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 the Collection prior
to their visit to check the Library calendar and secure preliminary reference
assistance. Use of materials may be limited by preservation considerations. Readers
are provided a copy of the document Rules
For the Use of Special Collections in the Waldo Library (see Use
of Special Collections below), which they are expected to observe.
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. These hours may be abridged during holiday periods. The
resources of the Department are available to all who have need to use them. However,
certain exceptionally fragile or valuable items require special permission for
use. If you request one of these items, you will be referred to the Librarian
for assistance.
The use of materials is subject to the following regulations:
- All readers must sign the sheet at the desk and be prepared to produce
photo identification upon request. Current photo identification is also needed
to request books from the Vault.
- 2. Reading room patrons are asked not to bring loose articles of clothing,
brief cases, book bags, or any other personal property that is non-essential
to your research, into the reading room. Book bags, briefcases and other containers
must be left at the coat rack by the Reading Room desk. All books, papers, and
the like are subject to examination upon exiting the reading room.
- 3. Only pencils may be used in the reading room; use of pen or indelible
pencil is prohibited. The reading room attendant will lend pencils to those patrons
who need them.
- 4. Library materials do not circulate. Patrons are required to fill out a
charge slip for each printed item needed. These materials will be brought by
the library staff for use in the reading room. Only one book may be used 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 the Library must be handled with care. Readers found to be careless
in handling materials may be denied further 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.
- 6. Readers are held responsible for all materials charged to them. Materials
may not be transferred from one reader to another.
- 7. Tobacco, food, and beverages are not permitted in the Reading Room.
- 8. Magnifiers and special light sources are available upon request.
- 9. Requests for photocopies, microfilms, photographs, and slides are considered
by the Librarian on an individual basis.
- 10. Materials must be returned to the staff at least five minutes before
the closing hour.
Catalogs
Our holdings may be searched
online through the library catlog. A variety of printed and
electronic 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 catalogue 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 4, 973 catalogued titles of the Carol Ann Haenicke
American Women's Poetry
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.
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 Copy Center on the second floor of Waldo. Pencils and
scrap paper are available at the Reading Room desk.
Limited photoduplication may be possible.
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