Collecting Constituencies

Duke University Community

Serving the research needs of Duke University's faculty and students is the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library's primary responsibility. Toward this end, the Library seeks to collect in subject areas receiving substantial and sustained attention within the University community, that is, those representing ongoing departmental research interests or that are the focus of interdisciplinary programs. In the interest of serving the broadest possible segment of the university population, the Library also collects in areas (such as advertising history) of use to a wide range of academic disciplines.

Users Outside Duke University

The RBMSCL also considers service to scholars on the national and international levels an important mission. The Library seeks to play a role in the broader research community by building collections in areas not as well covered by other repositories. Consequently RBMSCL collections draw visiting scholars to the Duke campus and enhance the university's overall reputation as a center for scholarship.