Rare Books and Manuscripts Section
Encyclopedia
Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) is a section of the Association of College & Research Libraries
(ACRL). The section is devoted to supporting the activities of special collections libraries and ACRL general objectives that fall within its scope. The section also maintains ties with other affiliated organizations, such as the Society of American Archivists
and the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
, sometimes participating in joint activities with them.
members, and a secretary, all of whom are elected by section plebiscite. "The chair of the section, the vice chair/chair-elect, and the past chair serve a one-year term. The vice chair/chair-elect automatically becomes chair of the section after a year as vice chair/chair-elect; and the chair of the section automatically becomes past chair after a year as chair. The secretary serves a two-year term. The members-at-large each serve a three-year term." Each member has one vote and meetings are governed by Alice Sturgis
' The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
, which is used throughout ALA. The RBMS Executive Committee meets formally twice a year at ALA annual and midwinter meetings. Between formal meetings, business is conducted by other means, such as email and other electronic communications. The section has no paid staff and all work is on a volunteer basis.
RBMS is divided into a number of standing committees, ad hoc committees, task forces, and discussion groups, which also meet at the ALA annual and midwinter meetings. The fourteen standing committees are considered basically permanent. Ad hoc committees are given recurring tasks, such as the planning of annual conferences. Task forces are charged with specific duties, such as developing documents, and are normally discharged once their work is completed. Discussion groups are also basically permanent but have no appointed members outside the chair. All members of committees and task forces are appointed by the current chair. Appointed committee members normally serve two-year terms with the possibility of renewal for another two-year term. Finally, the chair appoints liaison
s to both ACRL committees and outside affinity groups. All chairs and liaisons report directly to the Executive Committee.
, the Society of American Archivists
, and the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing.
RBMS also promulgates a number of guidelines that seek to describe best professional practices in the special collections field. As of 2010, the section had six such documents in print. Guidelines are reviewed and approved by ACRL, which is in reality the formal adopting body. Other documents, such as the RBMS Ethics Statement, are the section's sole responsibility. These documents are sometimes adopted by other bodies as professional statements. In 2009, the newly revised "Guidelines Regarding Security and Theft in Special Collections" were translated into Spanish, a first for an RBMS document.
Recognizing the importance of exhibitions to the work of special collections libraries, RBMS has administered since 1986 the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Awards, given in five categories to outstanding printed and electronic exhibition catalogues produced by entities in the United States
and Canada
. Funds to support this award were donated by the Leabs.
Technically, RBMS has no print publications of its own; all items, including guidelines, are issued by ACRL. The two most prominent RBMS-sponsored publications are Your Old Books and RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage. The former is a guide developed by the late Peter VanWingen to assist average persons in determining if books in their possession might be rare or valuable. The original version has been revised and is available gratis either in hard copy or online. RBM, available in hard copy by subscription, is a formal academic journal that treats special collections topics and has been issued twice a year since 1986. Founded as Rare Books and Manuscript Librarianship, the title was changed to its present one in 2000. Except for the last three issues, some back files of the journal are available online. Finally, RBMS produced a semi-annual printed RBMS Newsletter, which began in 1984, eventually went to electronic only, and in 2010 was phased out entirely. All newsletter back-files are available, however, online.
The committee maintains a presence online through multiple media, including its own website where a large number of electronic publications can be found, a discussion board, and Facebook
pages.
Association of College and Research Libraries
The Association of College and Research Libraries , a division of the American Library Association , is a professional association of academic librarians and other interested individuals...
(ACRL). The section is devoted to supporting the activities of special collections libraries and ACRL general objectives that fall within its scope. The section also maintains ties with other affiliated organizations, such as the Society of American Archivists
Society of American Archivists
The Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members...
and the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America is an organization of rare and antiquarian book dealers.-History:Founded in 1949, the ABAA is the benchmark for professionalism and ethics in the rare book trade in the US...
, sometimes participating in joint activities with them.
