What are archives? Are archives like libraries?
Answer
Generally, a library consists of materials that are selected and maintained for educational and/or recreational use. These materials can consist of various types of materials (e.g., books, media, born-digital items, etc.) that are openly made available to the library's patrons.
Archives (sometimes called manuscripts or special collections) also consist of collections of materials in a variety of formats (e.g., photographs, letters, books, newspapers, realia, etc.) that represent a specific subject or topic. These materials are typically not mass-produced items that are created for public consumption, but are rather primary sources that may not exist in multiple copies or formats. Because archival materials are typically rare and unique, they are not always available for access.
More information about this topic is available on the Society of American Archivists' website.
Oakland University Libraries houses the Archives and Special Collections, keeping all of the university's collections in the same building. However, the ASC is not a library in and of itself, even though it exists within a library!
University Archives serves as the chief resource for historical materials about Oakland University. It collects, organizes, preserves, and makes accessible the significant records that chronicle the university’s history since its founding in 1957. Learn more about Oakland University Libraries.
Special Collections consists of other original historical materials that relate to the research and educational endeavors of Oakland University. Areas of strength include:
- Oakland County history
- Civil War history and Lincolniana
- English women’s literature of the 17th-19th centuries
- 20th-century Michigan politics
- LGBTQIA+ history
- Rare books
Learn more about Oakland University Archives and Special Collections.