Special Collections
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Special Collections
William J. Kanalley
Collections Development Librarian
(518) 783 - 2522
kanalley@siena.edu
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The Special Collections at Siena College Library consists of about 2300 volumes, which are stored in wire mesh shelving in the Fleet Archives and Special Collection Center, the Nigro Reading Room, and the Reed Reading Room. Eighteenth, nineteenth and rare twentieth century journals are shelved in special cases located in the Siena College Alumni Association Current Periodicals Area. There are nearly 750 volumes in the special journals collection.
The Franciscan Friars, friends of the college, and other libraries, donated most of the books in the Library’s special collection over the years. Other special collection titles were gleaned from the library’s regular book stacks. Siena College, which was founded in 1937 as an institution of higher learning in the Franciscan and Catholic tradition, will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2012. The link "Photos and Postcards" includes images from photographs and postcards depicting aerial views of the campus, College buildings, facilities and special places at a variety of points in Siena’s history. Many of these buildings and places are currently part of the campus while others have vanished over time. Perhaps most importantly the collection shows scenes from student life, past and present, revealing student activity, classrooms at work and special events. These and many other images from Siena’s history are available to view at the Archives of Siena College’s Standish Library.
Within this collection there are several subject concentrations including theology, British and Irish history, Classical literature and English literature. There are also many editions signed by the authors. Some of the volumes in the special collection have been restored by rare book specialists and conservators such as the Harcourt Bindery of Boston, the Bridgeport Bindery, and the Northeast Document Conservation Center. However many of these works remain very fragile and must be handled with great care.
Books from this collection are used in academic research at Siena and in the local scholarly community. Titles from the special collection are periodically exhibited in the display cases in Friars’ Rotunda and in the Archives & Special Collections Reading Room.
Access Policy
Siena students and faculty may use the Special Collection by presenting their Siena I.D. Materials are available for use within Standish Library by other scholars with a letter of introduction or official identification, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., or by appointment. Please contact William Kanalley (Collection Development Librarian) or Gary Thompson (Library Director) for further assistance.
Remember to check CYRIL, the Siena Library catalog, for other resources.
