Introduction

Archives and special collections are an essential element in the documentation of the history and practice of art and design. They play a major role in the collections of academic libraries, supporting teaching, learning and research. These collections have never been in more demand – in an age of superabundant information we are experiencing ‘a material turn’, a return to the physical and the idea of the authentic and unique. Institutions value and promote them as strategic assets, and their academic use is increasingly popular and wide ranging. This chapter presents a general overview of current best practices in the development and management of archives and special collections within the specific context of art and design academic institutions, primarily in the UK and USA.

There is a general consensus in the professional literature about the definition of archives: ‘Archives are collections of information (…) in many forms such as: letters, reports, minutes, registers, maps, photographs and films, digital files, sound recordings (…). Some archives are created by official bodies such as governments, businesses or professional organisations. Others are private collections’ (National Archives). Definitions for special collection(s) are more varied. An elastic term, archives often comprises rare books and manuscripts and also a range of other formats (ephemera, rare periodicals, artists’ publications, zines and so on). The Association of College & Research Libraries uses the following definition: ‘The entire range of textual, graphic and artefact primary source materials in analogue and digital formats, including printed books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, artworks, audio-visual materials and realia’ (ACRL Code of Ethics for Special Collections Librarians, 2003).

Policies, resources and acquisitions

Institutional context and strategies

Archives and special collections play a particular role in distinguishing and characterizing institutions, and are rich resources for teaching, learning and research internally and for engagement with communities beyond the institution. This differentiating role and relationship to institutional mission and identity was described in a recent report on unique and distinctive collections by Research Libraries UK: ‘a collection that, regardless of format or location within an institution, derives significance from its interest to research, teaching, or society through its association with a person, place or topic, such as to distinguish the consistent items from similar items which may exist elsewhere’ (Research Libraries UK, 2014).