In addition, through the Inter-Library Services network, books may be borrowed or photocopies of material requested by any library in the country for the use of its patrons. Most of the Mann Library collection circulates to qualified borrowers. Special rules govern the length of time certain kinds of material, such as current journals or books on reserve for course work, may be borrowed. Reference books are limited to building use. The books in the vault may be recent imprints or older titles.
Recent imprints placed in protected status are usually lavishly illustrated limited editions.
Older imprints in the vault may or may not be heavily illustrated, but their scarcity, fragility, or monetary value dictates special care in handling. The Mann Library collection includes complete coverage of published and online reference tools pertinent to the subject of ornithology. Bibliographies, indexes, histories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, printed catalogs of collections in other institutions, checklists, and nomenclatures are all acquired consistently. Online access to current computerized indexing services is available to help the ornithology researcher or student. As mentioned earlier, the ornithology collection in Mann Library is too large to be described in terms of specific titles in a guide such as this one.