LIBRARY BLOG
Exploring the Special Collection
Have you ever looked through our catalog and come across a book housed in the special collection case? When you see “special collection” books, you might think they’re off limits. Don’t worry though, you can still make use of a special collection book!
If special collection books aren’t items sealed in a vault in the recesses of the library, never to be touched by the public, then what are they? The special collection we’re talking about isn’t anything fantastical. It’s just the books that we can’t house in the main collection, so they’re kept in a separate place. Most of the books are about local topics, but other factors go into deciding if a book should go in the special collection or not.
If the book is old or badly damaged but still locally significant, it is held in the special collection case. Likewise, books that are acceptable quality but should be handled with more care to preserve them are transferred to the case so we can do just that.
Valuable books—including books no longer in print, books donated by or memorializing prominent figures, books about local prominent figures, and books of first-hand records—find their way to the special collection case too.
Less dramatically, a book in the special collection case can be a duplicate of one (or more) in the main collection, and the library better preserves the text by also keeping a copy in the case.
Nonfiction books aren’t the only books kept here either. Any books, nonfiction and fiction, with local significance that are too valuable or damaged to keep in the main collection can be moved to the special collection case.
You can request a special collection title by name at the Reference desk on the second floor if there is not a duplicate of it in the main collection. You can also call ahead at 985-876-5861, option 2 if you know you will need a special collection book.
Happy research!
-Lillian LeCompte, Reference Department