About & FAQ
Welcome to the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's digital special collections website. As part of the Library's efforts to improve access to and showcase unique and significant items from its collections, this site will be regularly updated with features from the Central Library's Grosvenor Room and Rare Book Room, as well as selections from libraries across the B&ECPL system.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LG-07-12-0551-12).
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook (link is external) and Twitter (link is external)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are digital collections?
Our digital collections are digitized or born-digital materials primarily selected from the Central Library's Grosvenor Room and Rare Book Room. The Grosvenor Room houses the Library's Special Collections department, which contains unique collections on local history, genealogy, music, and maps. The Rare Book Room contains our most treasured collections, including rare texts like the Shakespeare's First Folio and the Poliphili Hypnerotomachia, photograph collections from the regions history, and selections from the Library's historical archives.
These items have been made available online as part of the Library's efforts to expand access to its collections for researchers and patrons. Digital collections may be organized as digital representations of existing physical collections, or as curated exhibits from numerous sources.
- How can I search for specific items or subjects?
To search, you can either click the search icon in the top right corner of the page, or navigate to the search page. You can enter specific keywords, as well as search within specific fields. For instance, searching for 'Cheektowaga' in the subject field will bring up items relating to the town of Cheektowaga. Certain fields, like subjects, creator, and tags, can be clicked through to show all items with the same field.
- Can images from this website be used for other purposes?
Some items may only be reproduced by permission; others are available for non-commercial or educational purposes. Certain collections, like Spilling Grain and the Rich Newburg Reports collections, have copyright held by outside organizations or individuals. Please contact the Grosvenor Room at grosvenorref@buffalolib.org with any questions or requests concerning specific usages.
- Can items from the digital collections be viewed in person?
There are a few items that are not available due to their condition or other access restrictions. Otherwise, items found on the digital collections may be requested for in-person viewing at the Central Library's Grosvenor Room. Please note that items from the Rare Book Room will require an appointment.
- How can I contact you?
The Grosvenor Room and digital collections staff may be contacted by email at grosvenorref@buffalolib.org or by phone at (716) 858-8900.