Research Appointments, Class Visits, Rules for Handling Rare Materials

Student/Researcher Visits

Individual research visits may be booked by contacting the special collections librarian (pwarner@mun.ca). 24-hours' notice is required. The special collections librarian will assist the student/researcher in selecting special collections materials for their project. The selected materials will be made available in the reading room at the agreed upon time. The special collections librarian will be on hand to answer student/researcher questions while they work with the materials.

Class Visits

As of September 2026, the QEII’s Special Collections is shifting to a more user-centered approach. Class bookings can be made by contacting the special collections librarian (email pwarner@mun.ca). Classes will be held in the Archives & Special Collections reading room (L-2022). All classes will be taught by the course instructor. The special collections librarian will assist the instructor in selecting special collections materials for their class. The selected materials will be made available in the reading room at the agreed upon time. The special collections librarian will be on hand during class to answer questions about the materials in use, and, more generally, about the special collections and the libraries.

Online introductory presentations and other materials

Instructors are encouraged to take advantage of the many online resources that have been created around the QEII’s Special Collections holdings. These include the following:

An online Introductionto the QEII’s Special Collections holdings (website, catalogue, databases and digital archive) can be found here.
A more advanced Introductionclass about how to search the catalogue for special collections materials can be found here.
Online audio/slide presentations are also available on the following subjects:books of hours, electronic books, book binding, artists’ books and the book in China.
A variety of other recordings related to the special collections and the making of books can be found on the Special Collections Learning Resources

Specialised Online/Print Catalogues

Researchers are encouraged to take advantage of a growing number of online/print catalogues that take a deeper dive into the QEII’s Special Collections holdings in the following subject areas:

Rules for Handling Rare Materials

Only the instructor may handle the books.

Books must remain in the book cradle at all times (no picking them up).
Use book snakes to keep the book open (if the binding is tight); avoid putting pressure on the book block.
Turn pages slowly and from the edges.
Do not touch the text or images with your fingers (hands must be clean and dry)

There is a short video that demonstrates careful handling of materials. We suggest showing it to students at the start of term, or it can be shown as part of the Introduction to Special Collections session.

Regarding the amounts of materials requested for class, please select a representative sample when possible. Frequent shelving and re-shelving, as well as transporting and setting up in another location, can speed the deterioration of already fragile books.

Regarding the use of books in a workshop environment, please photograph pages from the books you wish to use. Students can then work from the copies. If good facsimiles are available, please use them. Remember that all special collections items can be viewed in our reading room and can be photographed. Photography is the least intrusive way to capture images from these books.

So, to put that in a nutshell. Original texts will be available for student viewing in class. Only the instructor may handle the materials (as per the instructions above). For group work (workshops) and for teaching (especially with large groups), please use copies or facsimiles.