Voor onderwijs en onderzoek. Bijzondere documenten en documentaire verzamelingen van de Leidse universiteitsbibliotheek

Abstract

For education and research. The special collections of Leiden University Library Beside three-dimensional objects, documents, in most cases paper documents, are part of our academic cultural heritage. These documents are preserved in order to be used permanently in academic research and education, e.g. manuscripts and early printed works that reflect the knowledge of times past in special library collections. This contribution is written from the perspective of the Special Collections Department of the Leiden University Library. The different types of collections are considered. A more consistent use of terminology is advocated in order to distinguish as carefully as possible between the kinds of materials involved. Some of the issues that are dealt with are: the distinction between items and collections, between sources and publications, between archives and collections; moreover, the question is raised which materials do and which do not belong to the university archives proper and, finally, which materials have to be preserved as part of our academic heritage, either in the care of the university library or otherwise.