Special Collections are one part of the larger group of Cultural Collections. They comprise the Rare Books collection, the Print collection ,the Rare Music collection, the Rare East Asian collection and the Rare Maps collection. Items in these collections are housed in special conditions by reason of their age, value or uniqueness in order to ensure their care and preservation for current and future generations of scholars and researchers and as a record of our cultural history.

Special Collections are utilised for academic research, object based learning in the delivery of courses, student internships, visiting scholars, public engagement through exhibitions and public programs, community and special interest tours and as resources in academic and public lectures and symposiums. They contribute to the rich fabric of Melbourne’s cultural life through loans to other cultural institutions and involvement in externally held cultural events.