Special Collections Collection Develoment Policy

Overview

The University of Glasgow Library's Special Collections have been built up since the University's foundation in 1451. There are currently over 100 named collections, containing more than 200,000 manuscript items and around 200,000 printed works, of which a significant number are early imprints, including some 1,000 incunabula. Substantial collections of other media, such as photographs, music scores and ephemera, are also represented. The collections are all described fully.

NB. There is a separate collection development policy for the University’s Archives Services (http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_61203_en.pdf)

Development strategy

Our collection development strategy concentrates on acquiring primary material (by purchase, gift, or bequest) to augment existing strengths, concentrating on building up those collections with holdings of either international importance or particular uniqueness; we also work within the framework of the overall library collection development policy and Archives Services collection development policy in considering purchases of works and collections to support current teaching and research. We also aim to acquire selective secondary material if it both supports our collections and is out of scope of the subject collections. Transfers of existing material from other areas of the library are also considered on the basis of age, value and rarity, as well as suitability in relation to existing Special Collections. All collection development is, however, subject to the constraints of space and a relatively small budget. The policy is reviewed on a regular basis and no less than every five years.

De-accessioning

While it is our policy to acquire material for permanent retention, a situation may arise where items in our care would better serve the needs of scholarship and research by being de-accessioned and incorporated in another more specialised, publicly accessible institutional collection. Where appropriate, the relevant national bodies would be consulted.

Areas where we aim to acquire extensively

• Ferguson Collection: alchemy (until end of 18th century and selectively from 19th century), including peripheral areas such as witchcraft, Rosicrucianism, secrets and recipes, etc.
• Hunterian Collection: primarily anatomy, obstetrics and gynaecology, perinatal illness, infancy diseases (pre-1800); also pre-1800 material relating to Hunter's other interests, including coins, innoculation, syphilis, botany, works of TS Bayer, conchology and exploration and travel; early 19th century material in the same subjects acquired selectively.
• Kelvin Collection: manuscripts, papers and printed works relating to Lord Kelvin (William Thomson).
• Laing Collection: all manuscript, papers and printed works relating to R D Laing
• Edwin Morgan Papers: all manuscripts, papers and printed works (especially first editions) of Edwin Morgan.
• Scottish Theatre Archive: all material relating to Scottish Theatre (eg production records, playwright’s papers, playbills etc.
• Stirling Maxwell Collection: emblem books and some related material such as fete books
• Whistler Archive: books about Whistler, and selective purchases of manuscript material where price allows.

Areas where we aim to acquire on a more selective basis 

We also aim to develop certain other collections on a far more selective basis. These acquisitions must have a strong connection with existing holdings and be reasonably priced. Subjects in this category include:

• Glasgow imprints (pre-1800), local history (pre-1850), including children and school books; historical printed material relating to the University of Glasgow (in liaison with Archives)  [Murray and Wylie Collections]
• Left Book Club editions, and West of Scotland/Glasgow left-wing, anarchist and nationalist imprints (pre-1945) [Bissett & Broady Collections]
• Manuscripts and published works of Constantin Von Tischendorf [Tischendorf Collection]
• Works of Trotsky (up to c.1980, plus more selectively thereafter) [Trotsky Collection]
• 19th and 20th century Scottish artists' papers
• 20th century Scottish writers’ papers (particularly University related)
• works of Sir Thomas Browne [Monro Collection]
• Dance of Death [Gemmell Collection]
• Darien scheme [Spencer Collection]
• Dictionaries
• Works by Ian Hamilton Finlay [Scottish Poetry Collection]
• Graphic art (up to end of 19th century) [Printed art archive and artists' papers collections]
• Bindings of Talwin Morris [Morris Collection]
• Music (of composers already represented)
• Scottish photography (19th century) [Dougan Collection]
• Spanish Golden Age literature (especially plays) [Scarfe-La Trobe Collection]
• 18th Century Scottish Enlightenment (including Adam Smith)
• William Cullen and Thomson family material
• Suffragettes material (particularly relating to West of Scotland)
• 19th century triple-decker novels [Novel Collection]
• Old Library related books (1691 catalogue)
• Items with important provenances related to existing collections
• Gaelic material that complements existing holdings (eg. Henderson and McLagan collections)

Beyond these areas, very little is acquired (whether by purchase or donation) unless a very good case can be made for it by Special Collections staff.

Storage environment

The Special Collections Department is able to provide storage facilities for its collections which conform to the British Standard BS5454 (1989 and 2000) Recommendations for the storage and exhibition of archival documents.

Cataloguing Information

Most Special Collectons material is catalogued and accessible worldwide on web-based catalogues. Records for printed works are found via the rare books search and records for manuscripts via the manuscripts search. Some collection records are not yet available on the web; in most cases, local handlists and/or databases exist for these collections (e.g. ephemera collection). The catalogued status of each collection is described in its collection description, along with details of any other finding aids available.

Budgets

The budget for Special Collections purchases is limited to bequest funds (with a variable amount available for spending each year). For larger acquisitions, these funds are supplemented by applications to external bodies and charities such as the National Fund for Acquisitions (who typically provide matching funding when a strong case can be made for purchase), the National Art Collections Fund (NACF) and the Friends of Glasgow University Library.

Contact Information

Special Collections Department
University of Glasgow Library
Hillhead Street
Glasgow
G12 8QE

Tel: (0141) 330 6767
Fax: (0141) 330 3793
E-mail: special@lib.gla.ac.uk