Sponsored by: University of Florida

The boundaries of special collections and archives are fluid; they not only document our shared cultural heritage, they are integrally shaped by the cultural circumstances in which they exist. We must open our doors and our minds to find ways to continually engage in productive conversations. Speakers will share with us the importance of being culturally literate to allow dynamic collaborative partnerships and outreach endeavors, as well as help us imagine new possibilities for increasing continued diversity within our profession.

Moderator: Athena Jackson, Pennsylvania State University

Speakers:

Sponsored by: Michael R. Weintraub, Inc.

Special Collections librarians and archivists make concerted efforts to make our spaces welcoming and remove perceived barriers to use. The day-to-day research that takes place in our reading rooms is highly personal and can be in fact sacred to many users. At the same time...

Sponsored by: ABAA Southeast Chapter

Speakers will share reflections and advice on developing community-oriented partnerships. A librarian from the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University will discuss a project that enlisted community participation to digitize large amounts of genealogical information and create virtual family trees...

Sponsored by: FacsimileFinder.com

Moderator: Randal Brandt, University of California, Berkeley

When the Well Runs Dry: Lessons Learned from Creative Models for Retrospective Cataloguing
This presentation will present a case study and speculative research on developing trends in long-term retrospective cataloguing projects...
Speaker: Daryl Green, University of St Andrews Library, United Kingdom

Fear of Linked Data? Collaboration to the Rescue!
Linked data is all the rage… but emerging technologies can sometimes seem intimidating- especially if going it alone. At the University of California, Irvine...
Speaker: Kelly Spring, Special Collections& Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

Online Collaboration for Researching Marks in Books
The Provenance Online Project, or POP, brings together over 12,000 images...
Speaker: Laura Aydelotte, Provenance Online Project, University of Pennsylvania Libraries

But We Don't Have a Rare Books Cataloger: an Inter-institutional Experiment to Surface a Rare Book backlog
Approached by a professor of history interested in having her students enhance under-described rare book catalog records at UC Irvine,...
Speaker: Audra Eagle Yun, Special Collections & Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

Sponsored by: White Fox Rare Books and Antiques LLC

---

From motorcycle clubs to cyberpunks, humanities researchers have increasingly come to recognize the scholarly potential of 20th-century materials created by visionary, outsider and underground communities. As representatives of major institutions...

RBMS offers box lunches at the Biltmore to make life easy at this secluded resort property. Choose from Turkey Baguette, Greek Salad Wrap with Vegetables and Feta or Ham &... Read More

New to the Section? Been away from the conference for a while? Get to know fellow RBMS members over a lunch. Join members from our Executive Board, committees, and other active RBMS members for an informal lunch...

Sponsored by: Franklin Gilliam :: Rare Books

Sexism in the workplace can be overt, but more often, it manifests in "soft" forms that undermine women's leadership ability. Why are women more likely to perform "low value" work, such as taking notes in meetings, or stay quiet during team discussions?...

Sponsored by: Tavistock Books

This seminar will focus on the ways in which book collecting contests serve as outreach tools, educational opportunities, donor relations events, and a means to cultivate the next generation of collectors...

For decades, Rare Book School (RBS) and RBMS have fostered the professional growth and career development of special collections professionals. In an effort to support diversity within special collections, the... Read More

Sponsored by: FacsimileFinder.com

Moderator: Audra Eagle Yun, University of California, Irvine

What Became of the Archives of Negro History?: Investigating Efforts to Establish a New Orleans Community Archives
In 1968, African American community leaders in New Orleans founded The Archives of Negro History, whose mission was to collect materials relating to Black history...
Speaker: Christopher Harter, Amistad Research Center, Tulane University

Grasshoppers in the Reading Room: Building Special Collections at NYU Abu Dhabi
In the fall of 2014, New York University opened its permanent location in Abu Dhabi, part of its vision of the University as a global entity...
Speaker: Nicholas Martin, Archives and Special Collections, New York University Abu Dhabi

From Technology to the Literary: Special Collections at the University of Trinidad and Tobago
e University of Trinidad and Tobago (2004) evolved from the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology an institution charged with the responsibility of providing trained personnel for the local energy sector...
Speaker: Janice Blake, Technical Services Department, University of Trinidad and Tobago

Sponsored by Arthur Fournier fine & rare

Librarians from a large public university, a large private university, and a small liberal arts college will ask how and why we turn to the "wonder factor" of rare books and archives. Who hasn't observed a visitor relishing the smell of old books...

