Special Collections: Handling Special Collections Items

When handling material please remember: 

• Hands must be clean
• Use book snakes to keep book pages open
• Use weights to keep maps or larger items lying flat
• Use book rests/cushions to support bindings
• Do not put any undue pressure on bindings
• Do not lean on the original item
• Never touch the surface of a print/drawing/photograph/map
• Ask for assistance if using rolled items, or folded items with attached seals
• Do not use flash on the camera

Food, drink and ink are not allowed in any of the reading rooms.

Please contact Special Collections staff if any assistance is needed.

If you want to visit other third level institutions there are various access schemes open to UCC staff and students.

In all cases please email the relevant Special Collections in advance in order to request the material. The staff in each institution will inform you of the relevant procedures which may be different to UCC Library's.

For more information about locating the relevant special collections' material to your study use the latest edition of the Directory of Rare Books and Special Collections in the UK and Ireland.