2018 Charleston Library Conference

Empowering the use of primary source collections in teaching, learning and research is critical to achieving core institutional research goals and education outcomes. Access to original source material facilitates deeper understanding of the holistic scholarly record and encourages original interpretation or reinterpretation of findings through the lens of historical context.

Primary source collections are increasingly incorporated into research, teaching and learning as physical archives are augmented by newly digitized collections online. Digitization of physical collections from across the globe allows scholars and students to discover, search, and explore content previously unknown to them or difficult to access.

In this session, the moderator will facilitate an interactive discussion that explores:
• How primary sources contribute to research and education outcomes
• The long-term value to libraries of investing in primary source collections
• The opportunities/challenges of both physical and digital collections
• Best practices for increasing awareness of and engagement with primary source collections
• Case studies of collaboration between the library, faculty and other campus stakeholders

This session will include a diverse range of perspectives from across the country, including a subject librarian, a special collections librarian, and a curator of rare books and manuscripts. The goal of the discussion will be to foster a deeper understanding of the value of primary source collections, explore the opportunities and challenges related to physical and digital formats, and discover new methods for integrating these collections into everyday learning and research.