Collections, indeed, are the focus of Special Collections, and items are gathered and often consulted by subject, time period, origin, or some other common feature, sometimes belonging to multiple categories. A collection of incunabula, works printed before 1501, includes a single leaf of the 42-line Gutenberg Bible (1450-1455). More than mere objects of wonderment, these early examples of printing, along with a fifteenth-century manuscript Book of Hours, hand-written and illuminated on parchment pages, and an early block book, represent milestones in the development of learning and literacy. Sixteenth-century Bibles include the Bishops, Matthew, Geneva, the Latin New Testament of Erasmus (1527), and a 1518 pre-Luther German translation with hand-colored woodcuts and initial letters. From the same period are the Reformation imprints by Luther, Melanchthon, and others, as early as 1519, often in the original vellum binding and containing woodcuts by well-known artists, such as Hans Cranach. Included are four sixteenth-century editions of the Augsburg Confession (Confessio Augustana), from which the College derives its name.

Collections from the seventeenth century and later include first editions, fine bindings, sporting books, and illustrated children's literature. First editions include Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, by John Milton, as well as many titles by Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Daniel Defoe, and others. American authors include H.D. Thoreau, Henry W. Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Midwest writers Mark Twain and Carl Sandburg. Many volumes are signed, finely bound, or contain notable illustrations. Covers display inlaid mosaic designs, with marbled or silk end papers, by binders such as Riviere, Lortic, Zaehnsdorf, and Bayntun of Bath. Children's books include volumes illustrated by Arthur Rackham, Walter Crane, Randolph Caldecott, and Kate Greenaway.

Augustana's Swedish heritage is reflected in its collections of books by and about Swedes in America. Volumes by Israel Acrelius and Tomas Campanius Holm relate the story of the Swedish colony on the Delaware. A Lutheran catechism translated from the Swedish into the Delaware Indian language by Johan Campanius, was printed in Sweden by the monarchy, and bears the monogram of Charles XII on the cover. Other books tell of the Swedes who settled at Bishop Hill, Illinois, and in Lindsborg, Kansas, and of course, of those who founded the Augustana Lutheran Church and Augustana College. Many of these books have been published in recent years by the Augustana Historical Society.

Two collections, the College Archives and the Mississippi Valley collection, consist of both books and manuscripts, therefore providing the primary and secondary sources needed for research. The College Archives contain several hundred feet of gray archival boxes holding the records of students, organizations, and departments of the College, as well as papers of the presidents and many well-known professors. Many little-known interesting facts of Augustana history can be found there. Four book collections also relate to the history of the College. The Faculty and Alumni collections contain books and articles by and about graduates and professors. The Augustana Institutions collection includes the published works by and about Augustana College, as well as some material on the Augustana Church. Presented to the College in 1861, the Charles XV Collection was the core of the College library in its earliest days. Responding to a request, Charles XV of Sweden gave about 5,000 volumes from his personal library to help a struggling Swedish American College in the United States. In recent years about half of these volumes have been brought together into an unusual collection consisting of many books in French about the French Revolution, as well as books in many other languages and on many other subjects.

The Mississippi Valley Collection includes hundreds of books on the Upper Mississippi Valley, the exploration and settlement of the region, and local history. Many of these books were given to the College by John Hauberg, prominent local historian, who also left his extensive manuscript and photograph collection to Augustana. Other smaller manuscript collections, as well as many books, photographs, printed and ephemeral material, have been added to form an excellent research collection.

Technological advances have brought new life to Special Collections, in a very literal sense. Paper previously destined to crumble and disappear now has extended life because of the use of inert materials, environmental controls, and preservation techniques. Documents are cleaned and housed in acid-free folders and cases, and often encapsulated between protective polyester sheets. When the original material is too brittle to keep or use, microforms and photocopies provide usable copies. Separate temperature and humidity controls create the proper environment for paper storage. Ultraviolet filters protect the collection from damage by fluorescent light. Tall ranges of compact moveable shelving, on tracks, save valuable storage space for growing collections by eliminating the usual aisles between rows. Not only the length but also the quality of the life of the materials is increased by the use of computer databases and indexes, making information more accessible and meaningful to the user. Computers have accelerated the cataloging of books and are replacing the card catalogue as a finding aid. While still dependent on a card catalogue, Special Collections is gradually adding its complex holdings to the public access computer database. Thousands of old photographs and postcards of college and local history are being entered into a database from which their location can be easily retrieved, thus saving the handling of the photos as much as possible. In addition, many of the most used photos have been reproduced and the copy prints are available for use and loan; the most fragile items need not be consulted except under special circumstances. The possibilities in technology are limited only by time, staff, and finances.

The service offered by Special Collections is essential to its existence. Despite a closed door and low temperatures, the staff is warm and responsive to the needs of students, faculty, and community. Many inquiries are received by mail, e-mail, fax, or phone. Some reference questions can be answered quickly, but most require the use of several sources. Questions range from an inquiry regarding a grandfather who attended Augustana in the late 1800's, to the elusive and fascinating facts of local history. Students and citizens interested in historic preservation use the collections to trace an old home or historic downtown building. Some students come to stand in awe of the first edition of Paradise Lost or to enjoy the illustrated children's books. Sometimes patrons request the photocopying of a rare book or the loan of a photographic print. Questions are unusual and unpredictable (did the Augustana basketball team wear black high-topic athletic shoes during a certain period of years? What was Old main called when it was new?).

Because the collection is not available for browsing, the staff must know the collection well and have reliable indexes. Service, or retrieval of information, is dependent on the proper arrangement and description of the manuscripts, and the correct cataloging of the books. The Special Collections librarian, part librarian and part archivist, works with different types of materials in different ways, dealing not only with the past, but also predicting which materials have value for the future.

Special Collections at Augustana relates to the larger library world in several ways. Many of the rare book holdings are listed in the National Union Catalog. Some of the manuscripts are listed in the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections, which also lists Augustana as a regional manuscript depository. Our incunabula are part of the national bibliography, Incunabula in American Libraries. And, as we continue to input our records into various databases, we will become more visible, allowing researchers and historians to learn of our Special Collections.