The Special Collections Handbook

Based on practical experience and the latest ideas in the heritage sector, The Special Collections Handbook is a no-nonsense companion to help librarians with limited resources care for unique and distinctive collections and share them with wider audiences.

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The Special Collections Handbook, Third Edition is a comprehensive desk reference providing the essential principles, skills, and knowledge to manage special collections in any setting and covering all aspects of special collections work: preservation; developing collections; understanding objects; emergency planning; security; legal and ethical concerns; cataloguing; digitisation; marketing; outreach; teaching; impact; advocacy, and fundraising. This new edition has been revised and updated to incorporate the many developments in the field, reflecting the growth and dynamism of the sector and the complexity of the environment in which we operate. This will include:



Enriched and updated guidance on decolonising collections management and all other elements of special collections work
working towards zero-carbon buildings, preservation, and other aspects of special collections work
lessons/impact of Covid-19: managing remote access by staff and users, emergency planning, health and safety, risk assessments
new legislation affecting special collections, notably in the UK the Data Protection Act 2018
new and revised standards, such as the new British Standards relating to collections care, BS EN 16893 and BS 4971, which replace PD5454
new and emerging technologies in collections discovery, digitisation, digital resource and digital libraries, and how to manage them and build capacity. Particular attention will be paid to the implications of the ‘digital shift’ and the place of special collections in online and hybrid learning.

Comprehensive and written in a highly accessible manner, The Special Collections Handbook, Third Edition will be an essential resource for staff working with special collections in a wide range of settings, including academia, public libraries, religious organisations, museums, and at scales from solo librarians to ‘nationals’.