About Special Collections
The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library administers over 12 million manuscripts, 3.6 million items in the University archives, and 304,000 rare books, as well as approximately 4,000 maps, over 4,000 broadsides; more than 125,000 photographs and small prints; over 3,000 reels of microfilm; and substantial holdings of audio recordings, motion picture films, and ephemera.
Occupying 58,000 square feet in two underground floors of a new library building that includes the Mary and David Harrison Institute for American History, Literature and Culture, the Small Library features state-of-the-art climate control and security for the University's special collections. The library features a stunning new reading room, skylights and comfortable seating. The collections themselves will be retrieved from 12.82 miles of shelving in 146 electronically controlled units on the first floor. (This floor is not open to the public).