Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Will Our Future Selves Thank Us? An Examination Of Born-Digital Curation Practices At The University Of Kentucky Libraries, Sarah Dorpinghaus, Ruth E. Bryan, Megan M. Mummey, Emily B. Collier

Library Presentations

University of Kentucky archivists share practical tips, tools, and mental frameworks to identify gaps, pitfalls, and opportunities in stewarding born-digital collections. Topics include managing a shifting digital preservation landscape, instituting comprehensive appraisal practices while considering environmental impact, curating born-digital and web-based university records, and aligning resources with future collection needs.

So You Want To Be A Leader? Examining Pathways To Special Collections Administration, Sarah Horowitz, Colleen W. Barrett

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

This article seeks to understand the current state of the field of special collections library administration in the United States. Using a dataset gathered through publicly available information about special collections directors from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Independent Research Libraries Association (IRLA), and the Oberlin Group institutional members, the authors explore the educational backgrounds of directors, the types of positions they held prior to taking on their current roles, and the effect of gender on leadership advancement. This article also discusses the similarities and differences between institution types as well as promotions within institutions and across types of …

The Archives At The Tip Of Their Fingers: Exploring User Reactions To Large-Scale Digitization, Emily Lapworth, Su Kim Chung

Library Faculty Publications

Advances in digital image capture technology and the adoption of More Product, Less Process methods have resulted in special collections and archives large- scale digitization that creates a new kind of digital surrogate. Mirroring and reusing aggregate archival arrangement and description, these digital surrogates represent multiple items and are minimally described as a whole. The authors conducted interviews to explore user reactions to this digitization method at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This study found that large-scale digitization does have a positive impact for users, although additional strategies may be required to maximize the usefulness of the resulting digital …

The Game’S Afoot: Introducing Students To Archival Resources, Amy Rohmiller

Roesch Library Staff Presentations

University Archives and Special Collections (UASC) at the University of Dayton began exploring gamifying some of the programs offered to students that introduced them to UASC and its collections. This poster introduces the tools used to create the games; highlights some of the impacts the new, gamified programs had on UASC; and talks about some lessons learned. Attendees will learn about resources they can use to implement these ideas at their own institutions.

Teaching Undergraduates With Primary Sources 2020 Research Study Report, Jay-Marie Bravent, Deirdre Scaggs, Matthew Strandmark, Danielle Gabbard

Library Reports and White Papers

This report presents the findings of an exploratory examination of the pedagogical practices of social sciences and humanities instructors who teach undergraduates with primary sources at the University of Kentucky (UK). Conducted in December 2019 and January 2020 by a research team from the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center, the study reveals areas of success within existing programs and services, the benefits and drawbacks of teaching with digitized primary sources, as well as inherent pedagogical challenges to overcome. A list of recommendations based on the findings seeks to address these challenges and concludes the report. As part …

Born-Digital Preservation: The Art Of Archiving Photos With Script And Batch Processing, Rachel S. Evans, Leslie Grove, Sharon Bradley

Articles, Chapters and Online Publications

With our IT department preparing to upgrade the University of Georgia’s Alexander Campbell King Law Library (UGA Law Library) website from Drupal 7 to 8 this fall, a web developer, an archivist, and a librarian teamed up a year ago to make plans for preserving thousands of born-digital images. We wanted to harvest photographs housed only in web-based photo galleries on the law school website and import them into our repository’s collection. The problem? There were five types of online photo galleries, and our current repository did not include appropriate categories for all of the photographs. The solution? Expand our …

Institutional Repository And Archives Partnerships And Futures, Elizabeth James, Lindsey M. Harper, Lori Thompson, Gretchen R. Beach

Librarian Research

A reality of dwindling resources in archives, as well as in higher education more broadly, is that the ability to purchase and maintain a specialized archives management and content management software is often out of reach. For Marshall University Special Collections, the solution to make finding aids and other digital archival materials accessible online required evaluating software already available at the university. Marshall Digital Scholar (MDS), an instance of the bepress institutional repository software, was chosen for its immediate availability, robust discovery services within the repository and through outside search engines, statistic tracking capability, metadata flexibility, support for multiple file …

Return To Work Planning: Covid-19 Re-Opening And The Uncertain "New Normal", Jay-Marie Bravent

Library Presentations

Jay-Marie Bravent discusses the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center's plans for fall instruction and public services.

