Library Services and Policies

The Jefferson Library welcomes queries on any aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life, times, and legacy and the Monticello plantation. If you are planning to visit us to do research on a Jefferson-related topic, we will be happy to assist you in locating and using our informational resources.  Appointments are required for research visits; please see our Visitor Information page for more details

If you cannot visit us in person, we may still be able to provide a limited amount of assistance to you. We also have a great deal of information available in the Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia that may already answer your need, so be sure to check there first before submitting a query.

Please be aware that, because of our small staff and limited resources, we cannot provide in-depth research services to off-site patrons.

Patrons are required to store personal belongings in designated areas. Coat closets are available on the second floor near the front office; lockers are available on the first floor near the reference desk. Only notebooks, laptop computers, and essential materials are allowed in the Reading Room.

Use of pens in the Reading Room is prohibited. Pencils will be provided by the Library if necessary.

Food and drinks are not allowed in the Reading Room.

Use of cell phones in the Reading Room is prohibited.

The Jefferson Library only circulates materials to Thomas Jefferson Foundation Staff, interns, and International Center for Jefferson Studies Fellows. All other patrons are welcome to use library materials on-site.

Library borrowing periods are as follows:

Thomas Jefferson Foundation Staff:

Books are loaned for 90 days, renewable 3 times.

Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies Fellows:

Books are loaned for 90 days, renewable once.

Public Readers (members of the general public):

Library materials may be used on-site only.

Videos are generally loaned for a period of 7 days, renewable 3 times. Special collections materials, information files, microforms, documentary papers, and reference materials do not circulate.

The Jefferson Library offers black-and-white and color photocopying, printing, and scanning free of charge on a self-service basis, within reasonable limits.

Photocopying of archival materials and items from Special Collections is prohibited.

1. Go to https://tjportal.on.worldcat.org.
2. Click on Sign In in the top right corner of the screen.
3. You will be taken to a login screen.  If this is the first time you have used the new TJ Portal, click "set/reset password," and you will be sent an email.  Click on the link provided in the email to set up a password for the new TJ Portal.
4. Type in your patron bar code (located on the back of your library card), and the password which you have chosen.
5. Click Sign In.
6. You will be taken back to the catalog screen.  To view your account, click on the button in the upper right corner with your name and select My Account from the drop-down menu that appears.
7. Once you are into your account, you can update your contact information, change your password, and view your checkouts and renew items.  You can also save and manage lists of items you have created in the catalog.
8. If you would like to sign out of your account, simply click the button with your name on it in the upper right corner of the screen, and select Sign Out from the drop-down menu that appears.

The library is equipped with:

• 1 microfilm/microfiche reader with printing/scanning capabilities
• 1 color copier/printer/scanner
• 2 desktop computers for short-term use
• 1 black-and-white/color printer
• 1 television equipped with DVD/VHS player
• 1 stereo system for playing CD's and audio cassettes

Note: The Library does not provide Ethernet cables, data storage media (CD-RW's, flash drives, etc.), or headphones for patron use.

Public library terminals have the basic accessibility features standard with Windows operating systems. 

The Jefferson Library is unable to offer additional assistive technologies such as screen reading software, magnification software, or specialized mice, keyboard, or joysticks. 

For questions regarding accessibility, please contact library@monticello.org

Prior to conveying any item as a gift, please contact:

Anna Berkes
Manager for Public Services and Collections Development
aberkes@monticello.org
434 984 7544
P.O. Box 316, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Unless a donor wishes to remain anonymous, "Gift from:" notes are added to each donated item's record in the Thomas Jefferson Portal online catalog. Also, bookplates noting donor's name are added to every volume given or every volume purchased with donated funds.

All donations are greatly appreciated and are acknowledged in writing; individual items are listed in the acknowledgement. In cases where a gift may exceed a value of $300 in the donor's estimation, the Foundation will provide a Deed of Gift. In cases where a gift is of high market value, a donor will need to consult the Internal Revenue Services' Publication 561: Determining the Value of Donated Property. The Foundation is legally prohibited from performing appraisals but may provide assistance in finding qualified appraisers.

The Library may decline an offer if items duplicate existing holdings (although extra copies are welcomed of many key titles), if the subject matter is outside the collection scope, or if there are donor restrictions that cannot be honored.

The University of Virginia maintains a list of central Virginia appraisers and other appraisal resources, which may be of interest to collectors and potential donors.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc. is the private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that owns and operates Monticello. A financial statement is on file with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the State of Virginia.