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Opening Doors to Collaboration, Outreach and Diversity seeks to explore and demonstrate the myriad ways special collections and archives can engage and interact with multiple constituencies. Diversity in this context is understood as a broad collaboration with many cultural communities, a re-imagining of the types of partnerships we can create, and a broad conception of cultural heritage formats and materials that might otherwise be overlooked by traditional collecting practices. This conference 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. 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. 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 conversation.

Plenary 1: Open the Door to a More Diverse and Collaborative Future

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

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.

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Plenary 2: A Broad and Deep Look at Outreach

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.

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Plenary 3: Collaborating with Diverse Communities

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.

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RBMS Statement on Diversity

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of ACRL/ALA is committed to diversity in its membership, in rare books and special collections librarianship, and among users of rare books, manuscripts and special collections. RBMS encourages participation in the section by people of any race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability; it supports its members in serving the broadest possible population; and it seeks to represent the concerns and interests of rare books and special collections librarians at a variety of institutions, including academic libraries, public libraries, research libraries, special libraries, and historical societies.

Some of the specific ways by which RBMS encourages diversity include: offering a scholarship program for first-time attendees at its annual preconference; pairing new members with more experienced members of the section at preconferences and conferences; and conducting surveys of its members and non-members, the results of which inform the section’s membership initiatives and program planning. RBMS fully supports diversity, which is identified as a Core Value in ACRL’s Strategic Plan 2005, and which is also one of the five ALA Key Action Areas defined in the ALAction 2005 planning document.

Sponsors