Lost gems: Identifying rare and unusual monographs in a university's circulating collection

Identifying and evaluating the oldest published content held by the library using a set of transfer criteria provided a means to systematically evaluate and, if necessary, move rare or unusual content into a more secure location. The process enabled us to correct cataloging errors, identify and address items with condition issues, be familiar with the library's unique holdings and finally, to identify and add content distinctly associated with EMU's history to the University Archives and Special Collections.