Temporary Moratorium on Digitization Requests
The IMF Archives has implemented a temporary moratorium on all new digitization requests. At present, we are unable to accommodate requests for digital copies of archival materials. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
Until further notice, access to archival records is available exclusively through onsite consultation. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Access to Records
Please note that only records previously cleared for public access will be available for immediate on-site consultation.
Researchers must submit a request in advance. All other records will require an internal review before an appointment can be scheduled.
Research Request Limitations
Due to the high volume of research requests, we are currently limiting researchers to 10 files per month prior to their visit.
Upcoming Closures:
The public has access to a substantial range of information as part of IMF's efforts to promote openness and transparency. IMF’s Open Archives Policy (Decision No. 14498 – (09/126), adopted 12/17/09 and effective 03/17/10, as amended) gives to the public access to documentary materials maintained in the IMF's archives including:
IMF Records exempt from public disclosure are:
Since 1996, the time rules for access were modified to respond to the users' community but the initial records types excluded from access by external researchers remain unchanged.
The researcher's use and publication of Fund archival material is governed by the IMF Copyright and Usage Terms . As a general matter, only personal, noncommercial usage is permitted. For additional permissions to use Fund archival records, please follow the instructions in the IMF Copyright and Usage Terms and submit a request. Materials also are available for purchase on the IMF Bookstore Website.
Under the Policy on Access to the IMF's Archives only departmental archival materials that are 20 years and older may be open to the public after they have been reviewed. There might be descriptions of holdings in the Archives catalog less than 20 years old due to archival processes, but they will be available to the public only when they fulfill the 20-year rule. Conversely, if you do not see descriptions of holdings due for release based on the time rule, please ask the Archives at archives@imf.org.
On the Archives
1. How to get access to the holdings of the IMF Archives?
The archives web catalog is a gateway to historical records of the Fund. There are two collections to browse and select from: the digital collection of the Executive Board Documents, available for immediate remote access; and the physical collection of Institutional Archives, to consult on site.
2. How to submit information request?
Send your general questions to archives@imf.org and we will respond
within 5 working days. For known items, search the catalog to make and
email us a selection of records you wish to consult. Once the selection
list is finalized,
the review process of the materials commences. When the review is over, we
will schedule your visit to the reading room.
3. Can “Secret” or “Strictly Confidential” IMF documents be
declassified and made available to the public?
Secret or Strictly Confidential documents can be requested to be
declassified and access will be granted only upon consent of the IMF
Managing Director.
4. Can IMF records that are exempt from public closure be opened?
No. There are exceptions applied to IMF records that preclude them from
being publicly disclosed and they cannot be opened to the public. For
example, human resource documents that contain personally identifiable or
sensitive personal information cannot be made public.
For Visitors
1. Who can use the IMF archives?
Members of the general public can conduct onsite research in the IMF
Archives.
2. Do I need an appointment to come to the IMF Archives?
Yes. Please see
Visiting the Archives
section.
3. What form of photo identification is needed?
Visitors must present a current government-issued photo ID such as a
passport or driver's license.
4. Where are you located?
The IMF Archives is located in the IMF Headquarters 1 Building (HQ1) in
Washington, D.C. For information about visitor access to the IMF,
directions, business hours and holiday schedules please see
Visiting the IMF.
5. Is the Archives reading room accessible by disabled persons?
Yes — the reading room is accessible by elevator.
6. What are the reading room hours?
By appointment only. For more details, see the Reading Room Protocol.
7. How are the time rules for access to IMF records administered?
See the
IMF's Open Archives Policy (Decision No. 14498 – (09/126), adopted
12/17/09 effective 03/17/10.
8. What is the photocopying policy?
Photocopies are no longer provided.
9. May I use a digital camera in the reading room?
The Archives recommends the use of a digital camera to make copies of
documents but note that flash photography is not permitted. A camera stand
is provided to researchers for this purpose.
Staff reserves the right to deny requests to copy fragile original
materials for conservation reasons.
10. May I use a laptop computer in the reading room?
Yes. There is a WIFI connection in the Reading Room..
11. May I send an independent researcher on my behalf?
Yes. With advance notice we allow professional researchers to conduct
research on behalf of someone who is unable to come onsite.
12. Do you conduct archives research for people who cannot visit in
person?
We can provide brief responses to factual requests but, for more
substantive or analytical work, researchers are expected to come in person.
General inquiries regarding IMF policies, relations with member countries,
or requests for statistical data should be directed to the IMF Public
Affairs Division at publicaffairs@imf.org while
inquiries regarding IMF publications available for purchase should be
directed to publications@imf.org.
13. How do I cite records found in the IMF Archives?
Any researcher using archival material from the IMF Archives, regardless of
the citation style they prefer to use (such as APA, ASA, Chicago, Harvard,
MLA etc.), should note that citation of archival material typically has two
basic parts: the location reference and the document description, each of
which may have several components. In any cases, the following elements
should be included: (1) Location reference: Name of the repository, Title
of the fonds or collection, and Reference Code (if any); and (2) Document
description: Title of Series, Sub-series, Folder title, and date range. For more information, please visit the IMF Bookstore Website or see Citing IMF Archives guide.
The IMF Archives holdings are composed of Collections and Fonds. Essentially, collections are an artificial accumulation of documents of any provenance brought together on the basis of some common characteristic while fonds are all documents created, accumulated and used by one individual or organization in the course of their activities or functions.
The holdings consist of two components: (1) the Executive Board Documents and (2) the Institutional Archives which are departmental archives and other fonds and collections. These holdings contain records in various formats, including, manuscripts, digital records, photographs, audio recordings and multimedia. Note: The records in the archives are subject to declassification before they can be released and some of them are closed to external researchers in accordance with the Archives' access policies.
Please visit the IMF Archives catalogue.
Service Standards
Records eligible for declassification will be reviewed in accordance with the IMF Open Archives Policy before they are ready for research use. Users can only make an appointment to view requested records after they have been notified of the completion and results of the review process.
The IMF Archives are open to the public only by appointments. Send all your inquiries to the Archives mailbox at archives@imf.org and we will respond within 5 working days.
Visiting
The Archival holdings of the IMF are accessed at IMF Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The unique and irreplaceable nature of archives makes it impossible to provide access to the original material anywhere other than in the Archives reading room. Researchers who are unable to come to Washington, D.C. can employ research agents to consult the records on their behalf.
An archivist will retrieve the materials from the off-site repository and deliver the items to the researcher in the reading room. An archivist will explain the Archives reading room rules and how to use the records.
The Archives also maintains a collection of reference works for use in the reading room, including histories of the IMF.
External researchers can contact the reference staff through the following means only:
Mail:
International Monetary Fund
Archives and Records Management
Room C-186
700 19th St., NW,
Washington, D.C. 20431
E-mail:
archives@imf.org
All researchers are expected to comply with copyright law and must sign an agreement to this effect upon arrival