This informal introduction to the showcase will allow attendees to meet with various dealers, examine items, and consider how materials on the market can be utilized for instruction and research... Read More

Sponsored by: The Bibliographical Society of America

The English Short Title Catalog (ESTC) and the RBMS Controlled Vocabularies for Use in Rare Book and Special Collections Cataloging (RBMS-CV) are now published as Linked Data. What does this mean? And how can Linked Data formats empower the RBMS community to improve workflows, bolster discovery, and enhance research? This educational seminar will provide an overview of each publication and the benefits of its new data format, followed by practical (and accessible!) instruction for working with these publications as Linked Data...

Sponsored by: FacsimileFinder.com

Moderator: Philip Palmer, University of California, Los Angeles

Gathering STEAM through Collaboration: Science Outreach from Special Collections
This presentation is a case study of an ongoing collaboration between Special Collections and the university’s scientific communities. Grounded in the STEAM approach...
Speaker: Jennifer Needham, University of Pittsburgh; Jeanann Haas, Special Collections and Preservation, University of Pittsburgh

Class-sourcing: The Promise and Challenges of Managing Student-generated Digital Content
This case study describes a pilot project that shifted the transcription and annotation of primary sources to students in a history class...
Speaker: Bill Ross, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library

Treasures in Our Backyard: Bringing Special Collections to K-12 Learning Environments
Special collections libraries have rich and widely diverse resources for K-12 teachers and students interested in moving beyond the constraints of their textbooks, formal curricula, and web browsing...
Speaker: Joshua Youngblood, Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries

Sponsored by: Bonhams

While juggling personal and professional obligations is not a new experience, it still requires a balancing act that can be challenging. For those in special collections, this challenge is compounded by the fact that career advancement is frequently contingent on extra professional obligations...

Sponsored by: Rare Book School at the University of Virginia

The relationship between special collections librarians and booksellers has evolved so much further than one of seller/buyer. Booksellers, formerly with an expertise narrowly focused in marketplace valuation, now must know the collections of their institutional customers, as well as have an idea...

Restaurant Night is an RBMS tradition. Small groups of conference participants can get to know one another while visiting some of the best restaurants in the area...

Sponsored by: Bonhams

Beyond professional knowledge and training (or “hard skills”), hiring managers look for “soft skills” in their employees – the “emotional intelligence quotient” factors such as communication skills, self-management skills, and interpersonal skills which contribute to a professional’s success but aren’t necessarily taught ...

Sponsored by: Archival Products

This seminar will educate attendees about recent updates to the RBMS Security Guidelines. Topics to be covered will include security measures at small institutions, security practices in classroom settings, and the use of security audit tools...

Sponsored by: California Rare Book School

Moderators: Jocelyn Karlan, Villa I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies

Archives, Action, AIDS: Archival Collaborations with Visual AIDS
This paper examines a series of archival collaborations between activists, artists, and archivists with Visual AIDS, a community-based arts organization committed to raising AIDS awareness by producing and presenting visual art projects...
Speaker: Marika Cifor, Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles

Archives Power to the People: Documenting Police Violence in Cleveland
This presentation will trace the origins of A People’s Archive of Police Violence in Cleveland and situate the archive within the context of contemporary U.S. freedom movements opposing state violence...
Speaker: Melissa Hubbard, Case Western Reserve

Diasporic Interventions: Human Rights, Civil War and the Archives of El Rescate
This paper focuses on the human rights archives of El Rescate, a community based organization in Los Angeles. Founded by refugees from the Salvadoran civil war in 1981...
Speaker: Mario H. Ramirez, Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles

Sponsored by: Simon Beattie

Taking up the "outreach" component of this year's theme, this session will focus on pooling our ideas and experiences with active learning in the special collections classroom. Many librarians have experimented with techniques from the simple think-pair-share to the flipped classroom, but we can always use more ideas...

