scholarly journals Bringing Rare Books to Light: The State of the Profession

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Hubbard ◽  
Ann K.D. Myers

When the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) released the results of its 1998 survey of special collections, the backlog of unprocessed and uncataloged collections emerged as one of the most serious and daunting issues facing the profession. An increasingly enthusiastic professional discourse about the “hidden collections” problem, as it became known, has developed as a result. The ARL Special Collections Task Force, convened in 2001 and dissolved in 2006, focused on exposing hidden collections as a top agenda item, and produced the much-cited white paper, “Hidden Collections, Scholarly Barriers.” This active discourse has also induced a flurry of articles and . . .

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Fell

In the years following the 2003 conference on “Exposing Hidden Collections,” held at the Library of Congress—and the subsequent publication of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Task Force on Special Collections’ white paper entitled Hidden Collections, Scholarly Barriers: Creating Access to Unprocessed Special Collections Materials in America’s Research Libraries—many institutions and repositories have made concerted efforts to address the formidable challenges involved in “exposing” unprocessed and/or underprocessed collections. Exemplary efforts range from a national program initiated by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation “to identify and catalog . . .


2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-90
Author(s):  
Susan Stekel Rippley

The topic of what skills and qualifications are required of special collections librarians has come up in numerous places in past months, including in an Association of Research Libraries (ARL) White Paper released in November 2004 and at the most recent (June 2005) Rare Books and Manuscripts (RBMS) Preconference in St. Louis. Not coincidentally, it also was the focus of a roundtable session at the April 2005 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) National Meeting in Minneapolis. This article summarizes the discussion at the latter event and points out how several themes have been recurring in other contexts. Those . . .


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-11
Author(s):  
Beth Whittaker

This issue of RBM presents articles that offer a “special collections and archives perspective” on several themes permeating the larger library world. Matthew C. Reynolds surveys the state of bibliographic instruction in Association of Research Libraries’ special collections libraries. The importance of instruction in the unique environments we inhabit deserves attention and reflection, particularly since we are sometimes disconnected from efforts in our larger organizations. Todd Fell takes “hidden collections” initiatives into the map room with an examination of the challenges and rewards of exposing map collections. Projects like the one he discusses offer potential solutions to end our long . . .


2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winston Tabb

The conference on Exposing Hidden Collections, hosted by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) at the Library of Congress in September 2003, was notable for many reasons. Among these were the focus on special collections in the first place; the representation not only from ARL libraries, but also from institutions included in the Oberlin Group of college libraries and the Independent Research Library Association; the expansion of participants to include special collections administrators, library directors, and representatives of foundations and funding agencies; and the emphasis on our dirty little secret, namely, that our libraries collectively hold millions of items that . . .


2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Browar ◽  
Cathy Henderson ◽  
Michael North ◽  
Tara Wenger

This article has been written to assist special collections administrators who want to establish a fee policy and schedule for the publication (in any media or format) of original materials in their charge. The article examines the history of special collections’ approaches to this practice, offers a rationale for charging fees, discusses relevant copyright issues, and offers model policies and fee schedules. The article grew out of the work of an ad hoc committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries. The Licensing and Reproduction of Special Collections Committee had been asked . . .


2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
Melanie Griffin

In Archives Alive, Diantha Dow Schull expertly demonstrates the strength, vitality, and importance of rare books, special collections, and archives departments located in public libraries rather than academic or research libraries. Schull’s purpose is two-fold. First, she demonstrates the breadth and depth of special collections in public libraries; second, she demonstrates how twenty-first-century special collections departments work, frequently with technology, to increase engagement with the publics they serve. The scope is limited to special collections departments in American public libraries, but within these parameters, coverage is exhaustive and strikes an appropriate balance between activities at large, well-funded institutions and smaller departments with more modest resources.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 653-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Lynn Jakubs

Purpose – Cooperation among research libraries is a venerable pursuit with a long history. The purpose of this paper is to examine three collaborative tools and programs ranging from the late 1970s to the present to identify the promise of each as well as the challenges, the factors that both facilitate and interfere with true cooperation, highlighting the lessons learned. Design/methodology/approach – The author analyzes the development and functions of the Conspectus of the Research Libraries Group, the Global Resources Program of the Association of Research Libraries, and the Triangle Research Libraries Network in the state of North Carolina, USA. Findings – While the goals of collaborative collections initiatives are laudable, it is often difficult to accomplish true, balanced, and lasting cooperation that results in both expanded access and financial reallocation. Originality/value – The study is a first-hand, inside look at the methods and mechanisms of cooperative collection development that offers suggestions for future partnerships on either a small or a large scale.


2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina L. Southwell ◽  
Jacquelyn Slater

<p>Since the passage of the American Disabilities Act in 1990 and the coincident  growth of the Internet, academic libraries have worked to provide electronic resources and services that are accessible to all patrons. Special collections are increasingly being added to these Web-based library resources, and they must meet the same accessibility standards. The recent popularity surge of Web 2.0 technology, social media sites, and mobile devices has brought greater awareness about the challenges faced by those who use assistive technology for visual disabilities. This study examines the screen reader accessibility of online special collections finding aids at 68 public U.S. colleges and universities in the Association of Research Libraries.</p>


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