Special Collections Roundtable
Newsletter
February 2019
A newsletter for members of the RI library community who have responsibility for the care and access of unique or rare manuscripts, records, books, audio and/or visual materials, local history and other special collections.
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Coming to the SCRT in April . . . but wait, first we want to hear from you!
On April 11 the Special Collections Roundtable meeting will feature a panel discussion on security practices for special collections use and storage. To help the panelists address the issues about which you are most concerned, tell us about your library or archives security and thus shape the scope of the panel. Open the Google Forms Survey here. Thank you!Coming Special Collections Roundtable sessions:
- February 27 - Film Archives (see below)
- April 11 - Security Measures for Special Collections
- June 6 - TBD
Donna Longo DiMichele
Office of Library and Information Services
Next Special Collections Roundtable February 27
Film Archives, presented by Becca Bender, RIHS Film Archivist
If you attend this program you will: become more familiar with an epic film resource right here in Rhode Island and to which you can refer researchers; learn how to better serve filmmakers who want to use your collection; and still have time to network with your colleagues!
The Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) has one of the largest regional film collections in the country. RIHS Film Archivist & Curator of Recorded Media, Becca Bender, will give us a glimpse into its vast holdings, as well as discuss plans for increasing access to the materials and expanding the Rhode Island communities represented among RIHS’ audiovisual collections.
Additionally, Becca will speak on the topic of providing special collections materials to filmmakers and finding a balance when working with these often demanding researchers. Prior to joining RIHS, Becca worked for many years as a documentary archival producer, so she understands both worlds!
Off-street parking is available at the library.
REGISTER on the OLIS LibCal
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2019, 09:30 AM
South Providence Branch Library, 441 Prairie Avenue, Providence, RI 02905
Need a professional publication for your job?
Do you know that OLIS has a Professional Collection and the holdings circulate? New books related to special collections and archives have been recently added to the OLIS Professional Collection. All books are available to borrow through the public library network, Ocean State Libraries (OSL), or through interlibrary loan.
New special collections related titles include:
- Archives: principles and practices, Laura A. Millar, Chicago, IL: Neal-Schuman, 2017
- Collaborating for impact: special collections and liaison librarian partnerships, edited by Kristen Totleben and Lori Birrell, Chicago, IL: Association of College and Research Libraries, 2016
- Digital Curation, 2nd. Ed., Gillian Oliver and Ross Harvey, Chicago: ALA Neal-Schuman 2016*
- The Special Collections Handbook, Alison Cullingford, London: Facet Publishing, 2016
*will be in OSL catalog soon
$$$ GRANTS $$$
Rhode Island Foundation: two grant opportunities
Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund: Supports the preservation of original historical manuscripts and documents and municipal records of the smaller cities and towns in Rhode Island from the 19th century and earlier.
Deadline: March 8, 2019
RI Supreme Court Historical Society Fund: Supports nonprofits that provide programs, preserve artifacts and records of the court system, publish works about Rhode Island legal history, and offer public forums about Rhode Island legal and constitutional history.
Deadline: March 8, 2019
Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Enabling New Scholarship through Increasing access to Unique Materials
A national grant competition administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) for digitizing rare and unique content in collecting institutions. The program is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and built upon the model of CLIR’s Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives program (2008-2014).
Grant Amounts:
- Single institutions – $50,000 to $250,000
- Collaborative, multi-institution applications – $50,000 to $500,000
Eligible Grant Activity
- Digitization of collections of scholarly value
Deadline: April 3, 2019
Complete information and guidelines: https://www.clir.org/hiddencollections/
Events & Professional Development Opportunities from Around the Region
New England Archivists Spring Meeting
Caring for Historical Records
Geared toward those responsible for the care of historical records or those interested in developing a historical records collection, this workshop will be especially useful for staff and volunteers working in libraries, museums, historical societies, or municipal governments who have little or no formal training. Through a combination of lecture, group discussion, and exercises, participants will get an overview of the fundamentals of archival organization, including the basic principles and practices of identification, acquisition, preservation, arrangement, and description of historical records. Topics of access, reference, outreach, and policy-making will also be explored.
April 4, 2019, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Burlington, VT Details and registration
New England Library Association 2019 Conference Program Proposal Form Available
NELA is accepting proposals for the 2019 Annual Conference. Program Proposal Form. Proposals will be accepted until March 31st. The 2019 Annual Conference will be held on October 20-22, at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, Mystic, CT.
New Publications
The January 2019 of Library and Archives Canada Governance and Recordkeeping Around the World newsletter issue is now online. If you are are interested in receiving this free online newsletter, send an email to bac.pdtd-drkp.lac@canada.ca
News and Notes from Beyond the State
Oral history project explores 'the black experience in Bethlehem' (PA), The Morning Call, Feb. 3, 2019
Library of Congress receives Mellon grant to evaluate preservation needs for books in research libraries, News from the Library of Congress, Feb. 4, 2019
Centuries lost ‘Bristol Merlin’ uncovered at city’s Central Library, University of Bristol, Jan. 30, 2019
Connect with the RI Special Collections Community
- Join the RISpecialCollections@googlegroups.com discussion forum! It's a convenient way to communicate with others who work with special collections and archives in Rhode Island libraries, historical societies, museums, and cultural heritage organizations. Use the link above to subscribe. It's your list, so use it to share what matters to you in the field of special collections and archives!
- To subscribe to Special Collections Roundtable News and Notes newsletter, send an email to Donna Longo DiMichele
RI Office of Library and Information Services
The Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) strengthens, connects and empowers libraries to advance knowledge, connect communities and enrich the lives of all Rhode Islanders. Funding for OLIS is from the State of Rhode Island and the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Website: www.olis.ri.gov
Location: One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-574-9300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olisri/
Twitter: @olisri