Striedieck, 'Access to Special Collections', NCSU Libraries Newsletter v19n01 (October 1991)
 
_The NCSU Libraries Newsletter_
Volume 19 no. 1
October 1991
Striedieck, Suzanne
"Access to Special Collections"


While the NCSU Libraries does not have a formal Special 
Collections unit with well-defined scope and collecting 
policies, it does have a small collection of special items.  It 
includes the Metcalf Entomology and Knight Aphid collections, 
the archival collection of NCSU theses, and a number of 
published books for which shelving in the open stacks is not 
advisable because of their value or extreme fragility.  
Published items designated by Collection Management staff for 
special shelving are fully cataloged in BIS, as are the theses.  
The Metcalf and Knight collections are not cataloged but are 
accessible through finding lists available in University 
Archives.

Until recently, users requested these items from Reference 
Department staff, who retrieved them from the locked rooms 
located in D. H. Hill's East Wing basement adjacent to the 
Archives.  In July 1991, however, the service responsibilities 
were transferred to University Archives in order to protect 
individual items during use and to increase security for the 
collection.  Patrons who request these materials are now 
referred to the University Archives offices (Room G-111).  
Materials must be used in the Archives during regular business 
hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  They are not 
available for circulation or photocopying except by special 
permission of the University archivist.  The new procedure 
appears to be working well.  Service for these materials has 
been streamlined, access has been enhanced, and security has 
been improved without undue inconvenience to patrons.