Care of Materials

When the Library adds gift materials to its holdings, it takes care to ensure their long-term preservation and to make them accessible to researchers. Materials are housed in closed stack areas under environmentally controlled conditions, are protected by an electronic security system, and do not circulate outside the Spencer Research Library reading room.

Acid-free boxes, folders, and other containers are employed to house materials, and item-level conservation steps are taken when appropriate.

To permit research use of materials, items and collections are arranged, described, and cataloged in accordance with standard library and archival procedures. To promote widespread awareness of holdings, the Library makes descriptions of collections and items available on its own website, on the University of Kansas Online Catalog, and through international databases such as WorldCat ("OCLC"). Reading room regulations and close staff supervision promote the security and proper use ofmaterials by researchers.