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The ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ College Special Collections are collections that serve specific teaching and research needs, and are unique to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ College. Many of these collections are created and funded through collaboration with Friends of Murray Library.

Special collections, like the general collection, should be centered on materials that support the central mission and curricular support of the Library. It should also be noted that items that are 'donated' to the Library are not actually 'free'. Staff and material costs are still significant to select, acquire, inventory, catalog, process, and maintain donated materials. Due to the unique nature and mission of Special Collections, the Development Office is invited and encouraged to write about them in college publications, etc.

Creating new Special Collections

To create new special collections in the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ College Library, discussions need to occur among the requester, Librarians, and any other interested parties such as Friends or the Development Office.

Before a special collection is created, the following should be addressed:

• Relationship to current and future curricula and mission of the Library and College,
• Costs and benefits to the Library and College. Costs may include staff time for inventory, cataloging, processing, and maintenance, or space issues. Benefits may include supplement to curricula; local or national recognition; or increased community involvement.
• Multidisciplinary Uses which may not be obvious. For example, the Engle Memorial Collection may be beneficial for both Education and Visual Arts majors.
• Addition to the Collection Development policy and processing details such as cataloging, storage location, responsible liaison librarian, weeding, circulation practices, ongoing acquisitions and costs, etc.

After the above issues are addressed with the relevant parties, the Librarians will meet separately to discuss and approve or reject the addition of the Special Collection.

If approved, the designated liaison librarian will meet with the sponsoring group to begin setting up the Collection.

Ruth E. Engle Memorial Collection of Children's Book Illustration

Dedicated in April 2004, this Collection of original picture book art by award-winning illustrators, as well as a circulating and non-circulating copies of the book for which the art was created, was begun with gifts given to Friends of Murray Library in memory of Ruth Engle, a charter member who also served on its Board. New artworks are added to the Engle Memorial Collection annually, purchased with gifts from Friends and donors. The illustrations reflect a variety of media, styles, and subjects, and include works by illustrators from Australia, China, Mali, and Russia, as well as America.

The collection has been useful to the Arts and Education departments. Materials from the collection are on display throughout the library and are open for public viewing.

Selection of new items for the collection is the responsibility of the Engle Memorial Collection Acquisitions Committee and must be approved by Friends of Murray Library. The display and preservation of items from the collection is the responsibility of the Collection curator and liaison to Friends. Withdrawal of items from the collection is the responsibility of Friends. A copy of the book for which the illustration was created is stored in the locked case; a second copy is added to the library collection if it is not already included.

The Engle Memorial Collection curator and liaison to Friends reports all additions to this collection and the respective costs to update Murray Library's fine art inventory for insurance purposes.

W. Jim Neidhardt Collection

The W. Jim Neidhardt Collection consists of an extensive library donated to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ College, and an endowment established in 1995 for its continued expansion. The collection brings together books in a wide variety of subject areas dealing with religion and science. Dr. Neidhardt's interest in finding new ways of relating his Christian faith to the thinking patterns of modern scientists led him to donate his library to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ College. Readers at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ may use this collection to explore the relationships between religion and science. It complements ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ's tradition of fighting against the misconception of science being opposed to religion and demonstrates the relationship between modern science and Christian faith. The endowment enables the Library to make annual additions to the Neidhardt Collection.

The Neidhardt Collection is closely related to the natural science and religion curricula of the college, and its historical pattern of exploring the complementary relationship between both. It is particularly useful in specific courses that cover the philosophy of science.

The Library, in coordination with the Business Office, is responsible for determining the annual amount of funds available for adding to or augmenting the Neidhardt Collection. Librarians and faculty are responsible for purchasing appropriate items for the collection. Technical Services is responsible for cataloging the items and identifying them as belonging to the Neidhardt Collection.

Items selected to be purchased with Neidhardt funds should be broadly related to the fields of science and religion, and should be useful for exploring these relationships. The items may present perspectives both within and outside of Christianity.

Items selected for purchase with Neidhardt funds will be clearly identified in the ordering process. Items in the Neidhardt Collection are stored in the larger library collection; they are not stored separately. Items are cataloged according to standard procedure, with the addition of a special subject heading of "Neidhardt Collection", and a 590 notes field stating "Presented in honor of W. Jim Neidhardt" for easy identification and searching in the library catalog. Items are marked with a commemorative bookplate, commissioned and funded by Friends. The books circulate according to standard circulation policies.

Items purchased for the Neidhardt Collection are primarily English, and monographs. Other formats and languages may be purchased as appropriate.

Items from the Neidhardt Collection may be withdrawn from this collection and the library at the discretion of the science liaison librarian. Inclusion of the item within the special collection will be considered as a factor against withdrawal, but does not mandate retention if other factors indicate a need for removal. The liaison librarian will consult with appropriate librarians and faculty as needed.

Canadian Literature Collection

This collection consists of literature by influential and notable Canadian authors such as Margaret Atwood, Rudy Wiebe, Robertson Davies, Leonard Cohen and Alice Munro. It is funded by grants from Friends of Murray Library.

The collection is aligned most closely with the English department. Librarians and faculty are responsible for purchasing appropriate items for the collection. Technical Services is responsible for cataloging the items and identifying them as belonging to the Canadian Literature Collection with a bookplate commissioned and funded by Friends.

Items in the Canadian Literature Collection are stored in the larger library collection; they are not stored separately. Items are cataloged according to standard procedures, with the addition of a special subject heading of "Canadian Literature Collection" for easy identification and searching in the library catalog. The books circulate according to standard circulation policies.

Items purchased for the Canadian Literature Collection are primarily English, and monographs. Other formats and languages may be purchased as appropriate.

Items from the Canadian Literature Collection may be withdrawn from this collection at the discretion of the English liaison librarian. Inclusion of the item within the special collection will be considered as a factor against withdrawal, but does not mandate retention if other factors indicate a need for removal. The liaison librarian will consult with appropriate librarians and faculty as needed. 

Artists' Books Collection

This collection consists of books created as works of art. These books are not only fascinating, and often feasts for the eyes, but they also challenge the notion of what "book" means. Included in the collection are books created by ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ faculty members.

This collection is most closely aligned with the Visual Arts department.

The books are stored in a locked archival cabinet unless they are currently being used in a library exhibit. Access to the locked cabinet is at the discretion of the librarians. An illustrated catalog of the books is located near the cabinet. Items are cataloged with the addition of a special subject heading of "Artists' Books", and a location of Artists' Books Collection for easy identification and searching in the library catalog.

The Visual Arts liaison librarian is responsible for preservation and withdrawal concerns.

The curator reports all additions to this collection and the respective costs to update Murray Library's fine art inventory for insurance purposes.