Responsible Department: Dean, University Library
Revised: 09/17/2020
Approved: 08/26/2024
Purpose
The University Archives & Special Collections of the Florida Gulf Coast University Library advances research by acquiring, preserving, and providing public access to original primary source materials.
The University Archives is the official institutional repository of records for Florida Gulf Coast University and serves as its institutional memory. The Archives identifies, collects, preserves, and provides access to materials with enduring historical value that document the history of the university.
The Special Collections actively collects and preserves materials documenting the cultural and environmental history of Southwest Florida, as well as rare, fragile, and unique materials including, early printed and rare books, manuscripts, photographs, sheet music, audio visual materials, and ephemera.
Vision
Statement University Archives & Special Collections aspires to promote research excellence through its premier collection of Southwest Florida’s cultural heritage, environmental ecology, and institutional history of Florida Gulf Coast University.
Description and Scope of the Collection
The University Archives & Special Collections' Permanent Collection consists of materials pertaining to the institutional history of Florida Gulf Coast University as well as unique or rare primary resource materials deemed to be of value for scholarly purposes; or serve a worthy public interest.
The University Archives actively collects materials related to the history, administration, and culture of Florida Gulf Coast University that have enduring historical and administrative value. Portions of the collection may document areas outside of campus as they related to the activities of Florida Gulf Coast University faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Materials include but is not limited to;
The Special Collections house rare, fragile, and unique materials including, early printed and rare books, manuscripts, photographs, sheet music, audio visual materials, and ephemera on topics which include but are not limited to Southwest Florida history, Florida environmental ecology, mid-twentieth century journalism, forensic science, ichthyology, and many others. We have a strong commitment to collecting, preserving, and providing access to Southwest Florida history including but not limited to:
Current Use of the Collection
The University Archives & Special Collections' collections are available to students, faculty, and the public interested in viewing primary resources for research purposes. The reading room and exhibition gallery are located on the third floor of FGCU Library, room 322, and are open to the public Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. The reading room is fully staffed to provide scholars and visitors access and instruction to ensure the safety of both collection materials and visitors. The reading room serves a dual purpose as an exhibition gallery, offering two museum quality exhibitions annually. University Archives & Special Collections dedicates our exhibitions to highlight our permanent collections while also serving as an educational resource for both the Florida Gulf Coast University and local communities. Opening receptions and visits to the reading room & gallery are free and open to the public. Our programming is for the benefit of all our community members: students, university and our Southwest Florida community. Faculty and staff digitally preserve many of our collection materials and provide global access to them via the digital repository, DigitalFGCU.
Strengths and Weaknesses
University Archives & Special Collections is a fairly young department only formalizing as a University Library department in 2014. Our strengths lie in our strong relationships with the Southwest Florida cultural heritage and environmental communities. The University Archives includes strong documentation of the planning, building, and implementation of Florida Gulf Coast University and materials related to the first two presidents. Our permanent collections continue to be developed, promoted, and organized. The University Archives is eager to expand its holdings in all areas related to university history. We are particularly interested in materials documenting student life.
Governance
As a unit of Florida Gulf Coast University Library, the University Archives & Special Collections Department policies adhere to those guidelines and procedures that govern the University Library and the University. The Head of University Archives & Special Collections reports to the Dean of the University Library. The department subscribes to the University’s practice of respect for academic freedom of expression and does not engage in censorship of exhibitions, speech, or publications by its staff members or invited guest curators, artists, speakers, and authors.
