The Rare Works Unit consists of two parts: technical reading, and reader services. Technical reading involves the classification and cataloguing of writing, printed, map, postcard, album, document, engraving, and photograph collections, as well as purchasing, price evaluation, inspection, and acceptance processes.

The Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules 2 and Dewey Decimal Classification System are used for the cataloguing process. While doing the cataloguing and classification of manuscripts operations such as assigning fixture and page leaf numbers are also performed.

The reader service provides support to library users in the rare works collections.