Rare Books and Special Materials

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Rare Books and Special Materials

• by Kiera Miller
• and
• Angelina Dawes
• Interviewees
• Lynn Brockington,
• Vancouver Art Gallery Librarian
• Ralph Stanton,
• U.B.C. Rare Books Librarian

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Rare Books and Materials Introduction

• Some questions to ask
• What makes a book rare?
• Are all second hand books rare?
• What kinds of books are usually
• not rare?
• Where are rare books found?
• Is a book signed or autographed
• by the author more valuable?

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Collection Management Issues Policies

• Collection Policies state
• what areas will be developed,
• what will be accepted as gifts,
• and what types of materials will be collected.
• UBCs Rare books
• collection policy

Salmon Label Collection at U.B.C.
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Collection Management Issues Acquisition

• 3 main areas
• Donations are a
• major source of the
• collection 75-90
• Rare book dealers
• (abe.com), curators,
• and collectors.
• Coutts Library Service

Items recently donated to U.B.C.
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Processing/Cataloging

• Items are processed
• to maintain the life of
• the item
• Some issues
• -stamps
• -special folders,
• boxes, paper slips.

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Displaying/Handling

• Rare books collections are generally
  non-circulating and have closed stacks.
• Glove Issue
• Items are generally not
• displayed due to security concerns and
  insurance
• requirements.
• H.A.N.D.L.E.

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Retrieving/accessible to who?

• Items are catalogued
• the same as materials
• in the general collection.
• Access to the materials
• is through catalogues,
• tutorials, some
• databases, and occasionally
• through tours.

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Weeding or deaccession

• Reasons to deaccession an item
• removing works determined to be unfit or
  inappropriate for the collection
• reducing storage and maintenance costs
• consolidating and focusing the collection
• generating income for further collection
  development.
• Example UBC has 7 copies of Vancouvers Voyage
  which is worth 50,000 each!

Captain Vancouvers Voyage
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Preserving/Storing

• Most libraries have preservation specialists
• Low light and low temperature
• Reduced handling of
• the item
• Preservation is what you do so you dont have to
  do conservation

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Websites

• http//www.itsmarc.com/crs/rare0170.htm
• Descriptive cataloguing of rare books (Library of
  Congress)
• http//www.slais.ubc.ca/people/students/student-pr
  ojects/M_Chesko/L513/resources.htm
• Resources lesson about rare book cataloguing.
• http//www.bookstellyouwhy.com/
• How much is that book worth? Why? Site for anyone
  interested!
• http//www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/guidelin
  esselection.htm
• ACRL guidelines for special items transfer to
  special collections.
• http//www.quaritch.com/
• Antiquarian booksellers manuscripts since
  1847. Includes exhibitions and fairs.
• http//www.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other
  .Repositories.html
• For the traveler Locations of rare books
  special collections around the world.

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Some items of interest
The Georgia Medical-Dental Building
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Emily Carr by Doris Shadbolt
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End

• Questions?