Special Collections Development Policy
Purpose
The Colorado State University Libraries Archives and Special Collections Department collects rare and unique materials in subject areas that support the University's current research and education mission. Original materials that are representative of the history of the book and book arts are also collected.
In order to maintain focus, the Department collects and preserves materials in the subject areas listed below. Exceptions to this policy are made on a case by case basis by the Head of Special Collections.
Primary Collecting Interests
- Agriculture
- Publications prior to 1950 that relate to Colorado or Western regional agriculture topics such as soils, crops, rangelands, forestry, animal sciences, management, law, government, culture and economics
- Selected general reference resources on agriculture, biography and history of agriculture for Colorado and the Western United States
- Equine Medicine
- Publications prior to 1908
- Horse industry, farrier science, lameness, surgery, anatomy, reproduction, diseases, homeopathy, nutrition, biomechanics and arthritis
- Supplemental collecting includes herbals, medical botany, pharmacology and materia medica
- Posters (Monographs)
- History of the poster, including broad histories, chronologies, specific periods (from the beginnings of poster art to the present), or histories of individual periods, regions (e.g. Eastern Europe) or schools (e.g. New York School, Polish School)
- Individual artists represented in the International Poster collection, or works written by artists in the International Poster Collection
- Catalogues of international poster exhibits, regular competitions (annuals, biennials, triennials, etc.), or retrospectives on individual poster artists or groups
- Social, commercial, global or creative (e.g. rock music) perspective, value or use of posters
- Fine art techniques and processes as they relate to poster art (printmaking, photography, drawing and painting will be collected at a reference level only)
- Reference resources useful for research in any of the above categories and more broadly for the study of the history and techniques of posters and poster making
- 19th Century American West Documents
- This collection focuses on acquiring rare materials pertaining to exploration of the Trans-Mississippi West, scientific investigations of the Trans-Mississippi West, and Native Americans of the Trans-Mississippi West, specifically of the Rocky Mountain region. Other parts of the Western portion of North America may be considered for inclusion depending on value.
- Examples of the collection can include: USGS monographs, Pacific Railroad Surveys, Contributions to North American Ethnology, the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, and maps.
- Water Resources
- Publications prior to 1950 that relate to Colorado or Western regional water such as management, law, government, natural resources/ecology, engineering (irrigation), culture and economics
- Selected general reference resources on water, biography and history of water for Colorado and the Western United States
- Particular periods of interest include: 1902: Reclamation Act 1907: Kansas versus Colorado 1922: Colorado River compact 1922: Wyoming versus Colorado 1937: Colorado-Big Thompson Project authorized 1948: Upper Colorado River Compact
Other General Collection Guidelines
The retention, transfer of materials from other Library collections or addition of materials may involve assessment of multiple factors including consultation with subject librarians. General guidelines:
- Age
- Publications prior to 1801
- Publications printed in the U.S. prior to 1821
- Publications printed in Colorado before 1908
- Intrinsic - dependent upon value, condition and topic
- Miniature books under 10 cm
- Association copies
- First edition of notable authors
- Signed books by notable authors
- Limited editions of 250 or less
- Colorado State University
- Books about CSU
- Notable people who attended or were employed at CSU
- Individuals who have been prominently associated with CSU
- Non-print Materials - tapes, slides, kits, photos, generally are not added based solely on format; inclusion in Special Collections will require consideration of multiple factors (value, condition, topic)
- Number of Copies - generally only one copy will be kept ; multiple copies will require approval of the head of Special Collections
- Not Collected (exception: if the item is in a primary collecting area it will be reviewed for addition)
- Colorado presses
- Presentations copies
- 1st editions or autographed copies by authors who are not notable
- Publications authored by CSU faculty that are not published by CSU
- Bound or loose serial issues
Contact Information
Subject specialist:
Janet Bishop
(970) 491-7787
Email: Janet Bishop
Revised 02/05
