Virtual Reading Room

1828 field notes from Board of Public Works collection

We offer remote access to select undigitized archival materials through our Virtual Reading Room. This service allows you to view materials remotely through a scheduled Zoom appointment. 

A Virtual Reading Room appointment is a one-hour Zoom session with a staff member. During the session, staff operate a document camera and page through your requested materials, allowing you to view records without visiting the library in person.

This service is not a research consultation with a subject expert. If you need research assistance, please contact us.

What You Can Request 

Each appointment may include one of the following materials: 

  • One box of archival records 
  • One bound volume 
  • Up to three single accession folders 
  • One reel of microfilm 

Please note that we cannot accommodate records larger than 17.5" x 33.5".

If you do not finish reviewing the requested material within the one-hour session, you must schedule a separate appointment to continue. 

Archivists reserve the right to decline requests for materials that are restricted due to privacy, copy limitations, or preservation concerns. Materials that cannot be served in the Virtual Reading Room include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Materials Not Eligible to be Served
  • Audio-visual material 
  • Birth, marriage, and death registers from the Vital Statistics collection 
  • Health records less than 125 years old 
  • Kentucky records on microfilm 
  • Maps and architectural drawings
  • Original records when a service copy is available 
  • Oversized records 
  • Records containing attorney-client privileged information 
  • Records containing personal identifying information (such as addresses or Social Security numbers) 
  • Records with copy restrictions (as noted in the catalog) 
  • Pardon applications less than 75 years old 
  • State agency building architectural drawings and floor plans
  • Student records less than 75 years old 
  • West Virginia records on microfilm

Booking an Appointment 

The Virtual Reading Room service is free. 

Appointments must be booked by the Thursday before the requested appointment date. Appointments may be scheduled up to one month in advance. If the record of interest is stored off-site, we may need to reschedule your appointment to accommodate the transfer of material to our downtown facility. 

Before booking an appointment, please search the catalog to identify the material you wish to consult. When booking, you must provide the collection title and/or accession number. For larger collections, we also require the box number. Appointments that do not specify a collection will be cancelled. 

If you have questions about records or would like to speak with an archivist about your research, please contact us. 

Appointment Availability 

Virtual Reading Room appointments are offered at the following times (Eastern Time): 

  • Mondays: 10:00 AM–11:00 AM and 3:00 PM–4:00 PM 
  • Wednesdays: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM 
  • Fridays: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM 

Appointments are not available when the library is closed. 

You can schedule up to three appointments per month. These sessions will not be recorded.  

Disclaimers

  • The Zoom session will not be recorded. During your appointment, you may select up to 10 pages for us to photograph with the document camera. We will email the images to you once your session is complete.
  • We recommend that you have access to a microphone during your appointment in order to provide directions (i.e. zoom in on this image, turn the page, etc.)
  • We do not recommend using a smartphone or other mobile device for your appointment, as the screen may be too small to read documents.
  • We are unable to provide technical assistance in preparation for or during your Zoom session.
  • We strive to provide the best image quality possible, but image resolution and fidelity is limited over Zoom connections.
  • In the event of building closures, staff absences, technical issues, or other unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to cancel and reschedule your appointment. If this happens, a staff member will reach out to you by email.