Frequently Asked Questions

'Special Collections’ are unique and rare materials, such as unpublished diaries, letters, photographs, and draft poetry, which are preserved for future generations and made available for original research.

Purpose

For students, teachers, researchers

For collection managers

Software

Instances

Future enhancements

A book can be considered ‘rare’ for many reasons, including its age, scarcity, market value, if it is a limited or important edition, has special features (such as bindings and plates), or associations with particular individuals or events (such as signed and annotated copies, or a work owned by an important figure).

We value your interest in our unique holdings and our collections are available to all.

We welcome enquiries from UNSW students and staff as well as researchers and individuals outside our university community, with priority given to UNSW and Defence requests.

Access to collection material is By-Appointment only. Find out more about opening hours on our Visiting page.

Use our Request an Appointment form to apply for a booking ahead of your visit. A walk-in service is not available at any time.

Special Collections is located on the UNSW Canberra campus at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Northcott Drive, Campbell ACT 2612. The John Howard Reading Room is physically situated on the ground floor of Building 13 (Academy Library).

Find out more on our Visiting page.

Parking on the UNSW Canberra campus is free and there are no time limits. You can park in most bays in the main carparks unless otherwise marked. See our Visiting page and Campus Map for more information.

It is often busy, so it is best to arrive early or allow sufficient time to find a parking spot when planning your visit.
 

You can bring your laptop, mobile devices, extension lead, charger, notebook, pencils, and a sealed water bottle into the John Howard Reading Room.

To protect collection material no drinks, food, personal scanners, highlighters, or pens are allowed.

An overhead scanner is available for copying for private research and study. You will need to bring a USB to save your images.

Lockers are provided free of charge for storage of bags inside the entrance of Building 13 (Academy Library).

No. Due to their rarity our physical materials are only available for use under supervised access in the John Howard Reading Room. When visiting you may be able to make copies of collection items using your own handheld device (phone, tablet etc) for private research and study.

Yes, you can make copies of most Special Collections items for research and study purposes using your own camera or handheld device, subject to relevant access and copyright conditions. To access and copy you will need to sign our Guidelines and Conditions of Access.

Note that a photocopier is not available and that the use of personal scanners is not permitted in the John Howard Reading Room.

Yes, some Special Collections materials are digitised or can be digitised on demand, subject to relevant access and copyright conditions. See our Copying page for more information.

Digitised copies are supplied for the purpose of research and study unless relevant publication permissions have been obtained by the requestor in advance of the order.

Yes in-copyright material requires prior permission before it can be published or reproduced. Special Collections can provide advice on the permissions needed and sometimes we have contact information that can assist in finding copyright owners.

See our Copying page for more information.

Special Collections staff can answer simple enquiries and undertake preliminary checks for researchers, but we do not provide in-depth research assistance or undertake extensive research on your behalf.

Researchers can send their research assistants to examine collections on their behalf or choose to engage a private researcher. A list of private researchers who undertake work for a fee is available on the National Library of Australia website.

No, using Special Collections is free. You may make copies of most collection items for research and study purposes with your own personal device, subject to relevant access and copyright conditions.

Special Collections may charge for copies requested through our digitisation on demand service. Prices are available on application.

Please acknowledge ‘Special Collections, UNSW Canberra’ as the custodian of the material when citing or reproducing collection items. Find out more on our Citing page.

An example for Manuscripts:

Papers of Sandra Burchill, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MSS 123, Box 1, Folder 2, ‘Correspondence from Harry Heseltine’

An example for Rare Books:

Great Britain. Air Ministry. Royal Air Force : Flying Training Manual, Part 1. Flying Instruction. London: H.M. Stationery Office, 1929, pp. 23-28, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra

The UNSW Library Catalogue automatically generates citations for Special Collections rare books in various academic styles including APA, MLA and Chicago. These can be found by clicking on the ‘Citation’ icon in the relevant catalogue entry.

 

Our collecting program is closed indefinitely for consolidation of the existing collection to be completed. We are unable to accept donations from new or established donors. You can log a donation offer for future assessment using our Donation form.

No, we do not value your collection material. The best thing to do is to consult a professional valuer.

A list of government approved valuers is available on the Cultural Gifts Program website.