each NGS title will have a "NGS Book Loan Collection" note in the catalog record; the NGS book will have a round blue "H5" label on the spine and a special NGS/SLCL bookplate inside the front cover. Use the SLCL catalog to determine which books circulate and which do not.

Q. What can I bring into the Special Collections Department?
A. To preserve the holdings of Special Collections for everyone, please store personal belongings in lockers, located on Tier IV, or in your automobile before entering the department. The lockers require a quarter to use, but return the coin after use. For a guideline of what to store in lockers, click here. Either a St. Louis County Library card or a photo I.D. with your current address (such as a driver's license) is required for computer use.

Q. How big are the lockers?
A. The lockers' dimensions are 16.5" high x 12" wide x 16.5" deep. 

Q. Should I re-shelve the books after I use them?
A. No. When finished with books, please place them on one of the carts at the ends of the stacks.

Q. Can I pull my own microfilms?
A. Yes, customers may take the films they need from the film cabinets.

Q. Should I re-file the microfilms when I am finished using them?
A. No. When finished with a reel of film, please return it to the cart at the beginning of the microfilm reader area containing the sign "Please Return Microfilm Here." Important statistics are gathered in the re-shelving process.

Q. How long can a researcher use a microfilm/microfiche reader or reader/printer?
A. A one-hour time limit on readers and reader/printers is enforced only when others are waiting.

Q. Do I need a timecard to use a computer or film/fiche machine and is there a time limit?
A. Yes. Please ask at the reference desk for a timecard before using a computer or film/fiche machine. Customers in Special Collections are ensured 30 minutes use of a computer and one-hour use of a film/fiche machine but may continue using a machine if there is not a waiting list.

Q. What should I do with the timecard when I leave a film/fiche machine?
A. If you are leaving your reader to get more film, turn off the light but leave the timecard on the machine to show that it is occupied. If you are finished using the machine, turn off the light and remove the timecard and throw it away.

Q. Are the family histories shelved on Tier 5?
A. Our extensive collection of family histories is now housed in closed stacks on another floor. Fill out a request slip available at the SC reference desk for each title to be retrieved and place the slip in the "Request for books in closed stacks" basket at the reference desk. A staff member will retrieve the book(s) and place it on the hold shelf for you.

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Q. What is the cost of making copies from books and maps?
 A. Researchers may make letter or ledger sized (11” x 17”) copies in either black and white or in color. The letter sized copies are 15¢ for black and white, and 30¢ for color. The 11” x 17” sized copies are 30¢ for black and white and 60¢ for color. Copies can also be saved to a USB flash drive at no charge. You may bring in your own flash drive or purchase one in the department for $10.00 that holds 4GB of memory.  Please ask a librarian if you need assistance.

Q. What is the cost of making copies from film or fiche in the Special Collections Department?
A. Copies from film or fiche are 25¢ per page.

Q. What type of coins or currency should I bring?
A. Quarters, or one-dollar bills are recommended. A change machine gives quarters for one-dollar bills. Quarters are needed for the microfilm reader printers. This department is unable to make change for large bills.

Q. Some of your readers do not print. How can I make copies?
A. We have one designated "express" printer available for customers using the readers. There is a 5 copy, 10 minute maximum if others are waiting.

Q. Is it possible to print the census on one large page?
A. Our computer printer can make 11" x 17" copies from census images on the Web for 20¢ per page. The microfilm reader printers can also make 11" x 17" copies and a page from most census years will fit on that sized paper if the correct lens is used. Check with a librarian to see if a change of lens is needed. The cost is 25¢ per page for microfilm copies. 

Q. When I use the microfilm machines, can I save my image as a digital file?
A. We have five Minolta microfilm reader/printers connected to computers. You can save your digital image as a .tif, bmp, or jpg file. A USB memory-stick drive is the preferred method of saving your files. You may either bring your own stick-drive or purchase one in the department. There is a one-hour time limit on these machines if others are waiting. Printed detailed instructions are by each machine. There is no internet connection to this computer so you can not email files.

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Q. Do you have Internet access?
A. Yes. There is a 30 minute time limit if others are waiting.

Q. Do I need to show an I.D. to use a computer?
A. Yes. Either a St. Louis County Library card or a photo I.D. with your current address (such as a driver's license) is required for computer use.

Q. Can I access your subscription databases?
A. Customers have full access to all genealogical subscription databases while in any branch of the library. A listing of our databases and information about remote access is available on our databases page.

Q. Can I print copies from Internet sites or CD-ROMs?
A. Yes. Print-out from the computers costs 10¢ per page for letter size and 20¢ per page for 11" x 17" paper. Copies can be picked up and paid for at the Special Collections reference desk.

Q. What products do you have on CD-ROM?
A. We currently have over 300 CD-ROMs. For a listing of titles, click here.

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