The rare book room has been constructed as an educational website intended to allow the visitor to examine and read some of the great books of the world. The library room paperback august 12, 2014 by kimberly loving ross author. Nearly all of the library s pre1800 titles are located in special collections, as are many books from the early decades of the nineteenth century. The manuscripts, archives and rare books division collects, preserves, and makes available for research purposes rare, unique, and primary materials that document the history and culture of people of african descent throughout the world, with a concentration on the americas and the caribbean. All rare materials must be consulted in the reading room. Harvards principal repository for rare books and manuscripts, literary and performing arts archives, and more. Waldo offers consortial pricing for web accessible databases and services. First, special collections and rare book librarians specialize in the unique, rare, and historically significant holdings of a library. An additional registration procedure is required at the rare book and special collections reading room. What is a rare book and special collections librarian and. Waldo library given the covid19 pandemic, call ahead to verify hours, and remember to practice social distancing check out the super cool books in the rare book room on third floor. It serves as a community center for the area as well as a meeting place for various community organizations and neighborhood associations.
Light donates unique journal the rare books room in the renovated waldo library recently received a special book, journal of a seaplane cruise around. It is the enquiry point for all of the library s collections pre1851 printed books in english and other west european languages, together with the national reference collections of printed music. If you think you might have a rare book you would like to sell us, please take it to the used book buyers table at the city of books. The rare book collection consists of approximately 340,000 volumes ranging in date from the fifteenth century to the twentyfirst. Stop by waldo library any time during open hours and see the refreshed first floor. The rare book room is located on the 2nd floor of the cowan blakley memorial library. Manuscripts, archives and rare books division nypl. Waldo library western michigan universitykrph western.
Prices are reduced as library participation increases. From relatively modest beginnings, it has grown into one of the finest collections of rare printed material in the country. Same comfortable study spaces, valuable resources and helpful staff. The rare book room functions as a museum of the book in that it has specimens of many of the important printers from the 15th to the 19th century and many of the important books from that period. Over the last decade, a company called octavo digitally photographed some of the world s great books from some of the greatest libraries. The collections are read in the munby rare books reading room, on the north west corner of the first floor.
The library s rarest, most special items are found in the richard and lucile krug rare books room. Outlines major collections, provides links to finding aids and describes services of the special collections and rare book room at western michigan university. At the center is thomas jeffersons book collection, which was sold to congress in 1815. Library and archives canadas lac rare book collection has roots in many different places, including various federal institutions and the shelves of the nations book collectors.
Weston library rare books and manuscripts reading room. For groups, we would prefer you schedule a time to visit by calling 269 3875221. To limit your search to entries with images, enter an asterisk in the image field in addition to your other search terms. Auden collection, the bathe collection in the history of technology. We look forward to seeing you in the new waldo library. This selection ranges from 1917 to 1969, and really is. The alfred knight collection contains 3400 rare, historically significant books and ephemera including 4000yearold clay tablets, illuminated manuscripts, shakespeares second and fourth folios and leaf from the gutenberg bible. Located on the third floor of waldo library, you can walk in during open hours and ask to see any item from our collections. Id like to inspire children to open their minds to explore subjects more, to be aware of whats going on around them. Learn about and get handson with our rare books and special collections at this comeandgo open house.
The space was dedicated in 2001 in honor of richard e. A former librarian and a bookseller have pleaded guilty in the theft of rare books from the carnegie library of pittsburgh in a yearslong scheme. Waldo library is the largest of wmus library facilities, and in addition to a large number of resources, it also has classrooms and study rooms available for student use. The unique materials of the rare book and special collections division of the library of congress, now totaling over 800,000 items, include books, broadsides, pamphlets, theater playbills, prints, posters, photographs, and medieval and renaissance manuscripts. Rare book room is an educational website for the repository of digitally scanned rare books made freely available to the public starting around 1996 the californiabased company octavo began scanning rare and important books from libraries around the world. The rare book room also contains a miscellany of other rare and significant material including a small number of medieval manuscripts. Readers intending to use the library for the first time should contact reader registration for further information and to obtain a readers card. Rare book and manuscript library university of illinois. Rare book and special collections reading room library of. Krug, city librarian from 1941 to 1975 and his wife lucile krug, whose generosity endowed construction of the room.
