Do I need to seek permission from the library or archive that owns a Joyce manuscript or letter if I want to quote from the manuscript or letter?
Some libraries and archives expect scholars to seek their permission before quoting from material held in their collections, particularly where the material is unpublished and the scholar gained access to it by visiting the library or archive. This expectation is often contained in an agreement that the scholar is asked to sign before being permitted to view the material on site or before receiving a photocopy of the material from the library or archive. It is important to bear in mind that this expectation typically reflects the library or archive’s desire to be made aware of intended uses of its material and to be cited as the owner of the physical document, and is rarely (and in the case of James Joyce material, never) based in any copyright ownership that the library or archive may claim. Therefore, any permission obtained from the library or archive to use its material will usually not substitute for permission from the copyright holder, if such permission is necessary.
