Jen Library Archives and Special Collections

Recently added to Special Collections is Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, a book published to coincide with an exhibition at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, organized by The Costume Institute. The book contains detailed studies of several of McQueen’s collections, focusing as much on his elaborate runway presentations as on the designs themselves. An introduction by Susannah Frankel and an interview with McQueen’s longtime assistant and successor, Sarah Burton, provide insight into the mind of one of the most accomplished and provocative modern designers.

This week, a student who visited Special Collections to use Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty asked why the book is here rather than in the circulating collection. This is not an uncommon question, and one that we are always happy to answer. There are many possible reasons why an item would be placed in Special Collections rather than elsewhere in the library: value, rarity, fragility, multiple parts, loose plates, autographed/inscribed by the author/artist, small press, limited edition…the list goes on and on. The Alexander McQueen book is here because it has a lenticular plate mounted on the cover. There was no way to place a barcode on the cover without damaging this plate, and because the plate was mounted to the cover, it could easily be removed or otherwise damaged. The library wanted to preserve a copy of the book with the lenticular plate intact, and so it was placed in Special Collections.

Don’t be afraid to ask us why something is in Special Collections, and please remember that if you cannot come in during our normal hours, you can contact us, and we will do our best to find a way to accommodate your research needs.