MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Policy and Procedures Statement 1.19
Special Collections: Administration and Objectives
February 2001

Special Collections is administratively assigned to the Access and Preservation Division and the Collection Management Division. The Head of Special Collections reports to the Assistant Director of Access and Preservation.

General policy for operation of the area is established by the Head of Special Collections and the Assistant Director of Access and Preservation for final approval by the Director of Libraries. The administration of policy and the development of procedures is the responsibility of the Head of Special Collections. In the absence of the Head, the Assistant Head of Special Collections maintains the area under the Assistant Director of Access and Preservation, and finally the Director of Libraries.

The objectives of Special Collections are:

1.      To develop and maintain unique research collections.

2.      To preserve and secure rare books and selected categories of other print and non-print materials.

3.      To make the collections available for research in ways which are consonant with their continued preservation and security.