What are Special Collections?
Answer
Special Collections are library materials that are housed separately from the general library collection for reasons such as form, subject, fragility, and value. Special Collections materials may not be checked out. Materials within this collection may be photocopied if the Special Collections Librarian feels they are not too fragile.
The Special Collections Unit includes two reading rooms for public use: the Texas Poets' Corner and the Frank M. Blackburn Reading Room. All of the books in these collections have been cataloged and can be found using Cornette Library's online catalog. The University Archives is also part of Special Collections and it houses University records and publications with restricted access. Patrons may ask at the Special Collections Desk to use materials from the University Archives and they will be retrieved for use in the Texana area of the Texas Poets' Corner. Patrons doing research with Special Collections materials must sit in the Texana area of the Texas Poets' Corner. Patrons not using Special Collections materials, but just wishing to read or study, may use the Blackburn Reading Room.
The following is a partial list of the microform Special Collections owned by Cornette Library. Most of these collections do not appear in Cornette Library's online catalog. For assistance, ask at the Special Collections desk.
- Library of English Literature
- Library of American Civilization
- Selected presidential papers