Special Collections Development Policy

Objective

To support the University's mission, the Library at the University of Portland collects, curates and makes available to students, faculty and other researchers, special collections.

Scope

The scope of the Library Special Collections is:

• University of Portland History and Culture, and the University's Relationship to the Congregation of Holy Cross
  Materials that tell the story of the history and culture of the University of Portland from its earliest years through the present and those related to the Congregation of Holy Cross and the Order's influence in shaping the University of Portland.
• Rare and Exceptional Collections
  Materials purchased for the Special Collections or gifted to the University for preservation, which have sufficient historical, theological, legal, fiscal or informational significance to warrant their long-term placement in the University Library's Special Collections

Types of Materials Collected

• Books: Published items including musical scores and incunabula
• Manuscripts: Includes holographs created prior to the wide adoption of the printing press; literary manuscripts and personal papers.
• Ephemera: Includes pamphlets, and broadsides.

Size

The Special Collections of the University of Portland Library are projected to remain limited, of high quality, and focused in the areas noted above. Collections size will be naturally limited by adherence to quality and suitability standards, by the constraints of the Library acquisitions budget, and by the amount of physical space available to house and protect the collections appropriately.

Selection

Selection for additions to the Library Special Collections will be based on collections scope as defined above in this policy. Specific collections additions will be made either through very selective purchase or through exceptional gifts for the University Library. The Library and the University welcomes inquiries regarding gifts to the Library Special Collections. For further information please contact Christina Prucha, Head of Collection Services, at 503.943.7419 or prucha@up.edu; or University Development at 503.943.7395.

Access

The Special Collections of the University of Portland are meant to be a resource primarily for the University Community, and secondarily as a resource for scholars and other researchers outside the University Community.

The collections are limited to on-site, supervised use. Use may be scheduled through the Library. On occasion, the collections may be available for open, supervised access as an educational resource and service of the Library. Further information about accessing Special Collections can be found at the Special Collections Use Policy.

At the discretion of Library Administration, special permission may be granted for temporary off-site use or display of items from the Special Collections. For inquires, please contact Xan Arch, Dean of the Library, at 503.943.7310 or arch@up.edu.

To the extent possible, and with preservation as a priority, photo duplication and/or scanning of collection pages will be allowed.

Collection digitization, with the goal of making University Library Special Collections more accessible beyond the campus, will be considered as funding and interest allow.