Treasures In Special Collections At Wcu, Christopher Borroughs

English Student Work

The Special Collections Department at West Chester houses an impressive array of children’s literature, though this collection has largely remained untapped and unstudied. However, I have identified many significant holdings upon the shelves, such as Newbery and Caldecott-winning titles, esteemed children’s classics, and other notable works by local authors and illustrators. My presentation will propose several potential research topics for scholarly investigation within the collection, such as studying the history of illustration through our Wind in the Willows collection, observing how depictions of race have progressed over time, and conducting gender and other theoretical studies. I also propose methods to …

Polaroids From Heaven: Experiential Learning With Special Collections, Jillian M. Ewalt

Marian Library Faculty Presentations

This presentation covers an experiential learning collaboration between the Marian Library and the course Alternative Photography at the University of Dayton. Instructors developed a series of hands-on sessions in which students interacted with the Marian Apparitions photograph collection to inform the image-making process.

On-The-Job Information Literacy: A Case Study Of Student Employees At Purdue University Archives And Special Collections, Tracy Grimm, Neal Harmeyer

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This chapter presents Purdue Archives and Special Collections as a case study in growing an organizational culture committed to teaching information literacy parallel to classroom learning through student worker experiential learning. While student employment or internships may not traditionally be considered co-curricular activities, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections provides an environment not only for students to gain pre-professional experience but also expertise, confidence, and competence in information; for many students, this preparation has resulted in careers in museums, archives, libraries, and cultural heritage institutions. The result is a new approach to student employment: one designed to establish an environment …

“Polaroids From Heaven”: Collaboration Between The Marian Library And The Course, Alternative Photography, Jillian M. Ewalt, Carrie K. Chema

Marian Library Faculty Presentations

This presentation covers a collaborative project between the Marian Library and the Department of Art and Design at the University of Dayton.

2019 Annual Report Of The Work In Imsa’S Archives, Marti Guarin, Christian Nokkentved

Archives' Annual Report

The IMSA Archives, housed in the Leto M. Furnas Information Resource Center, serves to collect and preserve materials relating to the history and ethos of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The Archives includes both special and general collections with materials about IMSA’s establishment, led by Dr. Leon Lederman and Governor James Thompson. There are materials about the Academy's opening in the fall of 1986 and its development since, as well as about its ideas and programs and how they evolved. We have sample curricula, presidential speeches, samples of student work, as well as material about and from partnership programs …

Apparition Or Icon? Integrating Critical Visual Literacy Into Primary Source Instruction, Jillian M. Ewalt

Marian Library Faculty Presentations

How can art librarians and visual resource professionals embolden undergraduates to find, use, and think critically about images? This poster outlines how visual literacy instruction was integrated into an undergraduate course on archival and primary source research at the University of Dayton. It covers partnerships with instruction librarians and archivists, course structure, hands-on activities utilizing archival images, and assessment. The poster addresses how students were engaged both with visual literacy standards and in thinking critically about how they interact with images. The audience will be encouraged to discuss and reflect on critical visual literacy and feminist pedagogies, instructional partnerships, and …

James Madison University Special Collections: Collections Management, Tiffany Cole, Kate N. Morris

Libraries

This presentation covers different facets of collections management at James Madison University Special Collections. Presented to archival professionals from institutions and organizations within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the presenters also discuss collection development, access, and outreach operations at their repository.

