Promoting Special Collections On Campus Laurie Rizzo, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library

Why do exhibitions?

Essentials For more information see: National Preservation Office: Guidance for exhibiting archive and library materials.

Audience Faculty, Staff and Students is too broad! Need to be specific!

Topic AND Theme or Thesis Topic 20 th century American Theater Ten years of donors Civil War Chemistry Theme or Thesis Theater’s role in various aesthetic, political and social movements. Demonstrate how our donors contribute to the strengths of our collection. Delaware as a microcosm of the nation during the Civil War. History of chemistry through famous chemists and their works.

Selecting Materials

Layout and Design

Label Text ­­­­­­­Label format: 1” Top, left and right margins – 1.5 from bottom 14 point font of your choosing – but the same font for the entire exhibit. (PRINT LABLE FORMAT) Author Name (first last) Title of Work. Location: Publisher, Date. Gift of so and so Label text blah blah blah. (EXAMPLE) Eugene O’Neill Mourning Becomes Electra: a Trilogy. New York: Horace Liveright, Gift of ?? O’Neill’s lengthy tragedy Mourning Becomes Electra is divided into three plays with themes corresponding to The Oresteia trilogy by Aeschylus. One of O’Neill’s darkest and most complex dramas, Mourning Becomes Electra is set during the American Civil War.

Installation and Supports

Marketing

Marketing (continued)

Outcomes and Measuring Success

Recommendations Choose subjects that highlight your collection strengths and research interests of your university Be organized and consistent Presentation Proper signage & graphic design Label text/context Online version of the exhibition Promote the exhibition

Thank you! For more information see: National Preservation Office: Guidance for exhibiting archive and library materials. Gail E. Farr Archives & Manuscripts: Exhibits. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1980.