Association of Research Libraries (ARL®)

The Transforming Special Collections in the Digital Age Working Group is charged with monitoring and advising on the role of Special Collections in research libraries. The working group will identify the issues distinctive to research libraries, which are most critical for special collections in the digital age, and recommend any policies or actions that the Association is in a unique position to adopt. (See the full charge. [PDF])

The Transforming Special Collections in the Digital Age Working Group is sponsored by ARL's Transforming Research Libraries Steering Committee. The renaming of the former Working Group on Special Collections (2007–2009) corresponds to a revision of the group's charge. The choice of new directions for the group was informed by ARL's adoption of its new strategic plan, "ARL Strategic Plan 2010–2012," and the successful 2009 report, "Special Collections in ARL Libraries: A Discussion Report from the ARL Working Group, March 2009," and forum, "An Age of Discovery: Distinctive Collections in the Digital Age."