Guidelines for the Special Collection of Rare and Old Books at National Taiwan Normal University Main Library

Amendment passed in the Library Affairs Meeting on March 7, 2019
Amendment passed in the Library Affairs Meeting on October 8, 2019
Passed in the Library Committee Meeting on October 22, 2019

I. The National Taiwan Normal University Library (hereinafter referred to as the Library) has created these Guidelines in order to provide patrons with access to collected rare and old books and to ensure the preservation of these books. These Guidelines shall serve as a basis for the provision of reading access to materials in the Special Collection.

II. The Library’s Special Collection of Rare and Old Books is housed in the Rare Books Room on the Library’s eighth floor. In order to protect these rare and old books, the temperature and humidity of this room are kept at a constant level, and regular fumigation and other pest extermination activities are carried out. In order to ensure the condition of preserved items, outside specialists shall be commissioned to handle any items discovered to be in need of repair due to insect damage, or in need of rebinding or repair.

III. Items in the Library’s Special Collection of Rare and Old Books can only be accessed in designated reading areas, and shall not be loaned out. Patrons are required to fill out the National Taiwan Normal University Special Collection Reading Request Form to access and read these books.

IV. The Library shall separately announce its working hours for processing reading requests. Each person can borrow up to three types and 30 volumes of books at one time for reading. When this limit is reached, borrowed books need to be returned before new ones can be borrowed.

V. Any items in the Library’s Special Collection of Rare and Old Books that are in poor condition, awaiting repair, have brittle pages, are suffering from severe insect damage, have pages that have hardened and stuck together, can be easily damaged, or that have their reading access restricted by the Library shall not be available for reading. Exceptions can be made for persons applying for reading access under a project.

VI. In general, the digital versions of books in the Special Collection of Rare and Old Books shall be provided for reading if a digital version exists. If the original hard copy is required for some project, requesters shall first prepare the necessary project plan documents for the project in question, and apply for reading access only after the project has been approved.

VII. Books in the Library’s Special Collection of Rare and Old Books shall not be copied using a photocopier. If some project requires copies to be made from the book, requesters shall first prepare the necessary project plan documents for the project in question, and make copies of the book only after the project has been approved. Only a maximum of 10 pages can be copied.

VIII. Researchers who have utilized books from the Library’s Special Collection of Rare and Old Books for their research are required to gift a copy of their research results to the Library Collection.

IX. Patrons shall take careful care of books in the Special Collection of Rare and Old Books when borrowing them for reading. The following rules shall be followed:

1. Patrons shall wash and dry their hands before reading, and put on gloves and face masks following instructions from Library staff.
2. Books shall only be read in designated reading areas.
3. Patrons shall not write on or make any markings on books and materials. Patrons are also not allowed to take any pictures or video recordings.
4. Patrons shall not rest their hands or place any items on top of borrowed books and materials. Apart from pencils, no other type of writing utensil may be placed near borrowed books and materials.
5. Books shall be laid flat on a table when being read, and not put in an upright or slanted position. Page shall especially not be bent or folded.
6. Book pages shall be gently flipped from the lower edge. Pages are not be flipped quickly, or with force.
7. Avoid any other actions that may lead to damage of borrowed books or materials.
8. The Library shall require compensation to be paid, and impose other disciplinary penalties pursuant Library regulations established elsewhere, for any defacement, damage, or improper removal of materials.

X. These Guidelines were approved and implemented by the Library Committee. The same shall apply to all subsequent amendments.