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WKU Special Collections Library Services & Fees


Reproduction Services

Materials from the Special Collections Library, Manuscripts & Folklife Archives and WKU Archives are accessed through the Harrison-Baird Reading Room located on the second floor of the Kentucky Building.

The Harrison-Baird Reading Room is equipped with microfilm reader/printers and a photocopy machine. The collection policy prohibits the copying of restricted materials, fragile items, or complete collections. Photocopies may be obtained for standard sized pages at a cost of $.10 to $.25 per page.  Patrons may use phones, tablets, or cameras when copying materials, with the exception of photographs. Standard tabletop scanners and hand-held scanners are prohibited.  It is the researcher's responsibility to make sure that collections are cited properly.

All photographs in the Special Collections Library remain the property of the department.  All reproductions are sold for personal/reference use only, and may not be displayed, published or broadcast in any format without payment of appropriate fees as noted below and without permission from the Department.  All responsibility for questions of copyright that may arise in copying and in use of the copies must be assumed by the user.  For additional information see Copyright.

Images obtained for Social Media outlets should have a resolution of less than 100 dpi.  WKU Special Collections Library or WKU Archives should be cited as appropriate and include either #WKUscl or #WKUArchives as appropriate.

Scanning Fees:

  • Images can (300 dpi or less) - $5 each
  • Images saved to CD - add $1 + postage/handling (many .jpg scans may be sent via e-mail or Dropbox)
  • Documents will be evaluated as to size and scanning time and a fee assessed. 

One Time Publication Fees:

Audio Tape Reproduction Fees:

  • Copying to a cassette tape - $10
  • Digitizing and copying to a CD - $10

Make checks or money orders payable to Special Collections Library.  Cash and interdepartmental transfers are accepted.  Special Collections Library does not accept credit card or online payments.  Payment should be sent to the Department at:

WKU Special Collections Library
1906 College Heights Blvd., #11092
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1092


Research Services

The best way to conduct family or local history research is by visiting the Special Collections Library at the Kentucky Building on the WKU Campus. If this is not feasible, we offer limited research services.  Requests should be specific in nature and are answered in the order in which they are received. 

Fees: A donation to Special Collections is encouraged in recognition of staff time dedicated to answering your request (generally 15 - 30 minutes per request). Any reproduction charges (see above) will be charged to the researcher. 

Submit your requests:

WKU Special Collections Library
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11092
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1092

  • telephone: 270-745-5083, individuals inquiring by telephone may be asked to submit the request by mail or email. 

Obituary Searches

A partial index to obituaries and death notices from the Park City Daily News exists for Jan. 1, 1988 to December 31, 2007, which can be searched for free. Patrons will receive information regarding existence of obituary.  They may at that time pay $10 per 3 obituaries found for scans or photocopies of the obituaries. 

For more recent obituaries us the Park City Daily News Obituary website.  

Additionally, Special Collections staff will search for up to three obituaries in our Kentucky newspaper holdings for a fee of $10. A search will be conducted through seven days after date of death. 

Fill out an Obituary Search Form to request an obituary search.  


For additional information contact us at: 270-745-5083 or e-mail spcol@wku.edu.

Policies subject to change without notice, revised 1/9/2019. 


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 Last Modified 4/19/22