Researching at The Strong FAQs

If you are visiting The Strong for research purposes, the following answers to Frequently Asked Questions will help you plan a successful visit.

Before Your Visit

How do I arrange a visit?

• Scholars, students, collectors, and other researchers are welcome to conduct research on site. For library and archives staff to optimize collections access, please request an appointment at least two weeks in advance of your arrival. Appointments may be requested online, by phone at 585-410-6349, or by sending an email to library@museumofplay.org. Please provide a topic of research and indicate the materials desired and any special needs.
• For additional information on accessing collections and policies visit: https://www.museumofplay.org/collections/access-collections
• As a courtesy, researchers are provided free admission to the museum.

What should I bring?

• You may bring notetaking items such as a laptop or a notepad and pencil. No personal cameras, phones with cameras, or other imaging devices are permitted. All visual notetaking in the form of photos or digital scans must be done with the museum’s equipment. 
• Wi-Fi is available. The use of a personal phone, digital camera, or scanner is not allowed while using collection materials. Researchers must use the museum’s equipment to capture visual notes.
• The reading room is sometimes a bit cool. You may want to bring a sweater or dress in layers. 

How should I prepare for my visit?

• The best preparation requires knowing what materials you would like to see and sending a list ahead of your time at The Strong. The Researcher Request Form (found on the Research Access page) must be submitted two weeks prior to your visit.
• Please refer to the Archives Catalog, Library Catalog, and Online Collections to identify materials. 
• Refer to this blog on how to find things in The Strong’s collections.
• Advance notice will be required for use of museum objects as well as coordinating with The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG) for playing video games. Curators may limit the number of objects made available to researchers, depending on staff time, object condition, and special handling needs.

How can I become a research fellow?

The Strong awards research fellowships to academic professionals, independent scholars, museum scholars, and advanced graduate students at the Masters or PhD level. Fellowships are limited to individuals living more than 50 miles from Rochester and provide financial support for scholarly play research conducted on site at The Strong for periods of study ranging from one to four weeks. 

While You are Visiting

Where should I stay?

You may choose to stay in one of the nearby hotels, bed and breakfasts, or use AirBNB or VRBO. We recommend staying in the Park Avenue neighborhood as it is within walking distance of the museum and features beautiful Victorian homes, restaurants, and businesses. The South Wedge neighborhood may also be a good area to stay. The nearest hotels are the Hampton Inn and Suites Rochester Downtown, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, and the Strathallan Doubletree. 

Where should I park?

Parking is provided in the on-site parking garage off Howell Street for $7 a day. Complimentary parking is provided for research fellows.

1. Enter the museum’s parking garage via Howell Street.
2. Take parking ticket at gate.
3. Carry parking ticket with you into the museum.
4. Insert ticket at self-service parking ticket kiosks near museum entry or visit the admissions desk to pay for parking. Tickets must be scanned inside the museum to receive the $7 rate.
5. Do not lose your ticket. Insert validated ticket to exit garage. 

Where can I eat?

There are numerous restaurants that are within a mile of the museum. A few examples are: 

• Main Menu at The Strong 
• Puppy’s Game Café at The Strong 
• Nerdvana (pub fare, with board games and video games) – 50 Adventure Place
• Spotted Octopus Brewing Co. – 56 S. Union Street
• Owl House (vegan-friendly American plates) – 75 Marshall Street
• Native Eatery and Bar (comfort food, has outdoor tables) – 180 S. Clinton Ave
• Branca Midtown (Italian, pizza) – 280 E. Broad Street
• Fairpour Coffee Roasters – 42 Adventure Place
• Lila’s in the Lobby –  101 S. Union Street (inside the Hampton Inn)
• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (barbecue) – 99 Court Street
• Bar Bantum (bistro fare) – 1 S. Clinton Avenue
• Natural Oasis (Ethiopian vegan buffet lunch in a modest setting) – 288 Monroe Avenue
• Park Avenue neighborhood restaurants a little further from the museum
• The Union Stop (small bodega offering fresh produce, bread, groceries, etc.) – 34 S. Union Street

What are the expectations for me as a researcher?

• Researchers must fill out, read, and sign the Use of Collections Materials Agreement (found on the Research Access page) before receiving any materials or objects in the Reading Room, indicating that they understand and agree to the requirements and restrictions.
• Library staff will make a photocopy of a photo ID to be kept with the Use of Collections Materials Agreement and the Reference Request Form to document the researcher’s identity and the collections and objects they used during their visit.
• Everyone entering the museum must pass through a weapons detection system.
• Researchers will be assigned a locker and padlock for use during their visit. Outerwear, bags, and other personal effects must be stored in the lockers. 

