Rare Books / Special Collections

Rare Books/Special Collections may be for YOU, if you are interested in:

• Rare Book and Manuscript Librarianship
• Rare Book Cataloging
• Manuscripts Arrangement and Description
• Archives/Records Management
• Library Management
• Library Material Preservation

Coursework for specialization in Rare Books/Special Collections:

• S582 (L514) - Preservation
• S581 (L516) - Archives and Records Management
• S684 (L585) - Descriptive Bibliography
• S584 (L586) - Manuscripts
• S583 (L587) - Rare Book Librarianship
• S680 (L588) - The Book to 1450
• S681 (L589) - The Book 1450 to the Present
• S629 (L620) - Topics in Information Sources and Services
• S605 (L596) - Internship in Library and Information Science (in a position related to special collections)

Qualities employers seek:

• equally adept with care of both books and manuscripts
• commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage materials
• expertise with a foreign language helpful

Opportunities to gain experience in this field:

Internships are available through the:

• Lilly Library, IU's rare book and manuscript library in Bloomington
• Indiana University Archives
• IU Libraries Preservation Department

Professional Associations:

• American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC)
• Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) - Division of ALA
• Preservation and Reformation Section of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS)
• Printing Historical Society
• Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of ACRL
• Society of American Archivists (SAA)
• State and regional archival organizations, such as the Midwest Archives Conference and the Chicago Area Archivists.