Public Services

Reference | Research | Reproduction and Licensing

Hours of Operation*
Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM – 3 PM
*Effective January 20, 2009 (hours are subject to change)

Reference Services

We are currently unable to provide reference assistance to walk-in visitors. Any reference inquiries pertaining to Japanese American history and culture and the holdings and exhibitions of the Japanese American National Museum may be directed to:

Hirasaki National Resource Center Reference Desk
369 East First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Email: hnrc@janm.org
Telephone: 213.830.5680
Fax: 213.830.5697

Please include your name, telephone number, email address, and a detailed description of your request. All requests will be responded to in the order they are received. Response time is from 4 to 6 weeks based on staff availability.

The genealogical resources of the Hirasaki National Resource Center include World War II camp records, immigration record indices, and the Japanese American Military Experience database. Staff and volunteers at the Resource Center are available to assist with these resources on a walk-in basis.

The Hirasaki National Resource Center provides 30 minutes of support for reference questions within our scope and mission. For those wishing assistance with more in-depth research, we provide a fee-based research service. Refer to Fee Schedule (PDF 300KB) for rates.

Onsite Research Procedures

Visitors to the Hirasaki National Resource Center may use its library collection of secondary published materials at any time during the Center’s open hours. All library materials are non-circulating. The Resource Center provides VCRs and DVD players for on-site viewing as well as desks and reading spaces. Self-service photocopying is available as well.

Research using items from the Japanese American National Museum’s permanent collection, including archival collections, original manuscripts, photograph, and artifacts, and rare books is by special appointment only. To access these materials, all researchers must observe the following procedures:

• Contact the Hirasaki National Resource Center staff to consult reference staff on your research needs
  Prior to your visit, you must consult with reference staff to determine if relevant materials are in the collection and are available for viewing. The permanent collection of the Japanese American National Museum includes over 80,000 objects. There is no publicly accessible catalog for the entire collection.
• Make Your Research Appointment
  Appointments are arranged based on staff availability. Please contact the Hirasaki National Resource Center at least two weeks prior to your anticipated visit. Access to items from the permanent collection are not available on a walk-in basis.
• Admission Fee
  All researchers are required to pay the National Museum’s regular admission fee each visit. We encourage you to consider membership with the Japanese American National Museum if your research requires multiple visits. National Museum membership includes unlimited admission and other benefits.
• Free Lockers
  You will be asked to leave all your bags and coats in a free locker provided by the Hirasaki National Resource Center.

In the Archival Reading Room:

• Sign in and complete “Researcher Register form” – researchers must sign an agreement to obey the archival reading room rules and complete a registration form for the use of permanent collection on your first visit.
• Only pencils, paper, and laptop computers are permitted in the archival reading room. No pens. No backpacks, purses, or briefcases.
• Do not mark, fold, bend or impact permanent collection materials in any manner.
• No cameras (including digital) or scanners are allowed.
• Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited.
• Use white cotton gloves – white cotton groves are required for handling photographic materials and some permanent collection materials. Gloves will be provided.
• All materials must remain in the Archival Reading Room.
• Reproduction services – photocopy and image reproduction services are available. All reproduction, including photocopying, must be done by Hirasaki National Resource Center staff. Staff reserve the right to limit or deny reproduction requests based on the condition of original materials.
• Reference staff reserves the right to limit the number of items paged per day.

Reproduction Services and Licensing Procedures

Photocopy Services

Researchers may make photocopies of secondary resources on the Hirasaki National Resource Center’s photocopier. Self-service photocopies from our microfilm holdings are also available. All archival materials from the permanent collection must be photocopied by staff. Refer to our Fee Schedule (PDF 300KB) for photocopying pricing.

Digital Reproductions

Digital reproductions are available in a range of formats and sizes. Please consult our Fee Schedule (PDF 300KB) for a detailed listing and price information.

All reproduction requests must be pre-paid. Rush orders may be accepted with a 100% surcharge, depending on staff availability.

Licensing Procedures

Images from the collection of the Japanese American National Museum may not be reproduced, distributed, or displayed without a completed license agreement and payment of the appropriate use fees. Use fees apply to one time use per image distributed in licensed format, unless otherwise authorized in the license agreement. For use fees based on circulation and format, please consult our Fee Schedule (PDF 300KB).