Rare Book Librarianship: An Introduction and Guide

by Steven K. Galbraith, Geoffrey D. Smith, Joel B. Silver

Overview

Successfully managing rare book collections requires very specific knowledge and skills. This handbook provides that essential information in a single volume.

Rare Book Librarianship for the 21st Century is the first new rare books handbook of practice in 25 years. Authored by two special collections experts with extensive field experience, this book is also the first to discuss the role of digital technologies in managing a rare book collection.

After a fascinating discussion of the history and current state of rare book libraries, this handbook provides a comprehensive account of the core skills and knowledge needed to be a successful rare book librarian. Topics include best practices for handling, housing, and conserving rare materials; collection development techniques; and user education and outreach. This book will serve as a handbook for practitioners in academic settings, large public libraries, and special libraries, and as a textbook for students in MLIS courses on rare book librarianship and curatorship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591588818
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/21/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	881,925
Product dimensions:	6.08(w) x 9.22(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Steven K. Galbraith, PhD, is curator of the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at Rochester Institute of Technology and former Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Books at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.

Geoffrey D. Smith, PhD, is head of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Table of Contents

Foreword Joel Silver vii

Introduction: "Our Time" and Staying Relevant xiii

1 A Brief History of Rare Book Libraries 1

2 Rare Books as Texts and Historical Artifacts 13

3 Getting to Know Your Collections 41

4 Caring For and Preserving Rare Books 51

5 Digitization 79

6 Security and Disaster Preparedness 93

7 Collection Development 103

8 Accessioning and Cataloging 115

9 Copyright 121

10 Outreach 127

11 Continuing Education 159

12 Selected Reference Resources 165

Index 173

Editorial Reviews

This handbook is recommended for any rare book and special collections librarian, teachers and students in library science, or anyone charged with the care of rare books.” —College & Research Libraries

“Special collections librarians and practitioners overseeing rare book collections of varying sizes within an academic, public, or special library setting may find this work useful. The novice and those who supervise professionals that manage rare book collections will benefit most.” —Library Resources and Technical Services

“Galbraith and Smith's Rare Book Librarianship is a logically structured, practically oriented introduction that covers all the essentials of a demanding and complex field in a concise and engaging style.” —Australian Library Jourbanal

From the Publisher