Access and Availability of Special Collections Materials

Access

The Department is open to the general public. All readers must complete a reader application form and present appropriate identification (i.e., a WMU "Bronco Card" and/or a driver's license or other official identification with photograph).

Readers may wish to contact us prior to their visit to find out about library materials and the library calendar. Readers are expected to observe Special Collections rules and procedures.

Use of Special Collections Materials in the Waldo Library

The Special Collections Department Reading Room is open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. We are closed during university holiday periods . Certain exceptionally fragile or valuable items require special permission for use. If you request one of these items, you will be referred to either the Head or Coordinator of Special for assistance.

The use of materials is subject to the following regulations:

All readers must sign in at the desk and be prepared to produce photo identification upon request. Current photo identification is also needed to request books from the vault.
Reading room patrons are asked not to bring loose articles of clothing, brief cases, book bags, or other personal property into the reading room. Book bags, briefcases and other containers must be left at the coat rack, by the reading room reference desk. All materials are subject to examination upon exiting the reading room.
Only pencils may be used in the reading room; use of pen or indelible pencil is prohibited. Pencils are available to patrons who need them.
Special Collections materials do not circulate. Patrons are required to fill out a charge slip for each item needed. Library staff will retrieve only one book at a time unless direct textual comparison is necessary. All printed materials must be returned to the reference assistant at the reading room desk when you leave.
All materials in Special Collections must be handled with care. Readers found to be careless in handling materials may be denied access. The following rules always apply:
- Materials must remain on the reading room tables during use. They are not to be placed in your lap or propped against the edge of the table.
- Readers are asked to handle materials with clean hands, turn pages slowly and carefully, and touch only the margins if possible. Arms and elbows should be kept off books. No papers, books, or other objects (except the weights specially provided to hold books open) may be laid on library materials.
- No marks may be added or erased. Note taking must not be done on top of materials.
- No tracings or rubbings may be made without specific permission.
- The order and arrangement of unbound materials must be preserved. Apparent irregularities should be called to the attention of the staff.
- Unopened leaves of books may be cut only by staff members.
Readers are responsible for all materials charged to them. Materials may not be transferred from one reader to another.
Tobacco, food, and beverages are not permitted in the Reading Room.
Magnifiers and special light sources are available upon request.
Requests for photocopies, digital imaging, microfilms, photographs, and slides are considered by the librarian on an individual basis.
Materials must be returned to the staff at least five minutes before the reading room closes.

Catalogs

Our holdings may be searched online through the library catalog.Finding aids in the Rare Book Reading Room provide access to some items for which online records have yet to be produced.

We recommend using the online catalog and finding aids in tandem to ensure the most complete results. Library catalog searches can be limited by location (title and keyword searches only at present) to WMU Special Collections. It is also possible to search for particular collections. A keyword search for the exact phrase "American Womens Poetry," for example, will produce all cataloged titles of the Carol Ann Haenicke American Women's Poetry collection.

Circulation

Special Collections materials are used in the Rare Book Reading Room only. Books are generally retrieved within a few minutes after submission of call slips. Patrons using posters or large numbers of books may be asked to submit requests a day in advance; arrangements for class visits should be made at least a week in advance. Faculty may make special requests by contacting the Head of Special Collections.

Books that will be used over a number of days may be held at the desk. Lockers are available for the storage of personal belongings - consult the WMU Libraries Copy Center on the second floor of theWaldo Library. Pencils and scrap paper are available at the reading room desk.

Photocopies and Digital Imaging

Limited photoduplication or digital imaging may be possible at the discretion of the Head or Coordinator of Special Collections.

Photopying costs:

$0.25 per copy

Digital images (JPEG):

Normal quality (presentation software or larger file) 2.5 MB, 2 megapixel, 1600 X 1200=$2.00 per image
Good quality (report printing, larger file) 6 MB, 35 megapixel, 2048 X 1536=$3.50 per image
High quality (printing, editing, etc.) 12 MB, 5 megapixel, 2560 X 1920=$5.00 per image

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