Special Collections

The library’s Archive collection focuses on materials of local significance and WNMU history.  Our collection includes primarily two-dimensional formats.

Access to the Archive collection is mediated by library staff.  Patrons who wish to view materials in the Miller Library Archive collection are encouraged to make an appointment in advance and must have specific items in mind before we will allow access to materials in the collection.

Finding aids provide a lists of items within a collection.  Following are finding aids for some of the material in our Archive Collection:

• Juan Chacón Collection:
  • Presented to Miller Library by Virginia Chacón in 1995, this collection includes documents relating to the Empire Zinc Mine strike in Hanover, NM 1950-1 as well as a portion of the personal library of Juan Chacón.
• Jack Cargill Collection:
  • Contains documents relating to the Local 890 of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers and the Empire Zinc Mine strike in Hanover, NM 1950-1.
• Patricia Burch-Vaughn Collection:
  • Contains mainly copies of materials that Patricia Burch-Vaughn collected for research on the Empire Zinc Mine Strike in 1950-1.
• John E. Counts Collection:
  • Includes materials donated by Dr. John Counts, former President of WNMU.
• Neta Pope Fort Bayard Collection:
  • Contains research files compiled by Neta Pope during the preparation and writing of The Fort Bayard Story: 1886-1899. 

All donations to the Miller Library Archive are accepted at the discretion of the University Librarian.  All donated material must conform to the Library’s Collection Management Plan.  We do not accept materials without a known provenance.  Ownership of donated materials must be transferred to the Library; we do not accept material on loan.

Miller Library’s Español (Spanish language) collection is intended to support the coursework and recreational needs of WNMU students and faculty.  Materials are selected to support Spanish-learners as well as Spanish-speakers.

Materials in this collection are either in Spanish or bilingual with Spanish as one of the languages. 

The collection is located on the Main Floor of the library in the Government Documents wing.

Miller Library participates is the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program as a designated partial federal government documents depository.

Materials in the Government Documents collection are selected and maintained under the guidelines of the Federal Depository program.  More information about this program can be found on the Federal Depository Library Program website.

The Federal Government Documents Collection is located on the Main Floor of the Library.

Miller collects graphic novels for both entertainment and study purposes.  Items chosen for study prioritize literary and artistic value, compatibility with WNMU course material, positive reviews from reputable sources and award status.  Entertainment materials are selected based on patron interest.

English language graphic novels are located on the Main Floor, adjacent to the Popular Literature collection.  Spanish language graphic novels are shelved within the Español collection.

The Library of Things is a collection of household, crafting and other everyday implements that are available to currently enrolled WNMU students who pay student fees. 

This collection is intended to support practical needs, creativity, skill development and access to equipment that may be otherwise onerous for students to obtain due to cost, storage concerns or limited availability.  This collection is funded through student fees.  Selections are guided by student needs, cost, and anticipated use.

The Library of Things is located on the Main Floor of the Library, adjacent to the main Service Desk.

Miller Library makes an effort to collect monographs published by authors from the Southwestern New Mexico area.   WNMU faculty, staff, and alumni are included in this collection.   

The purpose of this collection is to promote and preserve access to works created by authors in the WNMU community and SW New Mexico.  When possible, materials are collected in both print and electronic formats. 

The Local Authors collection is located on the Main Floor of the Library.

Miller Library participates in New Mexico’s State Depository Library Program. Materials in the New Mexico Government Documents collection are selected and maintained under the guidelines of the state’s Depository program.  More information about this program can be found on the New Mexico State Library website. 

The New Mexico Government Documents collection is located on the Main Floor of the Library, adjacent to the Federal Government Documents.

The Popular Literature collection consists of leisure reading materials.  This collection includes bestsellers, genre fiction, self help, crafting, biographies on figures in popular culture, etc.

These materials are expected to remain in the collection for a shorter time span than materials in the library’s main collection.  If materials in this collection prove to have an enduring audience over time, we normally move them to the Main collection. 

The Popular Literature collection is located on the Main Floor of the Library.

The library’s Print Periodicals collection includes newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. The majority of these materials are intended for on-campus use, so lean towards leisure reading rather than to support course material in order to provide equitable service to our online students.   

Miller Library works with the NM Public Education Department by serving as a New Mexico Regional Review Center for Instructional Materials.  More information about this program can be found at: https://nmmaterialsmatter.ped.nm.gov/ 

Under the guidelines of this program, textbook publishers send instructional materials approved by the NM Public Education Department for use in public k-12 schools to Regional Review Centers for public display.   

Materials must be restricted to in-house use for one year after the NM PED approves them for use in classrooms.  After one year has passed, materials can be checked out by Miller Library patrons.  The library is required to retain materials for 5 years.

This collection was created with the curricular needs of WNMU College of Education students in mind.  It includes materials for children from infancy to grade 12, although most of the materials are for an audience of k-5.  We focus on collecting enduring, award-winning children’s literature.