Throngs of Penn State students congregate in the Paterno Library every day, but they might be missing out on one of the library's largest assets: the Rare Books and Manuscripts collection.

While it's not usually a destination for many students, Sandra Stelts, curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, said the collection attracts an eclectic crowd.

Stelts said scholars from New Zealand and England are currently doing research in the library.

"We have a lot of traveling scholars moving through here who are willing to make a great journey," Stelts said. "It's always a lively place."

The Rare Books and Manuscripts library is home to an exciting collection, including many first edition books.

Stelts said the collection also includes numerous editions of single books, which allows visitors to make comparisons between the different editions.

"It's fascinating to see how Walt Whitman played a role in publishing, changing and adding to each new edition of Leaves of Grass," Stelts said, referring to the hand-made paper, etching plates and vellum bindings of the past.

"There is also a thrill in seeing the pre-publication stages of a book by looking at an author's handwritten or typewritten manuscript to see the writing and editing process," Stelts said.

Some pieces of the collection even have inscriptions written by the author.

"They make the pieces extra special," Stelts said. "The value is above and beyond monetary value."

Ashley Lee (sophomore-liberal arts) seemed interested by this aspect of the collection.
"That'd be cool to see notes from authors," Lee said.

Another highlight is a German textbook that used to belong to author Sylvia Plath, with certain passages underlined by Plath herself. Beyond the autograph value, Stelts said Plath used some of these passages in her poetry.

Stelts said the library uses its own money and gifts from donors to add to its collection.

"In recent years, we have received significant gift collections on the history of dance and on early art instruction in America, so now we try to add materials that further strengthen those areas," she said.

Stelts said some of the collection's other strengths are the history of photography, black history and utopian literature.

Stelts said many courses have requirements for reading from Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Lee is one of the many students who is required to visit the library for classes.

Beyond class requirements, though, she usually just goes to the library when she has the time, she said.

"Not every student needs to read a first edition for a class assignment, of course," Stelts said, "but there is value in looking at books as artifacts of a period of history -- how they look, feel and even smell."

Although everyone is welcome, visitors should be prepared with proper identification. The stacks are not open because many of the materials are fragile, valuable or scarce, so staff members must retrieve the materials and bring them to visitors.

Stelts said she hopes this won't discourage students to visit the collection.

"We strongly encourage the use of our materials by students," Stelts said.

Visitors should note that the collection has restricted hours and should check the library's Web site at www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls.