The "No" in Special Collections

To aid your research, forestall misunderstandings, and acquaint you with current practices in other similar repositories you might visit, we offer these explanations of some of the "No's" relating to Special Collections.

"No, the shelves are not open for browsing." Special Collections is a closed-stack facility consisting of over 50,000 titles in nine different collections, over 5,500 linear feet of manuscripts and archives, over 100,000 photographic images, and a great deal of uncataloged ephemera. Materials are retrieved by the staff for use in the reading room. It is essential to completely identify the items desired, so that we may efficiently serve you. Please note that "Day-NW," "Idaho," "Oversize," and any dates are all important parts of the call number.

"No, you can't check out books or take them out of this room." The materials in Special Collections are non-circulating, as they are all, either individually or in the aggregate, rare, unique, or hard-to-replace. All materials must be used in our reading room, under our watchful eye. Although some may be new books, they are frequently more difficult to replace than older books that were once printed in the thousands. Some may duplicate books in the general collection, but those support different curricular requirements and, unlike the books in Special Collections, may be checked out and unavailable just when you need them most.

"No, we are not open evenings and weekends." Maintaining a secure area while providing access to the books, manuscripts, archives, historic photographs, and early maps stretches our small staff to the limit. Additional hours are just not possible at current funding levels.

"No, you cannot use a pen in Special Collections." Pencils, or keyboards, are required note-taking tools. We've all seen the results of a single careless slip, where indelible ink transforms a pristine page into one forever scarred.

"No, not all materials can be photocopied." The photocopier is a boon to researchers but a guillotine for books. Careless use of the copier breaks their backs requiring expensive (and at our budget unattainable) repair. Some materials are so brittle that the mere act of handling them is sufficiently hazardous as to bar the extra destruction of photocopying. Exposure to the ultraviolet radiation in light is also a known risk to books and papers. Sometimes referred to as scholarly "dues-paying," copying by hand is a time-honored practice that ensures that the information is not just copied but absorbed and contemplated.

"No, this is not a general reading room." Special Collections is a high-security area where many rare or even unique materials are made available to students and scholars under careful supervision to ensure their preservation for generations to come. Close observation of our users is compromised when outside materials are introduced into the reading room. All back-packs, briefcases, and other containers must be placed on the shelves provided. Our table space is limited and those not using materials from Special Collections will be asked to find another study location in the library.

But finally, "Yes, we do realize that limitations on use are an inconvenience, but we have the difficult task of encouraging use of the materials while protecting them for future users." This is an often uneven compromise, but we are sure you will recognize and appreciate that these materials are here for your use because others in years past made the effort to preserve them for you. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.