![[cupola]](/img/cupola.jpg)
About Special Collections
Collections
The Special Collections Division includes:
- Manuscript Collections
- NC Baptist Historical Collection
- Rare Books Collection
- Wake Forest University Archives
Hours
All divisions of Special Collections are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of university holidays listed in the library calendar.
Back to topHow to Find Special Collections Materials
Rare books and other Special Collections monographs and published serials are fully cataloged in the library's online catalog. By employing the Search Limits function in the catalog, you can limit your search to only Special Collections materials (please note that the Search Limits function does not work with author searches).
We also have available an outline of the Record Groups in the Wake Forest University Archives. This provides a brief listing of the materials collected in the Archives.
Manuscript finding aids and inventories provide more detailed information about University Archives, church records, and personal and literary manuscript collections. Many of these Finding Aids are available online. A few collections do not yet have electronic finding aids; paper indexes for these collections are available in the Special Collections Department. Please consult the Special Collections staff for more information.
Back to topLocation
Special Collections is located on the 6th floor of the Reynolds Wing of Z. Smith Reynolds Library.
Back to topResearch Assistance
The Special Collections staff is available to assist individual researchers in locating resources and materials in our collection. We can also provide subject-specific bibliographic instruction sessions in Special Collections for classes of up to 30 students. At least one week's notice is required for class visits. We strongly encourage instructors to schedule a B.I. session if a class assignment will require extensive use of Special Collections.
We try to provide prompt replies to phone, mail, or email queries about the existence or availability of specific resources. However, our current level of staffing makes it impossible for us do the extensive research needed for church histories, genealogies, and other personal projects. For more information, please see our Guidelines for Genealogists and Church Historians. Should you require more extensive research than our staff can provide, you may wish to contact one of these independent researchers.
Back to topServices
The Special Collections department provides reference services to researchers for all its collections. Classes are invited and encouraged to use the collections, and customized bibliographic instruction is available upon request.
The department also provides referrals for appraisal services, out of print book searches, and conservation bindings and repairs.
Back to topStaff
-
Megan Mulder, Special Collections Librarian, Rare Books and Manuscripts
phone: 336.758.5091
-
Beth Tedford , Special Collections Assistant
phone: 336.758.4657
-
Vicki Johnson, Archives Librarian, Wake Forest University Archives
phone:336.758.5089
-
Julia Bradford, Special Collections Assistant, North Carolina Baptist Historical Collection
phone: 336.758.3978
-
Craig Fansler, Preservation Librarian
phone: 336.758.5482
Use Policies
All divisions of Special Collections are open to the general public. Researchers may be asked to show identification (WFU ID, driver's license, or other photo ID) before using the materials. All researchers will be asked to provide their names and addresses.
Researchers who wish to use manuscript materials are required to complete a Manuscript Request Form. If you would like to use one of our manuscript collections, you can save time by filling out our online manuscript request form. Please be sure to indicate on the form which manuscript collection you are interested in. Some manuscript collections may have restrictions on their use.
Visiting researchers and researchers planning to make extensive use of our collections are encouraged to contact us before arriving at the library, so that we can provide more efficient reference service and ensure availability of materials.
Special Collections materials do not circulate and must be used only in the Rare Books or University Archives reading rooms. Limited photocopying, scanning, and other means of duplication are sometimes permitted. Individual patrons are responsible for covering the cost of duplication. Requests for duplication are considered on a case by case basis and must be approved by the Special Collections staff. Requests may be denied if duplication would cause physical damage to the material or involve copyright infringement.
For further information, email Special Collections or call 336.758.5755.
Back to topVisitor Information
Visitors coming from outside Winston-Salem are strongly encouraged to contact Special Collections in advance. Information about Z. Smith Reynolds Library and the Wake Forest campus, including driving directions, is available on the Library's web site.
Back to top