Copying documents at IWM London

Discussion in 'Research Material' started by Roy Martin, Feb 19, 2016.

  1. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    I am looking for someone to copy some private papers at IWM London. There are just over 100 pages and at 40p per page that comes out at rather a lot of money, especially as only half of the file is of interest.
     
  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    They have you by the short and curlies, I'm afraid, unless you can get a copy typist in there. Unlike Kew, they don't let mere mortals photograph their documents, or didn't when I went a couple of years ago.
     
  3. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    If you attend in person, their self service photocopier (I'm talking about the copier in the IWM Annex where they keep the photo collection) is very good and a more 'normal' price. Brilliant service by some very dedicated staff as well. Remember, nothing is truly free....and why should it be.

    I've no direct experience of the rest of the IWM but, if you include labour costs, it could be argued that that is a true costs basis.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    40p per page beats TNA's £1.10 that's for sure.
     
  5. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks all,

    True but £42 for 100 + pages is a lot for this old pensioner, especially as at least half of it won't be of interest! Yes I have used the copier in the Annex and found it good, but I assume the documents are in the main building.

    Ah well! I'll have to book a research afternoon and hop on the train and just get them to copy the bits I really want, or spend the afternoon typing; though that will amount to the same price!
     
  6. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    They have strict 10% rule on published material (which can border on farce!)

    The 40p charge isn't bad, I've certainly availed myself of it numerous times. Posted to you and arrives promptly. Although I do not approve of numerous IWM practices their Research Room staff are excellent, personally pay the £42 and bind it or file it for the entire document. Useful for future reference. £42 may well work out cheaper when travel etc is factored in.
     
  7. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Because the IWM is merely the custodian, not the creator or owner of the items in their collections. Most of what they have has been gifted to them freely by bodies and individuals who wanted knowledge and artefacts in their possession preserved for the public for posterity.

    In my honest opinion, copying services should be conducted at cost, factoring in additional overheads for maintaining the materials and providing the service. In an age of digital reproduction and storage, such costs should be trifling.

    There are many avenues by which a museum can make a profit; this ought not be one.
     
    Swiper and Enigma1003 like this.
  8. hutt

    hutt Member

    I was there yesterday and i am pretty sure that subject to copyright on any individual document, you can photograph things in the research room but there us a £10 fee which i dont think is unreasonable.

    We recently introduced a photography permit scheme which allows users to take digital photographs for personal non-commercial uses and other ‘fair dealing’ copying purposes as outlined within the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended and revised). Cameras must be operated in silent mode and the flash switched off. No tripods, stands or scanners are permitted. Photography may not be allowed in cases where it may damage the original item or if the camera does not have a silent mode. The price is £10 per day or part of. Permits may be purchased at the Information Desk on the ground floor however we strongly recommend that you examine the material which you may want to copy before purchasing the permit.
     
  9. Mori

    Mori Active Member

    10 GDP sounds fair. Is that per day?

    On a good day, one can copy 3000 pages of documents. Yes, at the end of the day, holding the camera starts to be quite painful, but it's worth it.
     
  10. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks all,

    I am taking my camera there next week.
     

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