20 · SPEC Kit 296
Background
1. Are Special Collections at your institution consolidated into one department/unit/library or are
they dispersed across a number of libraries? N=79
Special Collections are consolidated into one department/unit/library 35 44%
There is one primary Special Collections department/unit/library, plus other
smaller Special Collections in other libraries
25 32%
There are several Special Collections departments/units dispersed across a
number of libraries
11 14%
Other 8 10%
Please explain other collection arrangement.
“Books and historical manuscripts are consolidated in Special Collections in the library. However, university
archives as well as 15,000 linear feet of non-university archival materials is located in the University Archives,
which is entirely separate from the library system.”
“Most university special collections are in the main research library which covers the rare books, historical
manuscripts, and university archives. The medical institutions maintain their own archives and rare book units
which are not covered by these answers.”
“Multiple units with special collections, especially Rare Books and Manuscript Library, University Archives,
Music Library, Sousa Archives, and Center for American Music, etc. Answers here are based on services of
University Archives and Sousa Archives, which in terms of size of non-book special collections are the largest
by a significant factor.”
“Special Collections has as its primary focus the Hawaiian and the Pacific Collections. There is also a
department called Archives &Manuscripts which contains the University Archives, Congressional Papers,
Hawaii War Records, and other collections. I would assume that the term ‘special collections’ could apply to
both departments. I will answer this survey in terms of the Special Collections Department (Hawaiian and
Pacific).”
“The university library system does not have a Special Collections department. Each of the five libraries that
make up the system has one or more special collections, usually under the supervision of an appropriate
subject specialist or accessible through reference librarians or access personnel.”
“There are many ‘special collections’ within the library that are housed and/or serviced through different
departments. For the purpose of this survey, we will be examining the services and collections that fall under
the responsibility of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department.”
“There is one primary Special Collections department/unit/library, plus one specialized archive under library
management. *Also of note—we share our Reading Room and a portion of our stacks with the University
Archives (not under library administration.) Our Reading Room desk staff will register and orient the Archives
Background
1. Are Special Collections at your institution consolidated into one department/unit/library or are
they dispersed across a number of libraries? N=79
Special Collections are consolidated into one department/unit/library 35 44%
There is one primary Special Collections department/unit/library, plus other
smaller Special Collections in other libraries
25 32%
There are several Special Collections departments/units dispersed across a
number of libraries
11 14%
Other 8 10%
Please explain other collection arrangement.
“Books and historical manuscripts are consolidated in Special Collections in the library. However, university
archives as well as 15,000 linear feet of non-university archival materials is located in the University Archives,
which is entirely separate from the library system.”
“Most university special collections are in the main research library which covers the rare books, historical
manuscripts, and university archives. The medical institutions maintain their own archives and rare book units
which are not covered by these answers.”
“Multiple units with special collections, especially Rare Books and Manuscript Library, University Archives,
Music Library, Sousa Archives, and Center for American Music, etc. Answers here are based on services of
University Archives and Sousa Archives, which in terms of size of non-book special collections are the largest
by a significant factor.”
“Special Collections has as its primary focus the Hawaiian and the Pacific Collections. There is also a
department called Archives &Manuscripts which contains the University Archives, Congressional Papers,
Hawaii War Records, and other collections. I would assume that the term ‘special collections’ could apply to
both departments. I will answer this survey in terms of the Special Collections Department (Hawaiian and
Pacific).”
“The university library system does not have a Special Collections department. Each of the five libraries that
make up the system has one or more special collections, usually under the supervision of an appropriate
subject specialist or accessible through reference librarians or access personnel.”
“There are many ‘special collections’ within the library that are housed and/or serviced through different
departments. For the purpose of this survey, we will be examining the services and collections that fall under
the responsibility of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department.”
“There is one primary Special Collections department/unit/library, plus one specialized archive under library
management. *Also of note—we share our Reading Room and a portion of our stacks with the University
Archives (not under library administration.) Our Reading Room desk staff will register and orient the Archives
