A 1979 Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) survey on special collections in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions focuses on centralized departments that handle rare books, manuscripts, archives, and author-subject collections. Statistical results from 66 survey replies reporting on the staffing, size, and expenditures of special collection departments are presented in this kit. The kit comprises: (1) goals and objectives, guidelines, and policies for collection development from University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Washington, Iowa State University, Princeton University, Colorado State University, State University of New York-Stony Brook, McMaster University, and Stanford University; (2) use policies and procedures from University of Cincinnati, Texas A&M University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Brown University, and Yale University; (3) descriptions of facilities and housing from the National Library of Canada, Emory University, Duke University, and University of Cincinnati; and (4) reports on projects for fostering support and use from Washington University, Brown University, University of Wisconsin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and State University of New York-Buffalo. The concise summary that introduces the collection is based on narrative replies and documents received in response to the 1979 SPEC survey on roles and functions of special collections, maintenance, housing, user services, and trends and issues. (THC)