Rules for using the collections

• The general public can use the collections of Saaremaa Museum.
• Generally researchers can use the collections from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Researchers can enter the storage room only with the permission of the chief curator and together with the holder of the respective collection or the chief curator.
• Researchers can access museum objects, including the card catalogue, if they have previously agreed upon it with the chief curator or with the holder of the respective collection by phone or email.
• In order to use the collections, the researcher will have to fill out and sign a form that will serve as the basis for fulfilling the request.
• A request can also be submitted by phone or by email at least two workdays in advance.
• The requested museum objects will be brought up from the storage room on the same day that the request is submitted, if possible; if not, the parties will agree upon the next suitable time.
• The number of museum objects that will be handed over to a research depends on the size of the surface on which the museum objects can be examined safely.
• Museum workers have the right to limit or forbid a researcher from seeing a museum object because of the state of the object or some other problems.
• Users of the collection must not damage museum objects.
• Museum objects are handled in gloves that are assigned for it.
• The researcher will personally return the museum objects to the holder of the collection or to the chief curator.
• The researcher will mark all of his/her visits down into the book of visitors.
• The museum has the right to not provide services to persons who have previously violated the trust of the museum.

 

MAKING COPIES OF MUSEUM OBJECTS

• Making copies means taking photos of, drawing sketches of or scanning objects, photographs/negatives and archival documents, making photocopies of archival documents and making moulds of objects.
• A price list and a right of use granted to a person regulate the act of taking pictures of, scanning and making photocopies of objects, photographs/negatives and archival documents.
• In order to make copies of museum objects, it is necessary to fill out a form and request a right of use.
• Generally the museum is the one who makes copies of museum objects. It is forbidden to take pictures of objects on your own, except for when the holder of the collection has issued a special permit to you.
• There cannot be any direct contact between the copy tools and the museum objects that are copied.
• Copies will be received after a bill is paid.
• When publishing copies of museum objects, a reference to Saaremaa Museum has to be included.
• Making moulds of objects is agreed upon separately in every single case.

 

BORROWING MUSEUM OBJECTS

• Museum objects are given out only to legal persons on the basis of a written request and a letter of guarantee. The customer must ensure that the museum object is preserved properly and returned on time.
• Whether a request is fulfilled or not is decided separately on each occasion.
• Estonian museums and research institutions can generally borrow museum object for free; other legal persons have to pay the price set in the price list.
• When a museum object is given out, an act about giving out the object is prepared in two copies – one goes to the museum, the other to the borrower.
• Museum objects are generally not given out of the museum for more than one year.
• The museum has the right to check the state of the museum objects that have been given out on an ongoing basis.
• When the customer uses the museum object, a reference to Saaremaa Museum has to be included.