Portland State University Library's Special Collections is home to over 5500 items deemed unique or rare and historically significant.  Holdings include books, journals, manuscripts, documents, photographs, maps, graphic novels, audio-visual material, and realia, spanning the 15th century to the present.  Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize this rich collection in their scholarly and creative work.  The Special Collections librarian also provides instruction on primary resources and arranges tours of the collection and classroom visits with original materials.

Mission:
The mission of Special Collections, guided by the mission of the Portland State University Library, is to promote learning and discovery and to advance research and scholarship by collecting, preserving, and, above all, making accessible unique materials deemed to have long-term historical value to Portland State and the greater academic community. 

Vision:
Special Collections is the home of vibrant original materials that inspire and serve intellectual discovery and the creation of knowledge.  Positioned within the heart of the library, Special Collections engages the campus and the surrounding community by providing access to primary resources that enrich all levels of scholarship.  

Special Collections and the goals of Portland State

• Provide Civic Leadership through Partnerships

In recognition of Portland State University's centrality to community development and academic inquiry, Special Collections has been the chosen archival repository for elected officials and public planners from throughout the region.

• Improve Student Success

By providing instruction and access to a wealth of primary resources, Special Collections fosters in-depth hands-on learning opportunities that support and enhance classroom curriculum.  

• Achieve Global Excellence

Special Collections holds collections of international relevance in the areas of public planning and policy, civic and community leadership, popular culture, and Middle Eastern and Judaic studies.

• Enhance Educational Opportunity

By collecting primary resources and promoting their use to students and instructors, Portland State supports a continuation of Oregon curriculum standards and cultivates important critical thinking and information literacy skills.. 

• Expand Resources & Improve Effectiveness

Special Collections serves as an effective and compelling point of engagement to Portland State for donors, alumni, foundations, and other community members and institutions.  Its resources facilitate and support grant projects and other funding opportunities within the Library as well as across other university departments and disciplines.