Unlocking the Vault
Strategic Collaborations between Area Studies and Special Collections
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2024.vol9.4.398Abstract
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign houses one of the largest public university collections of rare books and manuscripts in the United States. Despite its vast and diverse holdings, certain areas of the collection, particularly Chinese-language materials, have been historically underutilized due to language barriers and the need for specialized knowledge. This article advocates for enhanced collaboration between special collections and area studies librarians to improve access and increase use of these resources. It examines the RBML’s challenges with cataloging and utilization of Chinese materials and proposes initiatives, including enriched public programming, curated exhibitions, targeted instructional sessions, and increased promotional efforts. These initiatives are designed to align with the University of Illinois’s strategic goals of inclusivity, global engagement, and academic excellence. Central to this endeavor is the collaboration with the Chinese Studies Librarian, whose knowledge and expertise is crucial in understanding and promoting these resources. The article underscores the significance of these initiatives in fully leveraging special collections and area studies, fostering the collection’s utilization, study, and appreciation by both local and global audiences. This project also aims to present an example for collaborations between special collections and area studies specialists within a given university.
Downloads
References
Birrell, L.,& Strong, M. (2014). Partners in discovery: Collaboration in special
collections. Archival Practice, 1(2).
Carter, L. R.,& Whittaker, B. M. (2015). Area studies and special collections: Shared
challenges, shared strength. Portal - Libraries and the Academy, 15(2), 353–373. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2015.0017
Cooper, D., & Schonfeld, R. C. (2017). Rethinking liaison programs for the humanities.
ITHAKA S+R. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep49520
Dreyer, R. (2022). Refworld: Future frontiers for special collections libraries. Transactions of
the American Philosophical Society, 110(3), 257–274.
Goldsmith, M. U. D.,& Fonseca, A. J. (2014). Using special collections
materials and creating learning centers to engage the community: Historic instruments, films, tools, and toys. https://doi.org/10.1533/9781780634685.133
Jaguszewski, J. M., & Williams, K. (2013). New roles for new times: Transforming liaison
roles in research libraries (p. 17). Association of Research Libraries. https://www.arl.org/resources/new-roles-for-new-times-transforming-liaison-roles-in-research-libraries/
Rosenkranz, A., Burrow, G., & Crane, L. L. (2016). Developing a primary source lab series: A
collaboration between special collections and subject collections librarians. In K. Totleben & L. Birrell (Eds.), Collaborating for impact: Special collections and liaison librarian partnerships (pp. 163–186). ACRL/ALA.
Rossman, J. J. (2022). Changing attitudes toward access to special collections. Transactions of
the American Philosophical Society, 110(3), 127–150.
Liu, X. (2010). Discussion about subject librarian system and special collection library
in the academic library. Journal of Library and Information Sciences in Agriculture.
Yaco, S., Brown, C., & Konrad, L. (2016). Linking Special Collections to Classrooms: A
Curriculum-to-Collection Crosswalk. The American Archivist, 79(2), 417–437.
Luo, Y. (2013). Humanistic quality education of subject librarian under vision of joint
development of subject service and special collections. Journal of Guangdong Ocean University, 33(2), 89–92.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Librarianship
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and the initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