At the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections we have had great success in our outreach efforts with students, alums, and members of the community through the use of... Read More

Sponsored by: Hollinger Metal Edge

More Than a Page: Roles of Undergraduate Student Employees in Archives and Special Collections Departments
Presenter: Sarah M. Allison, New Mexico State University

How Textbooks of the Past are Opening Doors for the Students of Today
Presenter: Heather Beach, SUNY Oneonta

Milne Library’s “Hortus Conclusus”: The Tree of Knowledge and Diderot’s Encyclopédie – Interdisciplinary Paths of Enlightenment
Presenter: Molly Brown, SUNY Oneonta

Assigning Rights Statements to Legacy Digital Collections
Presenters:
Laura Capell, University of Miami Libraries
Elliot Williams, University of Miami Libraries

Springshare’s LibGuides: Fad or Investment?
Presenter: Abigail B. Connick, University of Illinois

#80yrsintheStacks: Sharing, Statistics, and Special Collections from the Stacks
Presenter: Diane Dias De Fazio, Brooklyn College

Exploring Rare Books Collection at the Brazilian National Library Foundation
Presenters:
Adriana Gonçalves, Brazilian National Library Foundation
Joyce Lacôrte, Brazilian National Library Foundation
Letícia Provenzano, Brazilian National Library Foundation
Valéria Werneck, Brazilian National Library Foundation

Collecting a Cuban Heritage: Fine Art at FIU Special Collections
Presenter: Annia Gonzalez, Florida International University

Campus Connections: The Black Campus Movement Project at Kent State
Presenter: Lae’l Hughes-Watkins, Kent State University

Vision and Revision: Student Curated Exhibitions and the Collaborative Process
Presenters:
Emily Kader, University of North Carolina Wilson Special Collections Library
Rachel Reynolds, University of North Carolina Wilson Special Collections Library

Sponsored by: Bonhams

As the “baby boomer” generation of catalogers begins to retire, a wealth of deep knowledge and experience in rare materials cataloging is at risk of being lost. What are institutions doing now to make sure the needed expertise is being passed on to the next generations? What metrics are needed to make the case...

Sponsored by: Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers, LLC

From new collaborations and innovative user roles to stimulating opportunities and challenges involved in navigating one’s professional path, we all manage and make the most of change at work every day. Join RBMS chair, vice-chair/chair elect and past chair...

Sponsored by: Bonhams

Moderator: Kristin Browning Leaman, Indiana University

Evangelizing for Reference: Teaching the Value of Public Services
Education for special collections library students has often focused on bibliography and/or curatorial duties; while MLS students often take a standard reference class as part of their program...
Speaker: Melanie J. Meyers, The Center for Jewish History

“But I Want My Job”: Library School vs. the “Real World”
This final paper will focus on the speaker’s experiences as a host and visiting speaker for LIS classes; as a mentor to MLS students, and as a mid-career professional in a field different from that studied at library school...
Speaker: Charlotte Priddle, Fales Library & Special Collections, New York University

Defining Wonder: Teaching Rare Books with Collections and Collaborations
The speaker will focus on the two courses he currently teaches at library schools in New York - ‘Rare Books’ at the Pratt Institute, and ‘Great Collections of New York’ at the Palmer School...
Speaker: Kyle R. Triplett, New York Public Library

Considering starting or expanding your institution’s web archiving program? Curious about issues and methods? The web is by far the most accessed and democratic publishing medium ever invented. Concurrently, web... Read More

RBMS offers special lunch options to make life easy at this secluded resort property. Build the salad of your dreams with crisp iceberg & romaine, avocado, vine ripe tomato wedges,... Read More

Vizcaya was created as James Deering’s subtropical winter home in the 1910s and today it is a National Historic Landmark and accredited museum. We invite you to learn about Vizcaya’s... Read More

The Coral Gables Museum is the official Visitor Center for the City of Coral Gables, a planned community of the 1920s featuring Mediterranean style historic buildings, fountains, plazas and grand entrances surrounded by... Read More

Sponsored by: Maggs Bros. Ltd.

This session seeks to demonstrate the myriad ways special collections and archives can engage and interact with multiple constituencies. The communities and cultures in which institutions are situated strongly influence what is collected, how resources are described, and how materials are accessed and used. Speakers will share with us new methods by which we communicate and the infrastructures we create to elicit productive conversations about engagement with a broader range of communities and cultural materials than we might traditionally.

Moderator: Erika Dowell, Indiana University

Speakers:

Sponsored by: University of Miami Libraries, University of Florida, George A. Smathers Libraries

Sponsored by: Arthur Fournier fine & rare

“Wish you were here!” extends postcard sentiment into action, exploring ways in which special collections can create invitational programs and policies directed at undergraduates. Using examples from three academic and public libraries,

Sponsored by: Lux Mentis, Booksellers

Librarians working with special collections often find themselves thrust into working with donors, with little to no experience or preparation. This seminar will feature insights, strategies, real world examples, and food for thought...

