About Special Collections

Cooperation with Other Libraries

James Cook University Library Special Collections collaborates with other collecting agencies to ensure that rare or valuable materials are held in the most appropriate place. The Library has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Townsville Library Service and Thuringowa City Libraries and an agreement with the libraries of the Northern Territory University and the Central Queensland University.

Facilities

The Cairns Special Collections Room is located on the top floor of the Cairns Campus Library. Access is by arrangement with staff at InfoHelp.

At the Douglas Campus the Helen Mays Reading Room is set aside for the use of Special Collections materials.

It is the policy of the James Cook University Library that members of the community are welcome to come into the Library and use resources on the premises.

Material in Special Collections cannot be borrowed. The archives are listed in the Register of Australian Archives and Manuscripts and all other materials in Special Collections are entered in the Library's online catalogue, Tropicat. Extra subject access is provided by the North Queensland Index. In some cases material in the North Queensland Collection is duplicated in the main Library collections to provide easier access.

Contacts & Opening Hours

Townsville

Special Collections are normally available 9-5 Monday to Friday

Prior appointments are very much appreciated and requests may be made in advance by phone, email or online. However, if you can't make an appointment, please ask at the InfoHelp Desk for access.

For access outside 9-5 Monday-Friday it is essential that you make an advance appointment by contacting the Acting Special Collections Librarian at bronwyn.mcburnie@jcu.edu.au or by calling (07) 4781 5002

Cairns

Access to Special Collection in Cairns is by arrangement with staff at InfoHelp and is opening during library opening hours.

Are you interested in freelance work on library tasks?

The James Cook University Library is developing a database of people who are interested in occasional free lance work.

Library staff are sometimes asked to undertake work for which we do not have staff resources. In some cases the enquirer is willing to pay for this work to be done. The register will enable the Library to provide a list of suitable candidates for such work.

Typical tasks that the Library might refer include searching newspaper microfilms for a particular public notice or preparing a bibliography on a historical topic.

If you are interested in having your name on this register, please prepare a statement of your interests under the headings indicated below and send it to the Special Collections Librarian.

This register will be subject to ongoing revision so there is no deadline for completion of the form.

Application for inclusion in James Cook University Library Register of Free Lancers

You can register by emailing the Special Collections Librarian at James Cook University Library with the following details. Please note that inclusion on the register does not guarantee that work will be referred to you.

Name
Address
Phone Number
Other Contracts (e.g. Fax, E-mail)
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Availability (e.g. which days, months are you available, are there periods when you are never available?)
Special Interests