Established in 1983, Special Collections serves as JMU Libraries’ repository for rare, irreplaceable, unique, or otherwise valuable materials in various formats which warrant special handling or care to assure their long-term availability. Historically, Special Collections has acquired materials that document the Central Shenandoah Valley, the history of James Madison University, as well as other unique materials that support the …

Exploratory Evolution: Using Participatory Change To Rethink And Reorganize Digital Collections Services, Annie Benefiel, Jacklyn A. Rander, Matt Ruen, Leigh Rupinski

Scholarly Papers and Articles

Change is the only constant in digital collections work. Evolving technologies, resources, and needs require a constant flexibility in not only what work is done, but how and by whom. Over the course of the 2017-2018 academic year, Grand Valley State University Libraries held a series of facilitated conversations to analyze the workflows, organizational structure, and overall support for the management of digital collections and repositories. This article summarizes the facilitation process and highlights areas of opportunity, aspirations, and future directions.

Records Of A School At Sea, Annie E. Tummino

Publications and Research

This presentation is largely about strategies for dealing with archival legacy description. Not just in terms of data migration or updating standards, but what to do when you inherit a large scale collection that was organized using a methodology that no longer works in a 21st century context. How do you move forward, and how do you document your interventions and decisions? This is what happened to me at SUNY Maritime with the college’s institutional records.

2018 Annual Report Of The Work In Imsa’S Archives, Marti Guarin, Christian Nokkentved

Archives' Annual Report

The IMSA Archives, housed in the Leto M. Furnas Information Resource Center, serves to collect and preserve materials relating to the history and ethos of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The Archives includes both special and general collections with materials about IMSA’s establishment, led by Dr. Leon Lederman and Governor James Thompson. There are materials about the Academy's opening in the fall of 1986 and its development since, as well as about its ideas and programs and how they evolved. We have sample curricula, presidential speeches, samples of student work, as well as material about and from partnership programs …

The Role Of Institutional Repositories In Making Lost Or Hidden Cultures Accessible, A Study Across Four African University Libraries, Andrew Watson Malekani, George Kavishe

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study was undertaken to uncover the potential role that Institutional Repositories (IR) can offer to preserve in the long term the special collections (especially cultural heritage materials) so as to reap the advantages that these collections offer in terms of intellectual development in Africa.

The study involved use of scoping review which involves five stages: research question, identifying the relevant study, selecting the study, developing a narrative review (charting data), summarizing (collating) data and an optional consultation step. The study also involved a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving participants in the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme at the University …

2017 Annual Report Of The Work In Imsa’S Archives, Marti Guarin, Christian D. Nokkentved

Archives' Annual Report

The IMSA Archives, housed in the Leto M. Furnas Information Resource Center, serves to collect and preserve materials relating to the history and ethos of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and the activities of its students, faculty and staff. Our collection includes materials about IMSA’s establishment, led by Dr. Leon Lederman and Governor James Thompson; the Academy's development since 1986; its ideas and programs; partnership programs for educators and schools state- and nationwide; and the lives of its students, alumni, and staff.

Always Be Teaching: Reading Room Exhibits And Displays As Instructional Tools, Joshua Youngblood

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

A university's special collections is often a featured stop on campus tours, whether for visiting dignitaries, prospective students, or guest lecturers. This poster presentation highlights successful planning that has allowed a special collections without dedicated classrooms or galleries to utilize limited exhibit spaces in the reading room for rotating and long-term exhibits that align with library-wide initiatives while also focusing student and visitor attention on curatorial strengths, cross-disciplinary opportunities, emerging research trends, and hidden collections.

This study outlines the exhibiting of the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections. Founded in 1967, the department is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. …

Streamlining Archives Reference Through Online Task Management, Jay-Marie Bravent, Daniel Weddington

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

Following an organizational shift that flattened the hierarchy and prioritized security, use, and collection management, research services at UK Libraries SCRC continued to face logistical roadblocks to meeting patron reference and research needs. Specifically, SCRC relied on an often chaotic system of listserv streams monitored by 10-15 team members to manage patron interaction and internal communication. This approach left no easily discernible way for the research services team to assign tasks, facilitate collaboration, monitor progress, or derive statistics. This article will discuss how SCRC successfully implemented a streamlined, task management approach to archives reference using freely available online tools.

