From cuneiform, coins, and codices to prints, drawings, photographs, and maps, departments of rare books and special collections are the premier repositories of significant printed and manuscript works and artifacts. Entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the records of history and culture, these institutions enable access to millions of source materials. Berger, a veteran of rare book and special collections, offers a landmark examination of this field, aimed at practitioners in the library field, instructors teaching courses on the subject, booksellers, private collectors, historians, bibliophiles, and others involved in rare and unique materials. Showing readers everything they need to know about rare books and special collections, this wide-ranging book offers coverage of such key topics asThe profession’s history and its relevance in the face of an increasingly digital worldArchives’ relationship to the special collections department and their role in the wider institutionCollection development, cataloging, processing, physical layout, and other operational functions, with coverage of acquisition sources and methodsWhat everyone needs to know about the physical materials in their care, including preservation, conservation, and restoration, storage, handling, and security Reference and outreach services, including a look at exhibitions and toursFundraising and financial managementLegal and ethical issuesForgeries, fakes, and facsimilesBibliography and its impact on the rare book world, including a look at booksellers, donors, and auctionsThe present state of books in our digital environmentThe vocabulary of the tradeRare Books and Special Collections presents a meticulous and systematic understanding of this growing field.
