Education and Training for Careers in Special Collections: A White Paper Prepared for the Association of Research Libraries Special Collections Task Force

EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR CAREERS IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONSA WHITE PAPER PREPARED FORTHE ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH LIBRARIESSPECIAL COLLECTIONS TASK FORCE(November 2004)by Alice Schreyer, University of Chicago*Comments on this white paper, and expressions of interest in working on the agendaidentified in it, are welcome. Please contact Alice Schreyer, schreyer@uchicago.edu.Executive SummaryResponding to data gathered by the 1998 Survey of Special Collections in ARL Librariesand anecdotal evidence, the ARL Task Force on Special Collections investigated issuesrelated to education and training needs for careers in special collections. The Task Forcesought broad input from members of all engaged communities at an invitational meetingin Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in November 2003. The resulting white paper considersthe scope of need, surveys the current environment, and proposes recommendedstrategies and action items for ARL and other organizations and groups.There is a need for recruitment, education, and training of special collections at all careerlevels. Recent Ph.D.s are a prime focus of recruitment efforts, and interest among thispool is high; but limited educational opportunities and entry-level positions poseobstacles to entering the profession. At the same time, middle- and senior-levelpractitioners must enhance existing skills and develop new ones, especially managerialskills that will prepare them for positions of increased responsibility. Changingexpectations of special collections librarians make it essential to define core * For their comments and suggestions, the author thanks members of the Task Force and participants in theChapel Hill meeting. Particular thanks for their contributions are due to Jaia Barrett, Michèle Cloonan,Mary Jackson, William Joyce, Bill Landis, Judy Panitch and Merrily Taylor. 2ARL Special Collections Task ForceEducation and Training White Paper, Nov. 2004competencies, which consist of general competencies required for all library positionsand those that are unique to all or some positions in special collections. There is a needfor multiple, flexible paths to education and training in special collections that reflect thediversity of individual backgrounds and positions.The Task Force identified a number of emerging trends and initiatives that constitute anexcellent foundation for collaborative, creative, and flexible education and trainingprograms for careers in special collections. Despite the closing of library schools andcurriculum changes at many others, most schools of library and information science offerpertinent courses; the Palmer School, Long Island University established a newconcentration in Rare Books and Special Collections; and archival education programsare flourishing. Rare Book School at the University of Virginia provides an essentialservice, and continuing education activities of professional organizations such as RBMSand SAA make an important contribution to the current environment. Of special interestare two new initiatives – the ARL Academy and the Post-Doctoral Fellowship inScholarly Information Resources for Humanists under the umbrella of the Council onLibrary and Information Resources (CLIR). While not focused specifically on specialcollections, both of these programs have the potential to serve those interested in the fieldand to provide models for future, specialized initiatives.The environment for addressing the education and training needs for careers in specialcollections is changing rapidly, and the Task Force identified several programs thatcurrently exist or are being developed that have potential to fill the needs it identified.The white paper emphasizes the need for ARL and the Special Collections Task Force toencourage, support, and monitor the progress of these initiatives; and to fostercollaborations among ARL, educators, practitioners, professional organizations, andfunding agencies. In particular, the Task Force identified articulating professionalcompetencies needed for positions in special collections as a critical next step.. The TaskForce also encourages library administrators, library school administrators, andprofessional organizations to develop creative and flexible approaches to train newspecial collections librarians, develop a shared culture between librarians and archivists, 3ARL Special Collections Task ForceEducation and Training White Paper, Nov. 2004and provide practitioners with opportunities for mid-career development and professionalgrowth. 4ARL Special Collections Task ForceEducation and Training White Paper, Nov. 2004I. BackgroundAs part of its 2001 charge, the ARL Task Force on Special Collections was asked toconsider education and training needs for careers in special collections(http://www.arl.org/collect/spcoll/tforce/charge.html). Several factors are seen ascontributing to an emerging crisis. Library directors and special collections librar