Bancroft acquisitions are largely gifts and bequests to the library. It also accepts rare and old material from the other university libraries. Bliss said books printed prior to 1801 automatically become custody of Bancroft. Copies from the Bancroft collection we want to keep for another 4,000 years. This stuff is not replaceable.
All material is catalogued online.
About half of the daily visitors are from the university. Others are visiting scholars. Security measures include secret alarm systems. Only designated staff are allowed in the locked rare book stacks. Elevators require a key.