Sponsored by: Rare Book School at the University of Virginia

Moderator: Athena Jackson, Pennsylvania State University

Common Touch: Re-Envisioning the History of the Blind
Common Touch: The Art of the Senses in the History of the Blind is a joint project of the Library Company’s Visual Culture Program and artist Teresa Jaynes...
Speaker: Rachel D’Agostino, Library Company of Philadelphia

When Bad Things Happen to Good Manuscripts: A Case Study of the Zora Neale Hurston Papers at the University of Florida
In 1960, celebrated African American author Zora Neale Hurston died in relative obscurity in a Florida hospital. With no one coming forward to claim them, her belongings were ordered destroyed...
Speaker: Florence M. Turcotte, John Freund, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville

Latinos en Oregón: A Latino/a community oral history project
While the development and implementation of an oral history project may be well- known to you, specifically working with your local Latino/a communities on such a project may not be...
Speaker: Natalia Fernández, Oregon Multicultural Archives, Oregon State University Libraries and Press

Connecting, Contributing, Commemorating, Collaborating: Archival Adventures with the Records of the Chinese YMCA Movement
The work of the North American YMCA in China during the period from the late 1890s to the 1940s is richly documented in the Kautz Family YMCA Archives. Following several decades of isolation
Speaker: Lara Friedman-Shedlov, Kautz Family YMCA Archives, University of Minnesota

Sponsored by: Read'Em Again Books

The purpose of this roundtable discussion is to begin a dialogue about the challenges that face special collections librarians and archivists who work alone or at smaller, less-well-funded institutions. The moderators will share their own experiences...

At the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections we have had great success in our outreach efforts with students, alums, and members of the community through the use of... Read More

Sponsored by: Preservation Technologies, L.P.

Getting Out of the Inbox: Using Customer Service Ticketing Systems for Reference Email at Brooklyn Historical Society and UC Riverside
Presenters:
Robin M. Katz, University of California, Riverside, formerly Brooklyn Historical Society
Joanna Lamaida, Brooklyn Historical Society
Zayda Delgado, University of California, Riverside

DC Africana Archives Project
Presenter: Alexandra Krensky, George Washington University Libraries

Working with Donors to Create Metadata for Archival Materials: a New Form of Special Collections Outreach
Presenter: Joseph Nicholson, University of North Carolina, Charlotte Libraries

Engaging the Archives: Collaborative Teaching with Faculty and Archivists
Presenter: Cinda Nofziger, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

TOME (Toolkit of Material Evidence): Tracing Readers, Owners, and Users of Books
Presenters:
Philip S. Palmer, Clark Library, University of California, Los Angeles
Laura Aydelotte, Kislak Center, University of Pennsylvania

Bibliotheca Philadelphiensis: Philosophy and workflows for the digitization and dissemination of medieval manuscripts
Presenters:
Dot Porter, University of Pennsylvania Libraries;
Lois Black, Lehigh University Library
Janine Pollock, Free Library of Philadelphia

Discover Florida Citrus
Presenter: Gerrianne Schaad, Florida Southern College

Artifact as Identity: Freshmen, archives, and the exploration of culture
Presenter: Greg Schmidt, Auburn University Libraries

Introducing HMML: 50 years of International Collaboration for Cultural Preservation
Presenter: Eileen Smith, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library

The Library Machine
Presenter: Michaela Ullmann, University of Southern California

Cataloging Palm-leaf Manuscripts in the Classroom
Presenter: Alia Levar Wegner, University of Tampa

"I sing my song, and all is well" - The Paul Laurence Dunbar Book Collection at the West Virginia & Regional History Center
Presenter: Ashleigh Coren, West Virginia & Regional History Center

Sponsored by: Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers

Once communities know about you through outreach efforts, collaborations and partnerships can be created. This plenary session is intended to serve as a venue in which the special collections community can have productive conversations about its potential engagement with a broader range of cultural materials than it might traditionally.

Moderator: Verónica Reyes-Escudero, University of Arizona

Speakers:

RBMS offers box lunches at the Biltmore to make life easy at this secluded resort property. Grab and go (on to the ALA bus to Orlando or wherever else you... Read More