Research Collections

This statement of principles, "Research Libraries and the Commitment to Special Collections," was prepared by the ARL Task Force on Special Collections in December 2002 and endorsed by the ARL Board of Directors on February 6, 2003.

 special-collections-statement-of-principles-2003.pdf

This is the final report of the ARL Special Collections Task Force, chaired by Joe Hewitt. The task force was charged with advancing a seven-point action plan. The final status report summarizes the task force’s activities. An addendum recommends further actions to be taken.
 special-collections-task-force-final-status-report-july2006.pdf

"Strategic Issues in Digitization Initiatives in Special Collections," by Frances Groen, presented at the 134th ARL Membership Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas, May 12–14, 1999.

 mm99sp-groen.pdf

While many research libraries have begun to digitize their collections and share best practices around the steps required to create digital content, much less is known about what happens post-launch. Building on previous research by Ithaka S+R that defined key aspects of sustainable digital content, Appraising our Digital Investment: Sustainability of Digitized Special Collections in ARL Libraries offers a first look at the practices, attitudes, costs, and revenues associated with caring for digitized special collections. The report shares results from a survey conducted on the sustainability of digitized special collections at ARL member institutions.

 digitizing-special-collections-report-21feb13.pdf