History
The roots of RBMS go back to 1948, when an ACRL University Libraries Section meeting was devoted to the topic of rare books. In 1955, an ACRL Committee on Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Special Collections was formed As part of a 1958 reorganization of ACRL, that committee formally became the present-day RBMS.Governance and organization
RBMS is governed by a seven-person Executive Committee consisting of a chair, vice chair/chair-elect, past chair, three at-largeAt-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
members, and a secretary, all of whom are elected by section plebiscite. "The chair of the section, the vice chair/chair-elect, and the past chair serve a one-year term. The vice chair/chair-elect automatically becomes chair of the section after a year as vice chair/chair-elect; and the chair of the section automatically becomes past chair after a year as chair. The secretary serves a two-year term. The members-at-large each serve a three-year term." Each member has one vote and meetings are governed by Alice Sturgis
Alice Sturgis
Alice Sturgis was an author and parliamentarian, best known for writing the Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. She was a practicing parliamentarian and consultant to national and international professional and business organizations...
' The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure is a book of rules of order. It is the second most popular parliamentary authority in the United States after Robert's Rules of Order. It was first published in 1950...
, which is used throughout ALA. The RBMS Executive Committee meets formally twice a year at ALA annual and midwinter meetings. Between formal meetings, business is conducted by other means, such as email and other electronic communications. The section has no paid staff and all work is on a volunteer basis.
RBMS is divided into a number of standing committees, ad hoc committees, task forces, and discussion groups, which also meet at the ALA annual and midwinter meetings. The fourteen standing committees are considered basically permanent. Ad hoc committees are given recurring tasks, such as the planning of annual conferences. Task forces are charged with specific duties, such as developing documents, and are normally discharged once their work is completed. Discussion groups are also basically permanent but have no appointed members outside the chair. All members of committees and task forces are appointed by the current chair. Appointed committee members normally serve two-year terms with the possibility of renewal for another two-year term. Finally, the chair appoints liaison
Liaison
Liaison in general means:# Communication between two or more groups.# Co-operation, working together.but may refer to:* Affair, an unfaithful or adulterous sexual relationship* Air Alliance, a Canadian airline whose call sign was "Liaison'...
s to both ACRL committees and outside affinity groups. All chairs and liaisons report directly to the Executive Committee.
Programs and activities
RBMS maintains and supports a number of programs in fulfillment of its mission. The Section hosts an annual preconference, so called because it occurs just before the ALA Annual Conference. The first preconference was held in 1959, and one has been held annually since 1961. Although traditionally limited to 250 participants, in recent years it has grown to accommodate expanding numbers. The preconference, lasting for three days, consists of a mix of plenary sessions, seminar discussions, and outside activities, such as tours and visits to sites of interest. The section offers competitive scholarships for first-time attendees. Over the years, the preconference has grown into one of the major rare book conferences in the United States and complements other conferences such as those of the Bibliographical Society of AmericaBibliographical Society of America
The Bibliographical Society of America is the oldest learned society in North America that studies books and manuscripts as physical objects. Established in 1904, the society promotes bibliographical research and issues bibliographical publications...
, the Society of American Archivists
Society of American Archivists
The Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members...
, and the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing.
RBMS also promulgates a number of guidelines that seek to describe best professional practices in the special collections field. As of 2010, the section had six such documents in print. Guidelines are reviewed and approved by ACRL, which is in reality the formal adopting body. Other documents, such as the RBMS Ethics Statement, are the section's sole responsibility. These documents are sometimes adopted by other bodies as professional statements. In 2009, the newly revised "Guidelines Regarding Security and Theft in Special Collections" were translated into Spanish, a first for an RBMS document.
Recognizing the importance of exhibitions to the work of special collections libraries, RBMS has administered since 1986 the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Awards, given in five categories to outstanding printed and electronic exhibition catalogues produced by entities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Funds to support this award were donated by the Leabs.
Technically, RBMS has no print publications of its own; all items, including guidelines, are issued by ACRL. The two most prominent RBMS-sponsored publications are Your Old Books and RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage. The former is a guide developed by the late Peter VanWingen to assist average persons in determining if books in their possession might be rare or valuable. The original version has been revised and is available gratis either in hard copy or online. RBM, available in hard copy by subscription, is a formal academic journal that treats special collections topics and has been issued twice a year since 1986. Founded as Rare Books and Manuscript Librarianship, the title was changed to its present one in 2000. Except for the last three issues, some back files of the journal are available online. Finally, RBMS produced a semi-annual printed RBMS Newsletter, which began in 1984, eventually went to electronic only, and in 2010 was phased out entirely. All newsletter back-files are available, however, online.
The committee maintains a presence online through multiple media, including its own website where a large number of electronic publications can be found, a discussion board, and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
pages.