Special Collections
Vancouver Island University Library’s Special Collections provide access to materials that support the educational, research, and scholarly needs of the VIU community, by means of:
- Selective and proactive acquisition or stewardship of materials relating to a range of thematic areas, with discerning attention to materials of regional significance, and to underrepresented people or groups.
- Facilitating interim stewardship of materials borrowed for purposes of strategic digitization or digital integrations.
- Specialized environment, equipment, staff, preservation infrastructure and services.
Read our full Special Collections Guidelines.
Questions or interested in donating materials? Email Special Collections at special.collections@viu.ca.
VIU Library’s Special Collections includes unique and rare materials with a focus on local history, as well as select archival collections such as personal papers and records related to VIU’s institutional history.
Search the collection:
- Search using the LibrarySearch box
- Browse Special Collections finding aids
- Explore digital collections in VIUSpace
Finding aids are detailed guides that describe the contents and context of archival collections. They are typically organized by collection (fonds) and help you identify scope and specific materials within a collection. Submit a request form to view Special Collections materials.
Available finding aids:
- Access the Sophie Marguerite Barbrook Fonds finding aid: Documents the life and writings of a multilingual author and educator.
- Access the Lynne Bowen Fonds finding aid: Includes research, correspondence, and manuscripts from a Nanaimo-based historian.
- Access Don Wallace Editorial Cartoon Collection finding aid: Includes original editorial cartoons reflecting local and national social and political life.
VIU Library provides access to digital special collections through our VIUSpace institutional repository. These collections showcase unique materials from VIU and partner organizations.
Featured collections:
- Explore the VIU/Malaspina Program Calendars Timeline: Includes program calendars from 1969 to present
- Historical Newspapers
Due to the rare, valuable, or sensitive nature of material, Special Collections is non-circulating and held in closed stacks. Materials in Special Collections must be requested in advance and can be viewed in person by appointment in the Special Collections Reading Room.
Request materials:
- Identify items using LibrarySearch or finding aids
- Note box numbers or items details
- Submit a Special Collections Request
- Wait for confirmation before visiting
Book a tour or class visit:
Submit a Special Collections Request or email Special Collections at special.collections@viu.ca.
Before your visit:
- All visitors are required to review and agree to follow Reading Room Procedures below prior to their visit.
- Class or group tours or visits must be arranged in advance.
- Access to Indigenous Knowledges held in Special Collections is coordinated through responsive procedures and protocols. Please contact Librarian and Strategic Lead for Collections, Patricia.Geddes@viu.ca, for access.
Prior to visiting the Special Collections Reading Room, we ask all patrons to read through the following procedures to ensure safe and respectful access:
- Research is conducted within the Reading Room, adjacent to the vault. Usage of this room is monitored and vault access is restricted to staff only.
- Pencil, paper, and personal electronic devices can be used for note taking. Wireless access is available to all VIU community users.
- No food or drink permitted.
- Please leave coats, bags, and any other belongings not required for note taking at the entrance of the Reading Room, away from the work tables.
- Care must be taken when handling all Special Collections material. The existing order of material housed within boxes and folders must be maintained. Materials should not be marked, removed, added to, or damaged in any way.
- Researchers and staff may be required to wear gloves (provided) when handling rare or fragile material.
- Digital photography may be used (without flash) to make copies for personal use. Some materials may require book cradles or weights to position them in order to prevent damage, while others may be too delicate or fragile for photography. Digital reproduction services are available upon request.
- Access and photographic reproduction of Special Collections material is for research and private study only and does not imply copyright permission for publication, distribution, exhibition, performance, and commercial use.
VIU Library Special Collections are accessible to members of the VIU community, visiting researchers, and members of the general public. Access to some material may be limited due to:
- fragile physical condition
- processing status
- privacy concerns
- cultural considerations
VIU Library is committed to the safety, dignity and respectful treatment of Library users, including centering care and promoting awareness for library user communities with respect to potentially harmful materials in our collections. Read the full VIU Library Pledge.
Some materials in Special Collections reflect the socio-cultural norms and prejudices of the time in which they were created. You may encounter:
- discriminatory, offensive, and hateful representations of humanity
- outdated, harmful or problematic terminology
These issues may also appear in the catalogue records and other metadata describing this material. Learn about catalogue records and metadata descriptions.
As part of the Library’s ongoing critical and iterative work to support scholarly inquiry while mitigating potential harm, we welcome feedback. Provide feedback about Special Collections content and metadata.