VCU library collection breaks 2 million milestone
Virginia Commonwealth University's library has acquired its 2 millionth volume: a Spider-Man comic featuring President Barack Obama.
A public event celebrating the milestone will be held at 2 p.m. Friday on the first floor of the James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.
Marvel Comics' "Amazing Spider-Man, #583," released in recognition of Obama's inauguration, was added to VCU's Comic Arts Collection, which includes more than 125,000 items.
Friday's celebration also will recognize two other acquisitions: the Edward Peeples collection of digitized photographs and documents, which preceded the comic addition, and the Rittenhouse R2 Digital Library, which followed it.
The Edward Peeples collection includes photographs, documents and maps that explore the history of segregation in Prince Edward County in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Rittenhouse R2 Digital Library brings together hundreds of full-length books related to health sciences.
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Reader Reactions
David,
Actually, the comic book collection is not 6% of the 2 million volumes that are counted in this celebration. Our guideline for counting volumes is to only record something if records have been prepared and added to our catalog. Of the 125,000 comic items mentioned in the article, only about 20,000 are in the catalog and therefore contribute to our count of two million volumes. The remainder of the collection is waiting processing. Like many large research libraries, we do not have enough staff to be able to catalog everything we get when we get it, and we set priorities about what we catalog (and count) to make sure we meet the needs of students and faculty.
The vast majority of the comic items in the VCU Libraries have been donated to us by people looking for a secure home for their treasures and who understand the value in creating a unique collection of similar materials. We are selective about what we receive, taking in only those items that will enhance the value of the collection for students and scholars. As the collection has grown in importance, it has become more and more a preferred repository for those who are interested in preserving and fostering the comic arts. You can find out more about the collection by visiting us at http://www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/speccoll/comicbk1.html.
Thank you for your interest in the VCU Libraries. I hope you will be able to attend the celebration of our two millionth volume tomorrow, October 2, at 2 p.m. in the Cabell Library and learn more about what you can do to support our important mission. Read more about this milestone for the Richmond community at http://www.library.vcu.edu/blog/2m/.
John Duke
Senior Associate University Librarian
2,000,000 “volumes”, counting the Spider-Man comic, which is part of 125,000 “items” in the comic collection - so does that mean that over 6% of the VCU library consists of comic books?
Perhaps a little clarification would be in order.
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