The State Historical Society of Missouri's collection is non-circulating; however, an interlibrary loan (ILL) service makes microfilm available to patrons who cannot visit one of SHSMO's research centers (Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla, Saint Louis, or Springfield). SHSMO's circulating microfilm collections include:
- newspapers
- manuscripts
- selected high-demand county history books
- city and county directories
- land ownership maps
- periodicals
Fee
1-2 reels, two weeks use
- $15 within US
- $25 international
Fee for members
How to Join
- $13.50 within US (10% discount)
- $22.50 international (10% discount)
- $10 direct to member at Supporting Level or above ($20 for international addresses)
- Free to member at Patron Level or above
Accessing the collections
- To find a newspaper, use SHSMO's catalog of Missouri Newspapers on Microfilm
- To find a manuscript, go to the Manuscript Collection page. Please remember that the collection will only be available through interlibrary loan if it is on microfilm.
- To find city directories, maps, or periodicals, use SHSMO's Guide to Selected Holdings on Microfilm.
- Use the online catalog, MERLIN to search for books, journals, atlases and other titles including SHSMO's newspaper collection.
Providing Citations
To fulfill your request, the interlibrary loan librarian will need exact item citation.
For newspapers a citation includes:
- town of publication
- title of the newspaper
- the date or time period needed
- the roll number
For manuscripts a citation includes:
- title of collection
- collection number
- folder, volume, and/or roll numbers
For material other than newspapers, provide:
- title
- author
- publication date
- call number (if possible)
Librarians can use the ALA Request Form to make an ILL request.
Note: Check with your local library regarding ILL policies before submitting your request.
To cover postage and handling costs, SHSMO charges $15.00 to $25.00 (US) per interlibrary loan transaction depending on your membership status, location and billing requirements of your local library. Some borrowing libraries pass this cost on to the patron, others do not. Payment is required in advance.