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Purdue University Archives and Special Collections possess several rare book collections. The rare book collections consist of books of a specialized topic, construction, or importance; books no longer widely available; books published in a limited edition; or books one-of-a-kind in nature. A majority of the rare books found within Archives and Special Collections are related to the history of Purdue University, including materials from distinguished alumni and faculty as well as texts related to the history of the university and State of Indiana. Using the Purdue Libraries catalog, one can locate books within our rare book collections. After completing a catalog search, refine the results by Library (choose Archives and Special Collections) among the left panel options within results page. Due to the fragile nature of many of the books, please consult with the Archives prior to visiting to ensure the title is available and ready for use.