Ouachita Riley-Hickingbotham Library's Special Collections Earns National Award, Trennis Henderson

Press Releases

The Arkansas Baptist History Collection of Ouachita Baptist University’s Riley-Hickingbotham Library Archives and Special Collections has been honored with the Baptist History and Heritage Society’s 2017 Davis C. Woolley Award for Outstanding Achievement in Assessing and Preserving Baptist History.

The national award honors the work of Dr. Wendy Richter, Ouachita professor and archivist, and her staff who coordinated the Special Collections project. The award was announced recently at the annual conference of the Baptist History and Heritage Society, hosted by First Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga., in partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia.

“It is indeed an honor …

Collaborating On Description And Digitization: The Perry Special Collections Land Indentures Project, Rebecca A. Wiederhold, Ryan K. Lee, Shanna Bessendorfer

Faculty Publications

A unique collection of English land indentures from the 16th to 20th centuries is at the center of a large undertaking at BYU’s Perry Special Collections. Born of a simple faculty digitization request, a much larger project with the potential to benefit other classes and researchers developed through the collaboration and coordination of multiple departments and individuals. This project required close collaboration between the faculty member who made the original digitization request, the Special Collections curator, our Collection Management team, the Conservation lab, our Manuscripts Cataloger, the digital lab, our Metadata Cataloging Specialist and multiple student workers. This presentation gives …

Voices Of The Great War, Wendy Bradley Richter

Presentations and Lectures

No abstract provided.

Curriculum Connections And Outreach Opportunities: Faculty And Graduate Student Use Of Special Collections, Stephanie Shreffler

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

Discover faculty and graduate students’ varying preferences regarding curriculum integration of special collections, their interest in using particular formats of materials, and their shared desire for greater outreach from special collections.

The Atomic Renaissance: The Emergence Of American Mystery Writers, Beth Turcy Kilmarx

Library Scholarship

The first Golden Age of Mystery was the 20 year span between the two world wars, from 1919 to 1939. Even after almost a century, its writers still remain familiar names with popular titles. What these Golden Age writers and their stories shared in common were three major themes: they each had a Great Detective in charge, who was a larger-than-life character whose deductive brain solved the murder and/or mystery, a puzzle that would stump the average person. Agatha Christie had her Hercule Poirot, Dashiell Hammett had his Nick and Nora Charles and Sam Spade, and Earle Stanley Gardener had …

Bringing Special Collections To Life: Open-Source Tools For Digital Exhibit Creation, Andrew Welp

Scholarship and Professional Work

In 2014, Butler University Libraries received an institutional "Innovation Fund" grant to implement a large-scale digitization project to facilitate access and discovery of unique institutional holdings. Today, the Butler Digital History Initiative [digitalhistory.butlerlibraryservices.org] is comprised of several digital collections and interactive "digital exhibits" providing additional context and accessibility to archival materials to external and internal stakeholders. This program will highlight the open-source tools, procedures, and partnerships that enabled Butler University Libraries to bring their special collections to life.

The John Stokes And Mary's Gardens Collection, Stephanie Shreffler, Jillian M. Ewalt

Roesch Library Faculty Publications

The John Stokes and Mary’s Gardens Collection documents the research of John S. Stokes Jr. and the history and activities of the Mary’s Gardens movement, a popular Catholic movement related to planting devotional gardens dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This article provides an overview of this collection and a discussion on archival management, preservation, and outreach.

What Is Possible: Setting The Stage For Co-Exploration In Archives And Special Collections, Patrick Williams

Libraries' and Librarians' Publications

Chapter Tweleve in Pagowsky, N. & McElroy, K. (2016) Critical Library Pedagogy Handbook, Volume 1: Essays and Workbook Activities. ACRL Press.