"In library science, special collections (Spec. Coll. or S.C.) are libraries or library units that house materials requiring specialized security and user services."
The ethical and professional considerations involved in working with special collections materials, including issues of access, ownership, and cultural sensitivity.
Ethics and Professionalism: This topic covers the overall importance and significance of ethical conduct and professionalism in the library and museum field, including the principles that guide ethical decision-making and the role that professional organizations play in promoting standards of behavior.
Cultural Sensitivity: Cultural sensitivity is becoming increasingly important in the library and museum fields as the cultural backgrounds of patrons and visitors become more diverse. This topic covers strategies for fostering cultural sensitivity within library and museum organizations.
Privacy and Confidentiality: One of the most critical concerns for libraries and museums is the privacy and confidentiality of the information they hold. This topic covers the appropriate measures for safeguarding information from unauthorized access and disclosure.
Intellectual Freedom: Intellectual freedom is a crucial issue in the library and museum fields, emphasizing the importance of providing access to information regardless of its content. This topic examines the principles of intellectual freedom and the role of libraries and museums in defending them.
Collection Management: The management of collections entails a range of considerations for libraries and museums, including acquisition policies, preservation strategies, and cataloging standards.
Copyright and Licensing: Libraries and museums must navigate a complex legal landscape when it comes to intellectual property rights. This topic explores issues such as copyright law, licensing of materials, and fair use.
Professional Development: Professional development encompasses the ongoing learning and growth that are necessary for success in the library and museum professions. This topic addresses strategies for enhancing skills and knowledge and advancing careers.
Collaborative Partnerships: Libraries and museums often work collaboratively with other organizations to achieve shared goals, such as building collections, promoting exhibits or events, or providing educational opportunities. This topic examines the best practices for forming and maintaining partnerships.
Public Service: Public service is central to the mission of libraries and museums, with a focus on providing high-quality services and resources to the communities they serve. This topic covers strategies for meeting the diverse needs and interests of patrons and visitors.
Ethics and Technology: Technology brings with it a host of ethical concerns in the library and museum fields, such as ensuring accessibility, protection of privacy, and eliminating bias. This topic explores the challenges and solutions for ethical use of technology in libraries and museums.
Virtue Ethics: This theory focuses on the moral character of an individual and how to cultivate virtuous habits and attitudes.
Consequentialist Ethics: This theory evaluates the moral value of an action based on its outcomes or consequences. There are different types of consequentialist ethics such as utilitarianism, egoism, and ethical altruism.
Deontological Ethics: This theory emphasizes the moral duties and principles that all individuals should follow, regardless of the potential outcomes.
Feminist Ethics: This theory highlights the importance of gender and how it shapes our moral experiences and interactions.
Care Ethics: This theory emphasizes the moral bonds and connections that individuals have with others and are responsible for their moral duties and actions.
Professionalism Attitude: This involves a commitment to excellence, accountability, and ethical behavior in all aspects of professional life.
Professionalism Competence: This includes the ability to perform one's job duties with excellence, knowledge, and skills.
Professionalism Appearance: This is the impression that one's physical appearance has on others and how it affects the perception of professionalism.
Professionalism Communication: This includes the ability to listen, understand, and effectively communicate with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
Professionalism Ethics: This involves adhering to ethical and professional standards in all interactions and decision-making processes.
"Special collections can be found in many different organisations including research libraries, universities, colleges, schools, national libraries, public libraries, museums, art galleries, archives, historic houses, cathedrals, subscription libraries, learned societies, hospitals, companies, and monasteries."
"Materials housed in special collections can be in any format (including rare books, manuscripts, photographs, archives, ephemera, and digital records)."
"[Materials in special collections] are generally characterized by their artifactual or monetary value, physical format, uniqueness or rarity, and/or an institutional commitment to long-term preservation and access."
"They can also include association with important figures or institutions in history, culture, politics, sciences, or the arts."
"Some special collections are recognized as being of global importance; the UNESCO Memory of the World Register includes documentary heritage material."
"Individual libraries or archival institutions determine for themselves what constitute their own special collections."
"For example, archives may be part of a special collections department or managed separately..."
"...whilst rare books and manuscripts are often kept within special collections, some institutions may use the term exclusively for modern material."
"Larger, historically distinct collections may also be managed as part of a Special Collections department..."
"...such as the Newberry Library or the American Antiquarian Society..."
"Some special collections are standalone institutions that are privately funded..."
"Special Collections at University College London..."
"In contrast to general (or circulating) libraries, the uniqueness of special collections means that they are not easily replaced..."
"...and therefore require a higher level of security and handling."
"The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's rare books and archives were silently breached from the inside by the manager of the Oliver Room, Greg Priore."