Rare Books Collection Development Policy | Libraries

Rare Books Collecting Policy

Revised 11/24/2009, 04/27/2016, & 04/12/2018

Mission

To continue to diversify the rare book collection by acquiring works from a global perspective, moving away from works representing a historic colonial past in deference to establishing a collection that is a reflection of the diverse WVU faculty and student community.

Collection Management

These are existing collections that represent our strengths and are appropriate for expansion:

West Virginia and Appalachia rare books
Shakespeare, his sources, his contemporaries
Mark Twain and his contemporaries
Isaac Asimov

These are areas that are presently targeted for emphasis and expansion:

Decorative publishers’ bindings
Illustrated books, especially botanicals and herbals
Appalachian content and Appalachia depicted on publishers bindings and dust jackets
West Virginia
Regional African American works

We want to continue to develop and maintain the following focus areas at a comprehensive level, in both general holdings and special collections:

West Virginia
Appalachia
Isaac Asimov
Regional African American works

We want to maintain and continue to develop the following areas to a level that is not comprehensive but that constitutes a representative collection significant enough for serious research and pedagogy.

William Shakespeare
Mark Twain
American Literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

For books that do not fall into the above specified subject areas, use the following cut-off dates as a major determinant for their inclusion in the Rare Books Collection. Other factors (such as condition, provenance, and significance) will also be considered.

Europe and Asia before 1850
Canada before 1850
USA, World War 1 era, 1914 - 1916
Africa, Australia, Latin America before 1850

Additional Considerations

Nota Bene. We should begin new specialties only if we intend to build an excellent collection and have the resources to do so. If the intent is to build new specialties, seek external resources to support acquisitions and care.
Developing significant collections is most effectively accomplished through establishing and maintaining focus and definition. We can continue to develop our focus areas from our existing collections and resources. Add to them by carefully evaluating gifts. When possible add books from purchases.
Note added: 04/27/16 & Revised: 04/12/18
- We will no longer seek to add Shape-note hymnals, unless specifically related to our region, or the works of Jesse Stuart, as the collection is extensive and largely complete.
- Our focus will be directed towards a more closely defined region than the wider conceptualization of Appalachian literature, with the exception of Appalachian Local Color Literature as represented by Decorative Publisher’s Bookbindings.
Note added 04/12/18

We will continue to diversify the rare book room collection, with a special focus on African American works from our region.