The Bentley Historical Library considers requests for limited duplication of materials, depending on their condition.
First, register for your Bentley research account, which tracks your duplication order.
How to Submit a Duplication Order Online
1.) Log into your research account and follow the instructions for requesting an item.
2.) Click the “Request Duplication” button in the Request Type section, which adds the duplication form to the bottom of the page:
3.) In the Items to Duplicate box, type in any additional information or notes about your desired material (ex. “all contents,” “first 10 pages only,” etc.). Choose your Format, Delivery Method, and Service Level from the drop-down menus.
4.) Click the Submit Request button.
5.) You will see an additional Order Status for the request:
If you’re visiting the Reading Room to choose material, you can fill out a brief paper order form for each box, then use paper slips to “flag” your selections in your box/item. All material stays in its box. Staff will convert your original request into a duplication order, which you can track in your research account with the transaction number.
If you have any questions about duplicating materials, you can always fill out our “Ask an Archivist” research request form or email bentley.duplication@umich.edu.
Digital Imaging Duplication Information
| Type | Format(s) | Resolution | Price/Fiscal Year Limit (July-June) | Notes | |
| Standard | PDF, JPEG, or TIFF | 400 PPI color for most items | 250 pages, no charge | ||
| Oversize | PDF, JPEG, or TIFF | 400 PPI color | 10 sheets, no charge | Items that must be scanned offsite (larger than about 16″ x 24″) | |
| BHL Image Bank | JPEG | Varying PPI color | No charge | Download from Image Bank | |
| Albert Kahn Architectural Drawings | 400 PPI b/w | 10 sheets, no charge | Permission required from Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. Contact Reference staff for forms |
Standard Digital Imaging Duplication
Price
We are pleased to offer about 250 pages of standard digital imaging services per fiscal year for free. Due to our order volume, we are unable to accept larger orders.
Resolution
Most items are digitized in color at 400 PPI (pixels per inch). This meets most personal research and publication needs. Items such as negatives and slides are digitized at a higher resolution.
Formats
We provide the following digital format options.
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- PDF files are commonly used for documents to be read for personal research. Multiple items are combined into one “packet.”
- TIFF files are commonly used for images in print publications. They are high quality files that are uncompressed and large in size.
- JPEG files are commonly used for images that will go online. They are compressed files that are smaller in size and lower in quality than TIFF files.
Oversize Imaging
Price
Oversize items, such as large maps, must be scanned offsite. They will be reviewed for condition before the order is approved for processing. We offer about 10 sheets of oversized imaging for free per fiscal year (July-June).
Formats
We can provide PDF, TIFF, or JPEG files for oversize items. Please be aware that TIFF or JPEG files may be very large and take extra time to open on your computer.
Image Bank Orders
You can see a small sample of our materials in the Bentley Image Bank.
Resolution
Items have been digitized in color at varying PPI (pixels per inch).
Formats
These images can be downloaded as JPEG files for free by using the “Download Image” option below the photo. You can click on the “Order This” button if you need TIFF format.
Albert Kahn Architectural Drawings
Reproductions of Albert Kahn architectural drawings require permission from Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. Please contact Reference staff at bentley.ref@umich.edu for duplication permission forms and further ordering instructions.
Price
We are pleased to offer 10 sheets per fiscal year for free. Due to our order volume, we are unable to accept larger orders.
Resolution
Items are digitized at 400 PPI (pixels per inch) in black and white.
Format
Items are only available as PDF files.
Delivery
Method
Completed orders will be made available for download from our Dropbox transfer site.
Timeframe
We cannot guarantee that orders can be fulfilled within a certain time period. Normal processing time for digital imaging is 6-12 weeks depending on format and order volume. Please see below for rush order information.
Audiovisual (AV) Digitization
To protect fragile analog audiovisual recordings (such as audio cassettes, film reels, and VHS tapes), the Bentley has a policy of converting them to digital formats whenever a researcher requests access.
If you would like to download a copy of a recording, your order must be approved by the copyright holder.
| Type | Format(s) | Fiscal Year Limit (July-June) | Notes | |
| Standard | MP3, MP4 | 8 recordings | ||
| Production | WAV, MOV | 8 recordings | Download must be approved by copyright holder |
Standard
We recommend standard media files for most uses and a more efficient delivery. This meets most personal research and publication needs.
Production
Production quality files may require additional download time, storage and, on occasion, alternate delivery methods.
Price
Online streaming is free.
Personal copies of audio or video files may be available for download pending copyright review by Curation archivists. If approved, we are able to provide about 8 AV recordings per fiscal year for free. Due to our order volume, we are unable to accept larger orders.
Delivery
Method
Files can be accessed on Reading Room computer workstations, the Bentley Digital Media Library (BDML), or, when possible, our file delivery platform.
Completed orders for download will be made available through our Dropbox transfer site.
Timeframe
We cannot guarantee that orders can be fulfilled within a certain time period. Normal processing time for AV digitization is 10-12 weeks depending on format and order volume. Please see below for payment and rush order information.
Rush orders may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. Please consult with a Reference Archivist.
Research to Find Images
Reference staff can provide a limited amount of time to locate specific images in our collections. Please fill out the “Ask an Archivist” online reference request form. Requests to find images will be treated as regular research requests and will be answered in the order in which they were received. If Reference staff finds any images matching the request, they can email you an overview of their findings along with the necessary instructions required to order electronic scans.
Copyright
Please visit our Permissions Polices page for further information and citation examples:
https://bentley.umich.edu/research/permissions-policies/
Other Considerations
The library is able to assist patrons with the digitization of materials as permitted by copyright law and donor agreements. To ensure the security of our collections and provide consistent service to all researchers, the digitization or scanning of archival materials in any format will be undertaken and managed by the Bentley Historical Library in accordance with recognized best practices and professional standards.