University of Georgia Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries is to acquire, organize, preserve, and provide access to unique and rare materials related to the history and culture of Georgia.
The Richard B. Russell Jr. Special Collections Libraries Building houses the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, including University Archives, the Richard B. Russell Jr. Library for Political Research and Studies, and the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Collection.
The UGA Special Collections Libraries are committed to creating an inclusive space and equitable learning environment. We strive to create an environment of acceptance and respect in which all students, faculty, staff, and visitors feel welcome. We demonstrate and encourage speech and actions that communicate respect and focus on equity of voices and experiences in our exhibits and public programming. We are committed to building a more inclusive collection through identifying weaknesses in our holdings, prioritizing current collecting activities, and actively soliciting collections from underrepresented groups while demonstrating respect, empathy, and transparency.
Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library Mission Statement
The Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library advances the research, instructional, and public service mission of the University of Georgia by collecting, preserving, and providing access to the published and unpublished works that document the evolving history and culture of Georgia and its peoples. The Hargrett Library documents the state's literary, cultural, social, and economic legacy; and it builds collections of distinction in other areas, including natural history, ecology and environmentalism, history of the book, performing arts, women’s history, journalism and print media, and University history. For more information, please read Hargrett's Collection Development Policy.
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies Mission Statement
The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies is a department within the University of Georgia Libraries that reports to the University Librarian and serves as a center for research and study of the modern American political system. Established in 1974 through the efforts of the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc., the Georgia General Assembly, and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, the Library’s original mission was to collect and preserve materials that document the life and career of the late Richard B. Russell, United States Senator from Georgia from 1933 to 1971. With particular emphasis on the role of Georgia and the U. S. Congress, current collection development and programming focus on the dynamic relationship of politics, policy, and culture—generated wherever public interest intersects with government. The breadth and depth of Russell Library’s collections provide an interconnected framework of perspectives and experiences for understanding the increasingly diverse people, events, and ideas shaping Georgia’s political landscape.
Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection Mission Statement
The mission of the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection is to preserve and protect the moving image and sound materials that reflect the collective memory of broadcasting and the history of the State of Georgia and its people, to provide access to the collections through the creation and development of ongoing public programming and the maintenance of a viewing facility for researchers; so that we may serve the research and study needs of the University of Georgia, its faculty and students, as well as the campus community and the public at large. The Media Archive's scope of service extends beyond the University of Georgia, providing reference assistance to researchers around the world, as well as participating in cooperative preservation projects with other moving image and sound archives. For more information, please read our Collection Development Policy.
*UGA Special Collections Libraries staff are prohibited from appraising items. Qualified appraisers can be found by checking the telephone directory or the internet at the American Society of Appraisers website.