Users basing research on, or publishing images of materials from the Rare Books and Special Collections Library (including rare books, archives, photographs, and other items), must credit the library, and indicate the source of the material. The specific format may vary depending on the context of the work (an academic book or article, magazine article or other form of journalism, audio-visual production, website, exhibition, etc.) or citation style required (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.). Credits/Citations should be made for physical items as well as RBSCL material online (see below). If you have questions please consult with library staff; see our Contact Us page for details.
Citations for Rare Books
For citing a rare book accessed at the library in notes or bibliography, cite the book according to the citation style required (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.), indicating the source as the RBSCL. Example:
Jones, Owen. The Grammar of Ornament. London: Day & Son, 1856. Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
See below for credits when reproducing images from rare books.
Credits for Photographs, Reproduced Images, and Audiovisual Material
For photographs or other RBSCL materials reproduced in print, online, or for display (in exhibitions, etc.) include an image credit including an identification of the item and an acknowledgment of the library, shown along with the image. Image credits for film, video, or television may be shown at the end of the production or program.
Examples:
Van-Leo Self portrait, courtesy Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
1920s Student-Athletes, courtesy University Archives, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
New Gourna Mosque Elevation, Hassan Fathy Collection, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
An abbreviated credit format may be used if the context dictates (Example: Van-Leo, AUC RBSCL), but the full name of the library and full identification of the item reproduced should be included somewhere in the published work or production.
Full image citations should include the name of the library and library unit name, collection used and sufficient information to indicate where the image was found, and the creator’s or photographer’s name (if available):
[Photographer/Creator]. [Collection Name], [Library unit name], Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Examples:
Green, Arnold. Bird’s-eye view of Main Campus. 1968. American University in Cairo Photograph Collection, Campus and Buildings Series, Box 1, University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Old Cairo Potter's House Graduation Project. Ramses Wissa Wassef Collection, Project Plans and Drawings. Regional Architecture Collections, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Commencement, June 12, 1987, Video Recording. In Motion Image Recordings Collection, University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
For a more general acknowledgment of images or photographs used (for example, use of multiple images from a collection), other citation possibilities include:
Examples:
All images courtesy of AUC University Archives
K.A.C. Creswell Photograph Collection of Islamic Architecture, Photograph Collections, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
Users intending to publish in print or online, reproduce for an audio-visual production or quote from library materials must complete an "Application for Permission to Publish, Broadcast, or Quote from Rare Books and Special Collections Library Materials" form, as well as seek copyright permission if the library does not hold the copyright. Permission must be requested for physical items as well as images in the Rare Books and Special Collections Digital Library or other RBSCL online sources.
Take note of image captions and other identifying information as you are doing your research, to avoid the necessity of you or library staff searching for this information later.
Citations for Archival Materials
The specific format for citing archival materials may vary depending on the context of the work (an academic book or article, magazine article or other forms of journalism, audio-visual production, website, exhibition, etc.), placement in the researcher’s work (notes, bibliography, in-text citations, etc.), or the citation style required (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.).
Research-based on archival materials at the Books and Special Collections Library should credit the RBSCL and appropriate library unit, and indicate the collection used (generally in a bibliography or list of works cited). [Collection Name], Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
[Collection Name or Publication Name], University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
[Collection Name or Publication Name], Regional Architecture Collections, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Examples:
Huda Shaarawi Papers Collection, Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Records of President Charles R. Watson, University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Hassan Fathy Papers and Photograph Collection, Archives, Regional Architecture Collections, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Citations to specific items should describe the item and indicate its author/creator when appropriate, date, the collection and where in that collection the item was found, in order to provide sufficient information for researchers to locate the item:
[Description of document], [Date], [Folder/File Title]. In [Collection Name], [Series Name], [Box number], [library unit], Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
Examples:
Letter from Charles Watson to John D. Rockefeller, May 1, 1928, Fundraising Prospects File. In Records of President Charles R. Watson, External Individuals and Organizations Series, Box 14, University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Amin, Amr. “‘AUC Follows the Right Path’ Says Gamal Abdel Nasser,” Campus Caravan September 30, 1974, p. 3, University Archives, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Fifty Years of Service to Development, 2004, page 10. In Social Research Center Publications Collection, Box 1, University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
Oral History Interview with Thomas A. Bartlett, February 14, 1973. In American University in Cairo Oral Histories Collection, University Archives, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Abbreviations may be used for the library, library unit, and collection name when warranted (as when an item or collection is cited multiple times), provided an initial full citation and explanation of the abbreviation is given.
Examples:
Fathy Collection, RAC AUC RBSCL for Hassan Fathy Papers and Photograph Collection, Regional Architecture Collections, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo
Watson Records, AUC UA for Records of President Charles R. Watson, University Archives, The American University in Cairo
Take note of item names and locations and other identifying information as you are doing your research, to avoid the necessity of you or library staff searching for this information later.
Citations for RBSCL Materials Online
For materials accessed online via the Rare Books and Special Collections Digital Library or another RBSCL web/internet resource like its webpage, indicate that source and the url accessed.
[Collection Name or Publication Name], University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt. Accessed online via the Rare Books and Special Collections Digital Library at [url].
Example:
The AUCian Yearbook, 1968, University Archives, Rare Books and Special Collections Library, The American University in Cairo, Egypt. Accessed online via the Rare Books and Special Collections Digital Library at this link.