Helen healy assistant dean for automation and technical services students gathered in lounge area dr. Martin handford, the man behind the mindboggling waldo books, began his career as a freelance illustrator specializing in drawing crowd scenes. Special collections and rare books at western michigan university the special collections and rare books department at wmu is focused upon instruction and research. U nlimited access and remote access are available for most databases and most subscriptions can be started on a prorated basis at any time. It is a large white building in the main campus next to mccracken hall and is attached to the university computing center. This is a database of menus stored in the rare book room of the central library. Central librarys john wilson special collections houses the rare book and other special collections of multnomah county library in a controlled environment for the preservation of rare and historically significant materials. The collection is currently comprised of four books housed in the special collections and rare books room of waldo library. Questions about the rare book room should be directed to 18008787323 ext. Library of congress rare book and special collections. Faculty and staff are invited to join university librarians for fellowship and a behind the scenes look at some of the treasures in the cowan blakley memorial library. Material from these collections does not circulate into the general library.
The hervey family rare book room houses the wangenheim collection of rare books and materials. The rare books room in the renovated waldo library recently received a special book, journal of a seaplane cruise around the world, august 20, 1934 to january 24, 1935. As both a public library and an accredited research institution, the boston public library strives to make its most unique holdings widely and easily accessible. Located on the fourth floor of burton barr central library, the rare book room houses three collections. Waldo branch located in the heart of the commercial and residential neighborhood for which it is named, waldo branch library is one of the busiest branches in the system. For a brief guide to using the room, see our reader guidelines. The rare books and music reading room is on the 1st floor at st pancras and has a wealth of information and resources to help you in your research. Drop in all week and search for waldo, who is hiding among the books in the library. John wilson special collections multnomah county library. This collection, the only one of its kind in the western united states, contains rare early works, such as the first book of poetry by a canadian indian woman, emily pauline johnson mohawk. Researchers can access the library s collections through an interim reading room. Home special collections and rare book department wmu.
Our rare and special collections include several groupings. We scoured our vast selection of vintage books for the most beautiful dust jackets, and soon discovered that selecting just 30 was a nearly impossible task. Assembly collection the core of the state library s rare collections library is the original assembly collection which numbers over 400 extant volumes. Each of these books illustrates aspects of dress from the mid18th century to the mid19th century. Information on visiting the rare books and manuscripts reading room in the weston library bodleian library, oxford. The cards are issued without charge in room g40 of the jefferson building. These scans were done at extremely high resolution using highquality equipment, with some pages at over. The room has the tranquil feel of a 19thcentury, woodpaneled private library with a modern flair. Charles guenther collection books from the library of american poet, critic, and translator charles guenther 19202008, including his own work as well as works signed or. Exterior view of the hervey family rare book room located on the 9th floor of the central library.
Rare book room university libraries western michigan. New carpeting, energyefficient lights, ceiling tiles and public computers. We welcome visitors from on campus and off to come in for research and exploration. These books were purchased by the pennsylvania assembly, beginning in 1745 for the legislators reference in governing the commonwealth. Because the vast majority of the items in this room are extremely fragile, unique and rare, researchers are asked to observe the following guidelines. Waldo works with library groups with members in other states as well. Rare book image bank digital a growing repository of illustrations, decorative elements, and full text works from the rare book collection, freely available for download. The rare book room site has been constructed as an educational site intended to allow the visitor to examine and read some of the great books of the world. Houghton library is a destination for students and scholars on campus and around the world.
University libraries hours libcal western michigan. I cant tell you how pleased i am that waldo has taken on a life of his own, he says. The houghton library building is closed for renovation. Enter on the second street side of the jefferson building to locate this room.
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