Changes in Special Collections
There have been several changes recently in the organization and scope of the Library's special collections.
The Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library's History and Special Collections has expanded to become an interdisciplinary special collections for the sciences. Renamed History and Special Collections for the Sciences, it incorporates materials in the physical sciences and engineering, formerly held by the Science and Engineering Library, to offer researchers opportunities to access and combine primary source materials and subjects in ways they may not have contemplated before.
Staffing in this area has also changed. Long-time head Katharine E. S. Donahue retired in June, and Judy Consales, associate university librarian for sciences, is serving as interim head. Cherry Williams, special collections librarian for the sciences and archivist for the William H. Sweet, MD, DSc Collection, and Russell Johnson, archivist and special collections cataloger, will continue to build the collections and provide public services.
The other major change has been the creation of Performing Arts Special Collections, headed by Peggy Alexander. Drawn from what were formerly Arts Library Special Collections and Music Library Special Collections, its holdings encompass more than four hundred collections of historical records and personal papers in the performing arts, with a concentration in film, television, theater, and music. Materials exclusively in the visual arts that were formerly held in Arts Library Special Collections have been transferred to the Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections.
The permanent facility for Performing Arts Special Collections will be located in Schoenberg Music Building, in the former Music Library Special Collections space. However, while that facility is undergoing renovations to create a more functional service area and work spaces for users and to install environmental control systems, collections and services are available in the Research Library, room 22478.
