Special Collections
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Regular Hours of Operation

Special Collections is open "by appointment only" during intersession and summer school. The department is closed during regularly scheduled academic calendar breaks.

Please call 962-7563 for more information 

Visiting Special Collections and Using Materials 
Researchers may visit Special Collections during regularly scheduled hours of operation (Monday through Thursday, 9:00am - 5:00pm and Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm.) However, to facilitate your needs, we suggest that you make an appointment to use the resources of the Special Collections. Appointments  may be made by contacting either the Special Collections Librarian [910-962-3276] or the Special Collections Assistant [910-962-7462]. The primary concern of Randall Library Special Collections is to preserve and protect the manuscripts, books, documents and other material located in Special Collections and to make those items available in the Special Collections Reading Room to those who visit the Reading Room. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS IS NEITHER AUTHORIZED NOR STAFFED TO ENGAGE IN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH.

Research via Mail, Email and Telephone
Due to budgetary and staffing constraints research by mail, email and telephone is limited. Questions will be answered within five business days. We suggest the researcher visit Randall Library Special Collections in order to expedite their research needs. Also due to the fragile nature of most of the items limited photocopying is available.

Finding Guides
Many of the finding guides to the collections are located on this website. In addition, the Library Catalog provides access to the books and monographs located in Special Collections, History of Medicine and History of Science Collections. Items may be searched by author, title, subject or keyword. Limit your search to location: UNCW Special Collections or UNCW SENC Collection. 

The Accession Register of the Manuscript Collection [Ref. CD3429.W6 A22 v.1-5]. is available in the reference department, during regular Randall Library hours. This five volume set lists the manuscript collections by numerical order and provides itemized inventories and description of most collections. We suggest this is the best place to begin your search and to familiarize yourself with the collections.

Photocopying and Reproduction of Material
Most of the items in Special Collections are not suitable for photocopying or scanning due to their fragile nature and because of the need to preserve them from light and other environmental conditions. Because many items in the collection are irreplaceable or very fragile, materials must be used within the Special Collections reading area, where only paper and pencils are allowed to be used. We suggest that you prepare to copy by hand the information you need instead of relying on photocopying. 

When photocopying is necessary, we will be happy to accommodate the request within a minimum 24 hour period, depending on the amount of copying requested and the availability of staff.

In order to facilitate Collection Development and preservation of rare and fragile materials Randall Library asks visitors to the Special Collections to fill out a Researcher Registration Form.  The researcher will be provided with a secure locker to store their personal belongings while using Special Collections. For security purposes these rules are strictly enforced.

Other Historical Collections in the Region 
Books, documents, manuscripts, maps, and microforms relating to the Cape Fear Region and Southeastern North Carolina regional history may also be located in the New Hanover Public Library's Local History Department in historic downtown Wilmington. This collection places special emphasis on the history of Wilmington, African-American records and genealogy. [910-341-4394] 

The Lower Cape Fear Historical Society, 126 South Third Street [910-762-0492] and the Cape Fear Museum at 814 Market Street, Wilmington [910-341-7413] also house significant collections of regional historical materials.

Last Update: April 25, 2007