Q. What are special collections and archives?

Special collections and archives contain both primary and secondary resource materials that have characteristics which set them apart from other types of collections in libraries. These qualities may include:

• Rarity: books, manuscripts and other materials which are old, scarce or unique.
• Format: photographs, slides, films, audio and video recordings, maps, artworks, artifacts and other objects that require special handling.
• Comprehensiveness: accumulations of materials that are individually not unique, but collectively comprise an important resource.
• Provenance: items which relate to a particular topic, individual, group, or activity.

Special collection materials are located in closed stacks, where they are retrieved by staff for researchers in the reading room.

Special Collections and University Archives at UMD are located in Hornbake Library. Our collections cover a wide range of topics including UMD history, literary manuscripts, rare books, public broadcasting, the state of Maryland, women's history, labor unions, post-WWII Japan, historic preservation, and much more.

For more information, contact us at www.lib.umd.edu/collections/special/contact.