An updated special collections handbook

For Immediate Release
Mon, 02/06/2017

Contact:

Rob Christopher

Marketing Coordinator

ALA Publishing

American Library Association

312-280-5052

rchristopher@ala.org

CHICAGO — Working with special collections can vary dramatically from preserving a single rare book to managing and digitizing vast mixed-media archives, yet the role of the information professional is always critical in tapping into the potential of these collections, protecting their legacy, and bringing them to the attention of the wider public. The new second edition of “The Special Collections Handbook,” published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, offers up-to-date guidance which pulls together insights from best practices across the field to help libraries build innovative, cooperative, and questioning mind-sets. Alison Cullingford addresses all aspects of special collections work, including preservation, developing collections, understanding objects, emergency planning, security, legal and ethical concerns, cataloging, digitization, marketing, outreach, teaching, impact, advocacy, and fundraising. New to this edition:

  • coverage of new standards and concepts including unique and distinctive collections (UDCs), The Leeds Typology, Archive Accreditation, PD 5454:2012 and PAS 197;
  • discussion of the major changes to laws affecting special collections including UK copyright law relating to library/archive exception and orphan works and forthcoming changes to data protection in the EU;
  • exploration of new trends in research including the rise of digital humanities, open access, the impact agenda and the REF;
  • updates to the sections on marketing, audience development and fundraising to include social media, customer journey mapping and crowdsourcing and more; and
  • consideration of impact and indicators, digitization and new skills frameworks from CILIP and RBMS.

Cullingford is Special Collections Librarian at the University of Bradford, UK, where she is responsible for over 100 collections of modern archives and rare books. The service was the first English university to achieve Archive Accreditation. She also managed the Unique and Distinctive Collections project for Research Libraries UK.  An active member of the CILIP Rare Books and Special Collections Group and many other sector groups, she also regularly presents at conferences, blogs, and tweets on the importance of the special collections librarian.

Customers outside of North America (USA and Canada) should contact Facet Publishing for purchasing information.

Facet Publishing, the commercial publishing and bookselling arm of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, is the leading publisher of books for library and information professionals worldwide. ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.