Why are most of the science fiction books in Special Collections?

• The Science Fiction Collection in the Special Collections Division is one of the 20 largest and best in the United States, and is often consulted by users coming from outside our community. In large part it is made up of ongoing donations from the Science Fiction Writers of America, a professional writers' organization. The books are accepted with the agreement that this will be a permanent collection. "Permanent" means, of course, that they may not circulate outside of our reading room. A very good collection, with hundreds of titles, is also maintained in the circulating collection. ... more