What’s Allowed in the Reading Room

Notes & Related Materials

Special Equipment

*All equipment must be removed from cases and the cases stored in lockers 

Clothing & Personal Effects

*You may be asked to remove outer clothing that is wet or contains outdoor debris 

What are the guidelines for using library and archive materials?

• When working with archival materials we ask that you work with one folder and box at a time to ensure that materials are returned to the correct folder and box in the order in which they were originally stored.
• We ask that all materials be returned 15 minutes prior to closing.
• Additional materials can be requested at designated times throughout the day. Researchers can begin the day with one archival collection in addition to any library materials. Pull times for additional collections and materials will be 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Please prioritize the collections you want to utilize to allow for this schedule.
• Only four researchers will be in the library and archives at the time. We cannot accommodate researcher guests or family members in the library and archives.
• Four worktables will be in the Reading Room with one chair at each table. Two (2) Digital Access Workstations will be available to researchers.
• Most of The Strong’s library collection does not need to be handled with gloves. Exceptions are things like museum objects, glass plate negatives or other photographs that we avoid touching. Photographic materials have mostly been rehoused or sleeved to prevent surface contact.
• Clean, dry hands are best for paper and most plastics in the collection. Staff will request that researchers wash their hands and be conscientious about what they are handling and touching. We will provide nitrile gloves as necessary.
• ICHEG materials, like games and console controllers, are mostly plastic. Clean, dry hands are better than gloves.
• Hand sanitizer is alcohol-based and can erase or smear sensitive inks. If you frequently apply hand sanitizer, be sure that your hands are completely dry from it evaporating or rubbing into skin before continuing to handle papers with inks. Sensitive items include inkjet-printed paper, color-printed magazines, and color-printed book jackets.

What additional services are available to help me with my research?

• The library offers printing, copying, and scanning (fee incurring) services to assist you with your research. The preservation needs of the materials outweigh technical limitations of the photocopier or scanner. If museum staff determine that a book or document is too fragile for photocopying, other arrangements may be made to prevent damage to the material. This applies to bound volumes and to individual files.
• The library has digital, video, and audio materials that can be accessed with the equipment we have on site:
  • Computers
  • TV and VHS player
• Note that there are some restrictions as to what can be accessed.

How can I snap pictures and scan pages for my notes?

• Researchers must use the museum’s equipment for any visual note taking. Personal devices may not be used. The Strong limits the number of pages captured from any collection material to one-third of its total content or 100 pages, whichever is less. 
• Free of any charges or fees, the first 100 captured images will be reviewed by library staff, reduced to grayscale, watermarked, and shared with the researcher, usually within two weeks. Researchers are permitted a maximum of 500 photos or scans of collections materials per calendar year. The 500 images may not be sequential pages from a single resource. 
• The Strong reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order for any reason including if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order might involve violation of copyright law.
• Higher quality, color images are available for a sliding scale fee.

Are there special rules for electronic games and related archives? 

• Yes, on-site access to game files in digital formats will be provided in a read-only capacity.
• Researchers will need to provide prior, written permission from the copyright holder for any higher resolution images of any game files—digital, analog, or archival. 

Will I be able to view the museum exhibits?

• You can view the museum exhibits with a visitor’s badge which must be visible while you are in the museum. Visiting the butterfly garden, riding the carousel and train, or climbing the ropes course will require an additional payment. If you would like to view the museum’s exhibits during your visit, please let us know so we can arrange for a badge.

What are the library and archive’s hours?

• The library and archives are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

After Your Visit

Can I share the product of my research (article, book, etc.)?

• Please provide an appropriate citation to The Strong and its resources in any publication.
• We would love to see your work and receive a copy to add as part of our library and archival materials.

What are the image licensing rules?

Please refer to our Image Rights and Reproductions Fee Schedule (found on the Research Access page) for any questions on image licensing.

Who should I contact if I have follow-up questions?

• For any follow-up questions relating to the library and archives, please email library@museumofplay.org. 
• For questions related to research fellowships, please contact Christopher Bensch at cbensch@museumofplay.org.

Can I share feedback about my visit?

We would love to have feedback after your visit. Helping researchers have a successful visit is very important to us.

How can I support The Strong?

Preserving historical materials and sharing them with the public requires significant financial investments. If you’re interested in supporting these preservation efforts and ensuring access for future researchers, please consider making a donation.