Seminar I: Radical Collaboration

Abstract

What’s so special about special collections? In a 2009 report, the Association of Research Libraries wrote that special collections “define the uniqueness and character of individual research libraries.” Positioning special collections as the “crown jewel” of the library serves only to distance us from other librarians and researchers and is not helpful in forging connections within and outside our communities. With limited budgets and staffs, and the ever-changing needs of administrators and user communities, it has become vitally important for special collections to establish our role within larger organizations and within the broader information profession; to build bridges and find advocates and partners not to isolate and set ourselves apart. This interactive seminar will ask attendees to discuss commonly held beliefs about special collections, and presenters will discuss their experiences, both successes and failures, with “on the ground” outreach and in-reach.

Moderator: Sarah M. Horowitz, Haverford College