Film and Photography in the Library

Library visitors are permitted to take photos or make video or other recordings in public areas of the library for personal use.

Recordings are not allowed in nonpublic areas of the library without authorization from library staff. Recordings are prohibited in bathrooms, lactation rooms, reflection rooms, wellbeing rooms, and any areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

When making recordings, you must adhere to the library’s building access policies. In addition:

• Do not disrupt regular operations of the library
• Do not disturb or violate the rights of library users

Library staff may ask any individual or group to cease making recordings if the activity appears to compromise safety or interfere with library operations or intended use of a library space by patrons.

Personal recording in the library will be allowed so long as it does not interfere with the library’s mission to support instructional, research, and service activities of faculty, students, and staff. The library may limit recording activities in order to preserve the intended use of library spaces. 

For film projects that might disrupt library operations, you must first place a request and gain approval from the University of Michigan Library before filming in library buildings.

Place a request for projects

To provide adequate time to coordinate logistics, submit your request at least two weeks prior to the proposed start of filming. No requests will be approved for the two weeks up to and including exam days.

All projects filming in the library must follow University Film Office guidelines.

Students and recognized student organizations

Students and recognized student organizations planning to make recordings for course-related projects can submit a request online or contact the library’s outreach team at libraryoutreach@umich.edu.

When submitting your request please fill the information out thoroughly to provide as much context as possible for your project. Once your project has been approved, a representative from Library Outreach & Engagement will set up a consultation and schedule an on-site walkthrough.

Campus department film projects

Submit all non-student requests, including those for professional film productions, to the U-M Library Communication and Marketing team at librarycomm@umich.edu.

Professional and external film projects

All professional and external projects filming in the library must submit an application to the University of Michigan Film Office.