3.4.5a Identifying Items for Special Collections

Use these guidelines to help you identify books or other items that might be appropriate for special collections. When processing books in your regular assignment, be alert for any that might fit into one of the following categories:

• Books with any content on Utah, the Mormon Church, the Mormon people, or events closely related to the history of Mormonism. Such content need not occupy the entire book nor even the major portion of it.
• Outstanding or unusual books on topics relevant to the history of the American West.
• Outstanding or unusual books on topics relevant to the history of printing.
• Imprints dated before 1800 or imprints of the American West dated before 1850.
• Books issued by fine presses. (See List of Presses in the Fine Print Collection. Note: This list is continually being updated. If you have any questions regarding what appears to be a fine press but is not on the list, contact the fine presses cataloger.)
• Limited numbered editions of under 500 copies.
• Books autographed by celebrated or noted persons.
• Books autographed by author, particularly presentation copies where author writes more than just name.
• Books priced over $500.
• Any book relevant to the following special literary author collections: Alcott, Burns, Melville, Whitman, Wordsworth (Rowe), Zane Gray, Orson Scott Card. Note: Usually two copies of such books are ordered with the understanding that first copy is to go to Special Collections and the second to stacks. In cases where there is just one copy, Special Collections has priority.
• Books which fall into the following categories:
  • Christian writings between 1800-Civil War, but not sermons of individual preachers
  • Speeches of American ministers given or published in the 1820’s and 1830’s
  • Civil War books–only those published during the Civil War and about the Civil War
  • 19th century children’s books
  • 19th century books on voyages and travels
  • 19th century books with hand colored plates
  • Early books on technology or its history
  • Early Sunday School tracts or handbooks
• Relevant books which meet the all of the general and at least one of the specific criteria for the Victorian and Edwardian collections.

Victorian

• General criteria:
  1. Published during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901)
  2. Published in England or elsewhere in United Kingdom
  3. First edition
• Specific criteria:
  1. Any Victorian author (British)
  2. Works of general literature
  3. Children’s literature
  4. Early works on science or technology
  5. History, gazetteers, political science, religion, domestic matters

Edwardian

• General criteria:
  1. Published during the reign of King Edward VII (1901-1910)
  2. Published in England or elsewhere in United Kingdom
  3. First edition
• Specific criteria:
  1. Any Edwardian literary author (British)

Sometimes such books may come designated for stacks cataloging because important characteristics that warrant Special Collections housing were inadvertently overlooked in acquisition processing. See the Rare Book Cataloger regarding these books.

If you suspect that a book might belong in Special Collections for one of these reasons or for any other reason, write a brief note explaining your reasoning and insert it in the book. Be sure to include your initials on the note.

Please take books to the appropriate Special Collections cataloger for review.

Maintained by: Bob Maxwell

Last Updated: September 2012