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1. General Purpose

The rare book program acquires, preserves, organizes, and services many of the most valuable, scarce, or important published materials in the Library's collections. The collections are kept for the use of Mount Holyoke students, faculty, staff and outside researchers. The collections support the teaching and research activities of Mount Holyoke College students and faculty in the major areas specified in the Archives and Special Collections General Collection Boundaries.

2. General Collection Boundaries

The rare book collections are added to in three separate ways: A. through purchase by the Library using funds specified for this purpose, B. through donation, C. by transfer from the main library stacks. With the exception of materials transferred from the main library, additions to the collection must fit one of the major areas of collecting identified below:

*Americana
*Editions of Dante's Divina Commedia (predominately illustrated)
*Renaissance science (including works from the 17th-century)
*Fine press books
*Literary first editions of significant authors
*Works related to the Collège de 'pataphysique.

These areas are subject to review and addition by the Director of Archives and Special Collections in consultation with the Rare Books Librarian.

A. Purchase of rare books

The Archives and Special Collections will, on occasion, purchase books that will add to the scholarly value of our existing areas of collecting. All purchases must be approved by the Director of Archives and Special Collections and the Rare Books Librarian. In cases where the cost of an individual item exceeds $5,000 the College Librarian and/or the LITS Advisory Board may also be consulted.

B. Donations of rare books

The Archives and Special Collections will accept donations of rare books if they fit into the major areas of collecting listed above. Mount Holyoke College will not accept donations of books where ownership of the books has not been transferred to the College. Mount Holyoke College further reserves the right to sell or otherwise dispose of any donated materials that do not fit within our areas of collecting.

C. Books transferred from the main library collections

Books meeting the following criteria will be considered for transfer from the main library collections to the Archives and Special Collections:

1. All European continental imprints before 1600, including incunabula (i.e., books printed before 1500)

2. All British imprints before 1700 (books and periodicals)

3. All books from New England and other Colonial states, bearing imprints before 1830. (Pieces on religion, printed after 1799, will not be considered unless the item itself is important in the history of printing, or has some other value directly related to Mount Holyoke College).

4. Books from states other than the 13 colonies as recommended by Library of Congress Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflist (1).

5. Books from Europe, other than those printed in Great Britain, bearing an imprint prior to 1750.

6. Books from Asia or Southeast Asia bearing an imprint prior to 1900.

7. Press books (defined as books collected as examples of fine printing including, but not limited to, Golden Cockerel, Cummington, and Nonesuch Press)

8. Limited editions other than press books if the limitation is known to be 200 copies or less.

9. Books signed by persons of national or international importance.

10. Manuscripts editions of published works either holographic or typed (including carbon copies).

11. Books published by Mount Holyoke College faculty.

12. Loose plates (books, portfolios, or any publication containing loose maps or plates).

13. Other unusual materials such as papyri, palm leaf manuscripts, etc.

14. Any single volume with an auction record of over $500 dollars in the last five years.

15. Ephemera related to significant book collections including but not limited to medals, commemorative buttons, etc.

In addition some books falling within the following subject boundaries that parallel materials in the archival and manuscript collections will also be considered for transfer from the main library to Archives and Special Collections.

*Materials related to missionary work
*Works by 19th-century women authors
*Works related to women in war
*Works related to women in politics
*Works related to women in science
*Works on women's suffrage
*Works related to the education of women

(1)American imprints from states other than the 13 Colonies prior to the dates listed below should be considered for transfer from the main library. All information taken from Library of Congress Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflist, G810, Page 1, October 1994.

Alabama, 1840
Arizona, 1890
Arkansas, 1870
California, 1875
Colorado, 1876
Florida, 1860
Hawaii, 1860
Idaho, 1890
Illinois (except Chicago, 1871),1850
Indiana, 1850
Iowa, 1860
Kansas,1875
Kentucky, 1830
Michigan, 1850
Minnesota, 1860
Mississippi, 1840
Missouri, 1850
Montana, 1890
Nebraska, 1875
Nevada, 1890
New Mexico, 1875
New York State (outside New York City), 1830
North Dakota 1890
Ohio 1840
Oklahoma 1870
Oregon 1875
Pennsylvania (outside Philadelphia) 1830
South Dakota 1890
Tennessee 1840
Texas 1860
Utah 1890
Washington 1875
West Virginia 1830
Wisconsin 1850
Wyoming 1890