Rare Books and Manuscripts

Joan & Donald E. Axinn Library
Room 032

Prof. Geri Solomon
Assistant Dean of Special Collections
(516) 463-6411

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Department is a repository for a number of research materials – books, manuscripts, newspapers, maps and photographs – which are organized in collections, rather than as individual titles. The materials in a collection may be associated with a particular person or group, or they may have other qualities in common, such as great age, rarity, or distinctive physical attributes. It is the focus of the particular collection, rather than the subject matter of the individual items, which gives the collection its identity. These materials complement the circulating collection and form the basis for specialized teaching and research.

A collection may represent the historic development of a field of study, a geographic area, or a genre of literature. For example, Hofstra University's Art of the Book Collection includes examples of rare books, incunabula, first editions, fine leather bindings, and private presses.