Moreover, the economics of copying rarely used materials can make storage of originals preferable to microfilming or digitizing copies. At some point, anyone doing original research will want to consult original materials in the collections on campus and at the Library of Virginia. Read any policies for the institution. You will probably also be able to carry a laptop, but you may not be allowed to carry other loose papers or books into an area where archival materials will be available. If an original item is very fragile, please ask for help.
Libraries often provide cotton gloves for researchers using their archives.
Carry some quarters for the lockers at Library of Virginia. You cannot bring book-bags into the Archives reading room, and you will want to securre any other research materials nearby.