The Special Collections area contains materials that require special care or handling because of their uniqueness, rarity, value or condition. Information on these pages includes:
The collections began in 1879 with materials from the Mechanics Institute Library. They grew substantially in 1887 with the gift of books, manuscripts and maps by Sir George Grey, former Governor of New Zealand. Since then many donors have added to the collections, increasing their richness and variety.
The New Zealand collections (books, manuscripts, maps, ephemera, music and photographs) focus on Auckland and Northland, but not exclusively. There is a nationally significant collection of Maori manuscripts and printed Maori. The International collections contain medieval manuscripts, incunabula and representative examples of important books and printing from the fifteenth to the twenty first century.
Location:
Special Collections is on the Heritage (2nd floor) of the Central Library and is open to all library visitors.
All materials in Special Collections are Reference Only, and may be used in the Special Collections Reading Room.
Special Collections hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 4pm
Sunday Reading Room CLOSED, Exhibition Room OPEN 10am to 4pm
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