Short Papers Panel: Outreach and Instruction
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, which integrates the arts and humanities into science education, Special Collections mounts a yearly exhibition aimed at making scientific concepts accessible to a general audience. In conjunction with a campus-wide symposium, we work closely with faculty and staff in the biological and social sciences to determine the exhibition theme, inform our selection of materials, and develop public programming. Collaborating with practicing scientists in this way has become a form of mutual outreach, challenging each group to learn about new topics, interact with new communities, and think about science and history from new perspectives.
Speaker: Kelli Hansen, Special Collections and Rare Books, University of Missouri Libraries
Driving Intellectual Curiosity: Archival Scholars Research Awards at the University of Pittsburgh
This presentation highlights the implementation of the Archival Scholars Research Awards program in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Encouraging students to engage with rare materials, awardees work with faculty to develop independent research projects that draw upon resources in the University of Pittsburgh’s archives and special collections. Students receive archival training from librarians, archivists, and curators, attend workshops, and participate in an end of term presentation. This training is intended to supplement the student’s independent research and provide them with an opportunity to grow as a student while at the same time increasing the discoverability of collections. These awards drive intellectual curiosity and give undergraduate students an outlet for their creativity while providing a foundation in rare books and manuscripts research.
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. The process required selling the idea to a senior faculty member, navigating institutional bureaucracy, and gaining support from other departments in the library. It required crafting the assignment and instructions for students, hiring a graduate assistant to provide support, teaching and coaching students in the class, and managing all aspects of the project. The project achieved the goal of generating online content, while providing guidance for using this kind of assignment in future classes. Student response to the assignment was largely positive, yet work to complete the project was greater than anticipated. The results highlight the need for careful planning and flexibility.
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. Those resources can be invaluable tools for younger students who want to delve deeper into subject matter while honing advanced research skills. From organizational records and manuscripts, to photographs, fine art, and maps, along with rare or curated secondary material and digital collections, special collections have the potential to open a world of knowledge and information literacy to students. By taking ourselves out of the reading room and closed stacks and sharing skills, special collections professionals can provide essential services beyond preservation and access to our other community “treasures”: students developing their ability to learn.
Speaker: Joshua Youngblood, Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries