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Special Collections Collection Development Policy | |
Statement of PurposeSpecial Collections The primary mission of Special Collections is to support the undergraduate research and education mission of UNC Asheville by providing unique primary and secondary research materials of enduring value that document local and regional history and culture. Special Collections also provides instruction, reference services, and internship opportunities to support undergraduate curricula and individual student research. To this end, Special Collections collects, preserves, organizes, describes, and provides print and digital access to manuscripts, books, photographs, and other materials that document Asheville and the surrounding region. Special Collections also serves as a research center for community members and scholars interested in Asheville and Western North Carolina. University Archives The mission of University Archives covers both management of current university records and historic university archives. The Head of Special Collections and University Archivist serves as the Records Officer for the University and oversees compliance with UNC Asheville’s University Retention of Records and Disposition Policy and the UNC General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule. From a historical perspective, University Archives collects, preserves, organizes, describes, and makes accessible historic records, publications, and materials that document the history of UNC Asheville, Asheville-Biltmore College, and their predecessors. Collection Development Policies As the only dedicated liberal arts institution in the University of North Carolina system, UNC Asheville stresses the value of undergraduate research that addresses local and regional concerns. The Special Collections Collection Development policy is crafted to identify and collect primary and secondary materials documenting the history and culture of Asheville and Western North Carolina that will provide regionally-based research materials for UNC Asheville students. Collection areas include materials from individuals, civic groups, government and non-profit agencies, businesses, religious organizations, cultural organizations, and other entities that reflect the diverse history and culture of Asheville and Western North Carolina. While the primary collection focus is on Asheville and Western North Carolina, other collection areas will be considered if they directly support undergraduate curricula and research at UNC Asheville. Materials collected include manuscripts, correspondence, personal papers, photographs, maps, oral histories, books, pamphlets, newspapers, publications, and similar materials. University Archives University Archives collects materials from University departments that have historic value as defined in the UNC General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule. University Archives also collects relevant materials that document the historical legacy of UNC Asheville, including Council on Undergraduate Research archives and related materials. University Archives collects research materials produced by UNC Asheville students, including senior papers, MLA theses, and other capstone papers prepared across the disciplines.
The Head of Special Collections, under the supervision of the University Librarian, is responsible for selecting all materials for Special Collections, including identifying and appraising potential collections, soliciting collections, working with donors, accepting donations, purchasing materials, and deaccessioning materials. Materials will be deaccessioned according to The Society of American Archivists’ Guidelines for Reappraisal and Deaccessioning. |
