The Howell Library was received by the college as a gift from the late Judge James Albert Howell in 1954. At that time, the collection consisted of some 10,000 volumes of nineteenth century literature from Judge Howell's personal library. To provide for the collection's maintenance, the Judge also established a special trust fund for the college library. Since 1954, allowances from the trust fund, supplemental gifts from the Howell family, and donations from friends have assured the library's continued growth and development.

Special Collections was established in 1971 as a part of the Department of the Howell Library and Special Collections. Books, manuscripts, photographs, and materials which are (1) unique in nature or content, (2) have special informational or monetary value, or (3) require special care and treatment are housed in the department's closed-stack area. Security devices, enrironmental controls, conservation practices, and restrictions on usage discourage theft and vandalism and protect the material from unnecessary wear and tear.

Purpose

It is the intent and purpose of the Department of the Howell Library and Special Collections to provide the following services: (1) Preservation of materials and information. (2) Scholarly research and recreational reading. (3) Coordination of collection development and usage with campus and community needs. (4) Promotional & educational activities such as book talks, discussions, lecture series, etc.

Use and Restrictions

The following departmental policies govern the use of all materials in the Howell Library and Special Collections: (1) Books, manuscripts, photographs and other materials do not circulate. Research of collection materials must be undertaken in the department's reading room. (2) Backpacks, briefcases, etc. are to be left at the desk at the entrance to the department. (3) Use of pens is prohibited when working with original materials. (4) Permission to duplicate or photocopy materials must be obtained from the Special Collection's curator or an authorized assistant.

Indexes and Catalogs

Most books are cataloged and have card entries in the card catalog located in the Special Collections reading room. The name of the specific collection (Howell, Wheelwright, Shafter, Bransom, Mona Smith, Western, Special Collections) will be stamped beneath the call number. For manuscript and photographic collection, guides and registers are available in the department's reading room.