Collecting Rationale

Contribution to Scholarship in Focus Areas

Over the years the Library has built collections of manuscripts, books, films, photographs, sound recordings, and other formats in a number of particular areas. These areas have been chosen in consultation with faculty and other specialists and in response to various opportunities. Many of them continue to be focuses for targeted collecting; they are profiled briefly in Section V of this policy and developed in more detail as noted above. Library collectors seek materials according to these guidelines, aiming to build broad and deep accumulations in focus areas that will provide for extended work by researchers from Duke and elsewhere.

Acquisitions that do not fall into existing collecting areas sometimes are made in anticipation of new emphases. In addition to scholarly research value, collectors sometimes also take into account items' exhibit and/or outreach potential.

Preservation and Security of Materials Outside Focus Areas

The Library accepts from other components of the Perkins Library system transfers of materials that require the special protection and care that Special Collections can provide. Qualities considered in such transfers include fragility, age, artifactual aesthetics, association values, and market value. These materials are accepted regardless of whether the subject area(s) represented are ones targeted by the Library as collecting emphases. (See Transfers to Protective Locations: Criteria and Procedures for the Perkins Library System.)