Special Collections and University Archives Policies
Collection Development
Special Collections & University Archives relies on donors for generous contributions of photographs, manuscripts, archival papers, rare books, and funds to help support and advance its mission to provide access to rare and unique materials for our students and scholars. Donors often also make a financial contribution that assists the department in processing donations.
Library materials are designated for Special Collections when their format, age, scarcity, or other unusual characteristic merits special handling. The Librarian(s) and Archivist(s) determine what materials shall be placed in Special Collections. The librarian(s) and archivist(s) may also confer with members of the Library faculty regarding the transfer of items already in the collection that meet these criteria, and for the purchase of new materials.
General criteria for Special Collections materials:
- Materials specifically purchased for Special Collections
- Original books with an early imprint:
- All pre 1801 imprints
- U.S. and Latin American imprints before 1850
- California imprints before 1880
- Los Angeles County imprints before 1900
- Maps printed before 1910.
- Materials known to be bibliographically unique or otherwise irreplaceable.
- Materials not covered by the above criteria but whose research value would be enhanced by inclusion in Special Collections’ collections may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, e.g., other 19th century imprints, aesthetically noteworthy editions, “association” copies, livre d ’artiste, books with fore-edged paintings.
Deaccessioning
Records without permanent retention periods may be deaccessioned/ permanently removed if the Special Collections and University Archives department determines they are no longer of enduring value, are duplicative of other records in the archives, or are available in another format. The department may choose to contact the office of origin to determine if the deaccessioned records should be returned or destroyed, but this is not required.
