Thomas Jefferson's architectural drawings, William Faulkner's manuscripts, one of the very first printings of the Declaration of Independence (of which only 25 known copies exist) -- these are just some of the over 300,000 rare books, 12 million manuscripts, 4,000 maps, University archives, photographs and other materials housed in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.
With over 12 miles of shelving, this 58,000-square-foot building is home not only to valuable and significant collections, but also to the security and behind-the-scenes work that come with such prominent materials.
One major feature of all this work is the library staff of 18 people.
Library Director Christian Dupont said it was the material itself that drew him to his current position.
"The real attraction was that it is a premier library for the study of American history, literature and culture, now housed in a new state-of-the-art building, and U.Va. itself is a premier university," Dupont said. "It's a great place to be."
Dupont added that working at the Special Collections Library is a unique experience.
"I'm very happy here," Dupont said. "It's exciting because what's here is so immensely interesting. It's a dynamic, growing place. Every time the phone rings, there's some new opportunity on the other end of the line, a chance to learn something new ... It's a very stimulating job, and I think everyone on our staff feels the same way."
The prominent collections require significant protection and preservation efforts, another unique feature of special collections libraries. The University's Special Collections Library features state-of-the-art climate control, fire suppression and retrieval systems. Manuscripts are contained in acid-free folders that are placed in acid-free boxes. To enter the reading room, library patrons may take no more than a laptop, loose-leaf paper and pencils.
"You go in with as little as possible," Heather Riser, Special Collections Library head of public services said. "We try to monitor [the room] -- make sure everyone's treating the books well."
Of course, restrictions also apply to employees handing these materials. Second-year College student Erin Moran, who works in the Rare Materials Digital Services digitizing the Thomas Jefferson documents, said she is required to follow various rules.
"First of all, you're not allowed to have any of your own personal effects around the documents," Moran said. "For instance, when you go in, you leave all of your bags in a separate spot. No food or drink is allowed, and you're supposed to wash your hands before you touch the documents. And besides that -- extreme care. If it's four pages, don't open them unless you absolutely need to, and then only open them once and fold them back. Don't bend them [or] shuffle them excessively."
Although these regulations may seem a little intimidating at first glance, Moran said the experience is more than worth the effort.
"For me, it's been great, especially being able to work with something so special to U.Va.," Moran said. "U.Va. has the biggest collection of T.J. documents of any university ... There are so many interesting letters. I've recently scanned letters [that went] back and forth between T.J. and George Washington dealing with [Jefferson] becoming Secretary of State under George Washington. It's absolutely amazing to be able to see these original documents, and being able to hold them in your hands is an experience that is absolutely indescribable."
Gaining access to such materials is a fairly simple process, but it does involve more work than accessing regular materials at other libraries. Because materials are stored away for security reasons, anyone wishing to look through certain materials must make a request to do so, and a member of the library staff will pull the requested materials from the shelves.
"I think that [because of the security rules] there is a feeling that people have that Special Collections is for the elite," Riser said. "That always breaks my heart. We have to walk a fine line -- on the one hand, we want to make sure materials are secure ... On the other hand, we want exhibits to allow people to experience, examine [and] taste what we have. That's our challenge all the time -- letting people use [the library] in the correct way."
Dupont said he agreed about the importance of this fine line.
The materials in the Special Collections Library "aren't hidden away," Dupont said. "They are national treasures we need to preserve, but also make accessible."
People have become more aware of the national treasures that the Special Collections Library has to offer as a result of the library's 2004 move from the McGregor Room in Alderman Library to a separate building, according to library staff.
"The move was very exciting -- a big upheaval," Riser said. Now, "usage is on the way up. People are aware of exhibits and know they can bring friends and families. [But] there are a percentage of students who have never been inside. We try to have something for everyone, [and as] students come to a talk or go to a class [in the facility], we are becoming more and more visible."
Circulation statistics indicate that approximately two-thirds of on-site usage is by members of the University community, while a third of users include visiting researchers from all around the world as well as local visitors from Charlottesville and elsewhere in Virginia. A large proportion of services are also dedicated to off-site users who never visit the library -- thousands of reference requests and duplication orders are fulfilled each year.
"We are open to the community," Dupont said. "But we exist first and foremost for the University community. We are always looking for ways to get students -- individually or with their classes -- to come visit, to come work on projects using our collections. We're here to be helpful. Seasoned researchers who have worked at other libraries tell us that we are the most welcoming and helpful anywhere."
In addition to researchers, the Special Collections Library extends its services to various other groups.
These include "retirement homes, students from fourth grade and up, visiting VIPs, visiting dignitaries -- young to old, people who love history," Riser said.
The visiting VIPs and dignitaries have included Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Riser added.
University President "John Casteen worked in Special Collections when he was a student, so he has a soft spot in his heart for us," Riser said. "He'll send people who are getting the grand tour. We've had our share of poets and important government folks."
But this does not diminish the importance of having students and University community experience the Special Collections Library, according to the library staff.
"In lots of places, special collections libraries wouldn't allow undergraduate use of materials, but we're very open about letting peoples see for themselves," Riser said. "If you keep an eye on changing exhibits, you get an idea of what's in our collections."
Beyond the exhibits and materials, the Special Collections Library staff stressed the importance of the staff itself in making the experience a positive one.
"We're very close-knit," Riser said. "I've been here 15 years, and I'm one of the newest members. It's a great job. When you work with valuable materials, you have to develop a sense of trust"
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