Frequently Asked Questions: American Folklife Center

The American Folklife Center's ethnographic sound collections are available for listening in our research center in the Thomas Jefferson building of the Library of Congress. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm, excluding federal holidays. Learn more about visiting our research center. 

In general, AFC cannot distribute digital copies of ethnographic sound recordings that are under copyright without written permission from rights holders. Copyright and other restrictions govern duplication and distribution of recordings. As the home to the Copyright Office of the United States, the Library of Congress takes the rights of creators very seriously. Ethnographic collections may have many rights holders, including, but not limited to, performers, composers, lyricists, fieldworkers, recordists, corporate entities, and more. Unless all creators have waived their rights in the recording, you will need to seek permission to receive a digital copy.

Please be advised that the lab at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center also charges fees for duplication of material. Learn more about ordering copies of audio materials. 

With consideration given to multiple factors, reference librarians may offer short research consultations to help you meet your research needs. During these brief phone calls or online meetings our staff can help you determine if a collection is of interest to you and what permissions may be necessary. Please reach out to us via Ask a Librarian if you're interested: Ask a Librarian: American Folklife Center - Ask a Librarian