Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Managing The Merger Of Archives And Special Collections: Setting Our Own Agenda, Caroline Daniels, Delinda Buie, Rachel Howard, Elizabeth Reilly

Carrie Daniels

At the University of Louisville a merger of archives and special collections had been discussed for decades, but for a variety of reasons, always dismissed. There were practical reasons in favor of it, but there were some significant internal barriers that made it easier to keep things as they were. But in 2012 things changed. Heightened appreciation for the traditional and emerging roles of special collections in university libraries, institutional budget concerns, key retirements and gradual replacement of people resistant to change, and an inclusive approach to planning, all aligned to make the merger seem like a natural progression for …