Elaine Harrington, Special Collections Librarian, uses case studies to discuss the different types of engagement she has with academic staff and students in relation to Special Collections. Case studies will include show & tell class visits to Special Collections, modules that use specific methodologies for both undergraduates and postgraduates, exhibitions and events.
This presentation was given as part of UCC's Instructional Design TEL Tasters 2017 programme.
3. Special Collections
What is it?
“Unique and distinctive” collections of rare books, and many other
media, including born-digital and digitised documents (Cullingford)
“Elements of distinction that serve to differentiate an academic or
research library from its peers” (Dooley & Luce)
Formats:
• Early Printed Books
• Books from Presses
• Collections from individuals
• Newspapers
• Maps
• Pamphlets
• Literary Manuscripts
• Digital Files
4. Special Collections as a ‘Lab for the
Humanities’
Special Collections shapes research & results.
At the beginning of a project:
• Imagining benefits & challenges
• How to manage challenges
• Knowledge, skills and further projects that emerge.
What we learn that we (and others) can take for the
future?
5. Randy Bass
Which learning outcome is the one thing that
students would retain from this module after
leaving?
Could I honestly say that I spent the most amount
of time in the module teaching to the goal I valued
most?
Understanding how Special Collections could work
for their project without compromising the integrity
of material in Special Collections.
Bass, Randy. “The Scholarship of Teaching: What’s the Problem?” Creative Thinking About Learning & Teaching Feb. 1999 1.1.
6. Working with Special Collections
Slide Credit: http://approachanxiety.com/2011/11/what-success-looks-like/
7. Community of Learners
Shawn Day
Melanie Marshall
Helen Bradley
John Hough
Jillian
Rogers
Malgorzata
Krasnodebska -
D'Aughton
8. Case Studies
Music
• MU1003: Studying Music at University
• MU6031: Sound Studies & Musicology
History – MA in Medieval History
• HI 6091: Skills for Medieval Historians
Events
• Lecture: Shakespeare’s Sources and the Boole
Library's Resources (English)
• Conference: Paper Manuscript (Modern Irish)
• Exhibitions
• A variety of promotional activity.
9. Using Primary Sources: Hands-on Instructional
Exercises. Santa Barbara, California : Libraries
Unlimited, An imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, [2014].
MU1003: Studying Music at University
10. MU1003: Studying Music at University
Henebry O’Neill Wax Cylinder Collection:
http://epu.ucc.ie/henebry/
11. MU1003: Studying Music at University
UCC Music History
https://youtu.be/QpMaNfmKi5U
https://twitter.com/uccmusichistory
12. MU1003: Studying Music at University
Henebry Wax Cylinder
https://ucchenebrywaxcylin.wixsite.com/waxcylinders
https://twitter.com/HWaxCylinders
13. MU6031 Sound Studies & Musicology
Slide Credit: William Beauford’s 1801 Map of Cork.
22. HI6091: Skills for Medieval Historians
http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/theriverside/tag/student-exhibition/
23. Lessons Learned
Range of projects possible even in a narrow
time frame due to wide range of sources.
How to use sources ethically and meaningfully.
Importance of drafts.
Importance of fact checking. Importance of
public engagement.
Slide credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/4961717384/in/album-72157620363366377/
24. For full account: Semple, Edel. “Culture Night: Shakespeare’s Sources & the Boole Library’s Resources.”
http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/theriverside/2016/10/05/culture-night-shakespeares-sources-boole-librarys-resources/
Lecture: English
25. Paper Manuscript Conference: https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/academic/modernirish/documents/2017-The-Paper-Manuscript-
programme.pdf
Conference: Modern Irish
28. Shush! Sounds from UCC Library
For more: http://shush.ucc.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/ShushRadioUCC/
https://twitter.com/Shush_radio
UCC’s Special Collections on Shush! Sounds from UCC Library
http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/theriverside/2017/01/31/uccs-special-
collections-shush-sounds-ucc-library/