Special Collections

Policies

Mission Statement

Blake Library Special Collections collects and provides access to historically significant materials pertaining to the university and its history, Aroostook County, the Dickey-Lincoln School project, and Maine history as it pertains to Aroostook County and its communities.

As a repository for both published materials and manuscript collections relating directly to the department’s mission statement, Special Collections serves the University of Maine at Fort Kent community of faculty, administration, students and alumni, the University of Maine System, and the greater community, including scholars and researchers.

Access Policy

Blake Library Special Collections is open to the public but is only accessible through contact with library staff. All Special Collections materials are non-circulating; faculty desiring materials for classroom use should contact a Special Collections staff member.

Donations to Special Collections

Gifts to Special Collections are always welcome but will only be added to Special Collections if they support the department’s mission statement. The library staff reserves the right to determine if donated materials fit the Special Collections mission statement. If not, the materials may be added to the main library collection, the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes, returned to the donor (if requested), or discarded at the discretion of the library staff. The Library staff will also consider the condition of the materials and determine if the library has the capacity to preserve and maintain them.

The Collections

Aroostook County Collection

This collection contains materials related to the history of the land and communities of Aroostook County, including those of the Saint John Valley. The library actively collects the works of local authors/illustrators from Aroostook County, focusing on the St. John Valley. In an attempt to avoid duplication of materials between the Special Collections and the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes, this collection will collect only published works about the Saint John Valley, including town reports and other local materials. Manuscript collections concerning the Saint John Valley should be offered to the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes.

Maine History Collection

The Maine History collection contains materials concerning the history of the state, which may include information on the Aroostook County and Saint John Valley regions. Also included in this collection are Maine state documents determined to be of enduring and intrinsic value.

University Collection

Special Collections collects materials of historical significance to the history of the University of Maine at Fort Kent in all of its incarnations: the Madawaska Training School, Fort Kent Normal School, Fort Kent State College of the University of Maine, and the University of Maine at Fort Kent. The collection includes but is not limited to yearbooks, student handbooks, course catalogs, and other University publications, alumni materials, photographs, audio and video recordings by/about UMFK, and manuscript collections pertaining to the UMFK community. Unfortunately, the library does not have the capacity to provide a records management program and, therefore, currently cannot retain all UMFK materials. Items such as business records generally will not be accepted or retained.

Rare Books

This is a collection of materials on a variety of subjects. While rare materials are not actively collected as a separate collection, acquired materials determined to be of rare value may be retained in this collection.