Why Special Collections?

In previous chapters, we learned about how to find and use different types of resources, including books, scholarly articles, and websites. While the library is often known for providing access to lendable books and other physical items, as well as digital content, many university libraries also have a special collections and archives department. Let’s first differentiate between special collections and archives, as defined by the Society  of American Archivists (SAA):

• Special Collection: a collection of noncirculating research materials of research value, which may include rare books, archives, manuscripts, maps, oral history interviews, and ephemera.
  • Manuscripts are handwritten books, documents, or music pieces.
  • Ephemera are materials that were created for a specific, limited purpose, and typically designed to be thrown away (i.e., not worth saving) after use. Ephemera include advertisements, tickets, brochures, receipts, political campaign materials, and so on. Universities often have a university archives, which refers to the institution’s archives, both the past and ongoing records that have been or are created at the university.
• Archives: the records created or received by a person, family, or organization and preserved because of their continuing value.

Special collections and archives often get used interchangeably, so don’t worry too much if you’re still wrapping your head around the two terms!