User Guidelines for Special Collections
The quiet study wing houses the University’s rare books and unusual collections. Many items are fragile and require special handling. The strongest subject areas are regional history and regional writers, including Jack London, M.F.K. Fisher, and Gaye LeBaron. The majority of regional materials remains in the public area (3rd floor south near the windows).
All books, periodicals, newspapers, and media in the regional and special collections are included in the Library’s online catalog, Snoopy. The manuscript collections are also in Snoopy, each with a brief description and/or a finding aid. A list of our special collections can be found at the Library’s Regional web site
Help us to preserve and provide access to these collections by following these policies:
For books, complete a request slip at the 3rd Floor South Information Desk. Place slip in the box provided.
Books will be retrieved and made available for use on the following weekday between 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Items will be held for 5 days. Special arrangements can be made when staffing permits.
For items from manuscript and photograph collections, the same request form can be used but an appointment is necessary for viewing. To make an appointment, call 707-664-4152 or send e-mail to northbayinfo@sonoma.edu.
All materials will be retrieved for you; access to collection rooms is not permitted with the exception of the Waring Jones and LeBaron rooms (by appointment and accompanied by staff).
- An ID will be requested and held by Library staff while material is in your care.
- Your use of material will be restricted to a table near the Information Desk.
- Your belongings, other than pencil and paper, will be placed behind the service desk or in a safe cabinet; food, beverage and pens are not permitted.
- The use of electronic equipment is negotiated with library personnel.
- When working with a file folder, please maintain the original filing sequence.
- Ask us about your options for reproducing items from the collections.
