The Historical Bibliography collection functions as the "reference collection" for the University Archives & Special Collections unit's holdings. It provides basic reference tools such as foreign language dictionaries and "how to manuals" as well as specialized works such as auction records and works dealing with book collecting and the history of the book. The collection contains books, pamphlets and periodicals. As of October 2012 it is fully cataloged on the library's on-line catalog. The collection represents publications from the 18th to 21st Centuries.