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*PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONAL CHANGES: The Special Collections Research Room will be available by appointment only December 1st-13th, with no access to our KIC scanner during that time. The Special Collections Research Room will be closed Friday, December 5th. The Special Collections Research Room and North Carolina Collection will be closed December 15th through early January. For more information, please click here.
Not sure where to start? Browse our collection guides here or browse our catalog for rare books here.
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Our Collections
North Carolina Collection
We hold modern and historical publications related to North Carolina – especially eastern North Carolina. This collection includes state and colonial government documents, county records, maps, rare books, current magazines and periodicals, and historical newspapers.
University History and Records
We are the final, central repository for East Carolina University records of permanent historical value, including documents created by ECU’s administration, offices, colleges, departments, student groups and faculty members as well as items from alumni about their time as students.
We also administer the university’s records management program, which works with university employees to assist in managing their current, active records in accordance with federal, state, and campus regulations. We administer comprehensive trainings for departments and individuals.
Manuscripts
The East Carolina Manuscript Collection preserves and provides access to historical materials for university teaching, student learning, and community engagement. Renowned for naval, maritime, tobacco, missionary, and North Carolina history, the collection also seeks regional and academic materials. We collaborate with faculty, students, and the community to ensure relevant and valuable collections for research, instruction, and lifelong learning.
Rare Books
Our rare book collection contains published works from the 1500s to the present. It features travel accounts, maps, North Carolina imprints, and artists’ books. Subjects covered include the Civil War, naval and maritime history, print history, and science fiction and fantasy.
Digital Collections
Some Special Collections material has been scanned and is available online in the library’s Digital Collections. Digital Collections also include material from other ECU libraries and museums, as well as digital exhibits on University and local history.
Digital Curation
The Digital Curation unit manages the systems and infrastructure that ensure long-term access to Special Collections’ digital materials. We oversee born-digital archiving, maintain archival platforms, and protect the integrity and discoverability of digital content. We support collection development, preservation workflows, and analyze data to improve access. We also partner with the History Collections unit at the Health Sciences Library on digital curation needs.