The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published, "Special Collections Engagement, SPEC Kit 317," which examines exhibits, events, instruction, and other activities that are targeted to engage students, faculty, and other scholars/researchers with special collections for research and education. It investigates who coordinates these activities, where they are held, how they are promoted, and how they are evaluated.
By the March deadline, responses had been submitted by 79 of the 124 ARL member libraries for a response rate of 64%. A genuine commitment to outreach activities in special collections is evident throughout the responses to this survey. Over 95% of respondents are staging exhibits, holding events, and engaging students and faculty in the use of collections; most institutions are participating in all of these activities, as well as in many others not specifically addressed in the survey. At the heart of all outreach activities are the collections. Libraries are going to great lengths to promote their unique and specialized collection strengths, employing many creative outreach and engagement approaches. While the traditional methods of exhibits, events, and curricular instruction continue to be the emphasis of special collections’ outreach programs, institutions are also embracing opportunities to be active physically beyond the borders of their campuses and virtually through blogs, social networking sites, and other Web 2.0 technologies.
More than two-thirds of the respondents have encountered barriers in providing effective outreach to faculty, students, and other scholars/researchers affiliated with their institutions. Of these, about half cite insufficient staffing as a major impediment, in particular the lack of dedicated outreach staff. Funding, limited hours, and space are often noted together as impediments to outreach efforts. However, despite these roadblocks, the responses to this survey indicate widespread enthusiasm for outreach activities among special collections. Many respondents emphasized a need and desire to build on their current efforts and to do more in the future.
SPEC Kit #317 was written by:
Adam Berenbak, Cate Putirskis, Genya O’Gara, Claire Ruswick, Danica Cullinan, Judy Allen Dodson, Emily Walters, and Kathy Brown
The FreePint Family is a family of resources to help information workers be more effective, raise the value of information in their organisations and contribute to success.
'FreePint... provides most of my professional development because it won't come through work and [other resources] just don't cut it.'
FUMSI Forum: Do you have a research question? Post it to the FUMSI Forum, where professionals share Q&A and useful tips on how to Find, Use, Manage and Share Information. It's free.
FreePint Shop:
VIP LiveWire:
