The Roper Rarities and Antiquities Collection (RRAC) is named in honor of retired professor of Old Testament and theology, Dr. Coy D. Roper. This collection includes antique and rare books, historically important editions of the Bible, and memorabilia of historical importance to Heritage Christian University. This collection began in 2007 and continues to grow through the generosity of library patrons.

The Coy D. Roper Rarities and Antiquities Collection is a closed-stack facility that contains uncataloged materials that, because of form, source, condition, rarity, or subject coverage are best handled with special care. Therefore, this collection is not open for browsing or for circulation, but is housed separately from the library’s main collection. Holdings within the RACC may be retrieved by the library’s staff upon request and are to be read only in the McMeans Family Reading Area.

Photocopying items housed in the Roper Rarities and Antiquities Collection is allowed when the use of a copier will NOT harm the materials if the material to be copied complies with federal copyright law. Users of the materials should register with the librarian before entering this collection.

While we regret that we must set such limitations, they are essential to protect these valuable holdings. We appreciate our patrons’ recognition and understanding of our difficult task of encouraging use of the materials while maintaining them for future users.

If you have materials that you wish to donate to the Roper Rarities and Antiqutities Collection, please consult the link below or contact the library staff.

Resources of the RRAC

Click here for a list of the resources of the RRAC. 

RRAC Accession Policy

Items to be included in the RRAC

  1. Only books will be preserved within the RRAC.
  2. For consideration for placement within the RRAC:
    1. Books will be in excellent, good, or fair condition.
    2. Books must be “complete” with all pages, original covers.
  3. Criteria for selection for inclusion with the RRAC:
    1. Books of theological or historical merit containing handwritten notes will receive priority consideration.
    2. Books of theological or historical merit autographed by the author and/or owner will receive priority consideration.
    3. Books more than 100 years old will receive consideration regardless of subject matter.
    4. Books will not be purchased specifically for inclusion in the RRAC.
    5. Placement in the RRAC does not imply a commitment to permanent inclusion in the RRAC.

Access to and Use of the RRAC

  1. See library staff for access to the RRAC.
  2. Books from the RRAC cannot leave the area designated by library staff.
  3. No copying of any of the books from the RRAC may take place.
  4. No food or beverage will be allowed in the designated RRAC area.

Books will be placed in the RRAC at the discretion of the director of library services. The director will welcome advice and suggestions from the library committee and from OML patrons.

RRAC Accession Policy Form 

Rules for Use of Archives and Manuscripts in the RRAC

The holdings of the Coy D. Roper Rarities and Antiquities Collection (RRAC) of Overton Memorial Library are available for reference use from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., with the exception of Heritage Christian University holidays. While the Library encourages the broadest possible use of its collections, the nature of these materials requires that we consider applicants on an individual basis.

Procedures for Requesting Materials

  1. Researchers must complete and sign an application form once each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) and must provide acceptable identification (driver’s license or photographic I.D. card).
  2. All manuscripts and archival materials are housed in closed stacks. Readers may request particular items by submitting the appropriate call slips to the Librarian. The librarian will bring the material to the researcher. No material will be pulled for researcher use after 3:45 p.m.
  3. All materials must be consulted in designated areas only and may not be taken to other areas of the Library.
  4. The Library reserves the right to inspect all research materials and personal articles before a patron leaves the building. Handling and Care of Materials
  5. The researcher must accept the responsibility of handling carefully all materials made available. Manuscripts and archival materials are to be maintained in the order in which they are received by the researcher. If any material is discovered out of order, please notify the Librarian. Do not rearrange papers. Manuscripts and books may not be leaned on, written on, folded, traced over or handled in any way that may damage them.
  6. Researchers may be limited in the amount of material received at one time, usually no more than one box of manuscripts.
  7. The use of ink is strictly prohibited.
  8. No food or beverages are allowed while using the materials, and smoking is prohibited.
  9. All materials must be returned to the Librarian by 4:00 p.m. or before the researcher leaves the Library.
  10. Mutilation, destruction and theft of Archives and Manuscripts materials are subject to prosecution.

Reproduction for Research Use
The Overton Memorial Library will consider requests for reproduction of material when such duplication can be done without injury to the material and when duplication does not violate donor agreements or copyright law. Requests for reproduction will be considered on an individual basis. Requests for duplicating certain materials may require the approval of the Librarian. All duplication requests must be made before 3:45 p.m. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish.

Permission to Publish
Researchers should be aware that the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, USC) provides protection for unpublished materials as well as for published works. Permission to publish from or to quote from previously unpublished manuscripts or from published items under copyright must first be obtained from the copyright holder. It is the researcher’s responsibility to secure that permission. For original manuscript materials, the permission of the Overton Memorial Library, as owner of the originals, is also required. In most instances, the Library does not hold the copyright to materials in its holdings.

Citations
When citing material from manuscript collections in this library, please use the following form: [Identification of the item and the title of the collection], [Identification of the record group or manuscript collection number], Coy D. Roper Rarities and Antiquities Collection, Overton Memorial Library, Heritage Christian University.