Download - Approaches to using archival and special collections in information literacy programmes: experiences at Maynooth University - Barbara McCormack

Approaches to using archival and special

collections in information literacy

programmes:

Experiences at Maynooth University

Barbara McCormack

LILAC 2015

Outline

• Special collections – instruction, primary sources, space

• Maynooth University Library – Russell & JPII Libraries

• Aspects of special collections instruction

• Learning outcomes

• Undergraduate instruction & case study

• Postgraduate instruction & case study

• Conclusion

• References

Barbara McCormack, Maynooth University Library

Special collections & teaching• Special collections librarians and archivists are typically involved in

the following teaching delivery and support activities:

– Facilitating access to information

– Conducting reference interviews

– Developing lesson plans

– Facilitating orientation

– Delivering course-based instruction

• The main focus of information literacy instruction in this regard is:

– The identification and evaluation of primary sources

– The development of research skills and critical analysis of sources

Magia G. Krause, 2010


Using primary sources

Primary source instruction enables the development of transferable skills including:

• Critical thinking and analysis

• Evaluation of sources

• Teamwork and communication

• Ability to construct evidence-based arguments

Anne Bahde, 2014


© Maynooth University Library https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/library

Teaching sessions

• “When the goal of a course-specificlibrary workshop is to bring the research process alive, the instruction cannot be a simple lecture.”

Roberts & Taormina, 2013

• Potential for dynamic sessions with practical, hands-on elements

• Facilitates active learning approaches



The learning space

• Hubbard and Lotts (2013) suggest that information literacy practitioners can use Special Collections to engage with students through “hands-on experience, and the act of leaving the classroom to visit a new space”

• Maynooth University is very fortunate to have two unique spaces for Special Collections: the historic Russell Library and the recently extended John Paul II Library


Maynooth University Library


Russell Library

• Research library with collections spanning ten centuries

• Houses the historical collections of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth

• Pugin designed reading room completed in 1861

• 34,000 printed works (1470-1850)

• 2,500 Bibles (in 600 languages)

• 12,000 pamphlets

• 50,000+ archival documents

• 300+ Gaelic manuscripts


John Paul II Library

• New state-of-the-art reading room and environmentally controlled secure store area

• Houses the historical collections of Maynooth University

• Approx. 3,600 rare and early printed works (pre-1850)

• Approx. 4,500 printed works (post-1850)

• Over 1,000 pamphlets

• Extensive archival collections


Aspects of special collections instruction

Tours

Subject specific lectures

Workshops and demonstrations

Exhibitions and events


Learning outcomes

Collection skills

• Handling techniques

• Consultation process

• Analysis of formats

• Preservation and conservation

Research skills

• Identifying sources

• Critical evaluation

• Finding aids

• Primary vs. secondary sources


Undergraduate instruction

Manuscript to Print

Maps in History

Practising History

Literature and Society in Seventeenth Century Ireland


Undergraduate instruction – case study

• ID004 : ‘Cultural heritage & the Irish literary tradition’

• Certificate for Irish Cultural Heritage

• 5 credit module delivered by School of Celtic Studies with input from the Library

• Topics include:

– Manuscript production and tradition

– Illumination and other decoration

– Manuscript writing



ID004 Library instruction

Week Topic

Week One Calligraphy demonstration and workshop in the Russell Library with renowned Irish calligrapher Tim O’Neill

Week Two Lecture delivered by special collections librarian relating to manuscript tradition and physical characteristics

Week Three Supervised consultation of Gaelic manuscripts and submission of assignments


ID004 Assessment questions

Space

• What were your general impressions of the Russell Library?

• What kind of collections are housed there?

Item

• What manuscript did you look at?

• What kind of access did you have to it?

Analysis

• Did you find any evidence of conservation repairs?

• Was the text written on paper or parchment?


Postgraduate instruction

History of Irish Theatre Production

MLITT Research Tutorial

Research Methodologies & Thesis Preparation

Introduction to Palaeography


Postgraduate instruction – case study

• HY618: ‘Book Collections in Archives’

• Delivered by Mr. Hugh Murphy, Senior Librarian, Collection Management Services and Ms. Barbara McCormack, Assistant Librarian, Special Collections & Archives

• 5 Credit module as part of the MA Historical Archives

• Level 9 (Masters)

• 12 lecture hours including practical sessions onsite and one offsite visit

• Planned learning activities 12 hours and independent student activities 12 hours


HY618 Class schedule

Date Topic

Week 1 (i) Introduction(ii) Manuscript tradition

Week 2 (i) History of Print(ii) Printing in Ireland

Week 3 Practical ‘hands-on’ session

Week 4 Visit to Dublin City Library & Archive, National Print Museum

Week 5 Resource Description for Print

Week 6 (i) Curatorial Roles – Print to online(ii) Review


HY618 Module aims

This module aims to:

• Foster an understanding and appreciation of rare and unique collections

• Develop navigational skills in terms of finding aids and catalogues

• Equip students with resource description skills

• Facilitate the evaluation of printed items in archival collections

• Enable a comprehensive analysis of physical characteristics of different formats (manuscript, print, and archival)



HY618 Learning outcomes

• Understand the key stages in the development of print and its relationship with manuscript and incunabula

• Understand the key stages in the tradition of print in Ireland

• Differentiate between the different types of catalogues (traditional and electronic formats)

• Create a bibliographic record to a level appropriate to that item and to the repository in which it is held


Pamphlet assignment

• Students are asked to select an 18th or 19th century pamphlet in the English language from Library collections

• Students consult their chosen pamphlet in Special Collections

• A short report is written outlining:

– Bibliographic information

– Provenance

– Physical condition

• Involves an analysis of both the physical object and associated finding aid(s)



Incunabula assignment

Students are asked to consult an early printed work and write a short report noting some or all of the following:

– Decoration and illustration

– Annotations

– Shelf-marks

– Binding

– Claps and ties

– General condition



Exhibition assignment

Students are asked to visit an exhibition and write a short report on the following aspects:

– Exhibition themes

– Target audience

– Promotion of the exhibition

– Case labels

– Exhibition layout

– Floor plan(s)

– Catalogues or handouts



Resource description assignment

• Part 1: students are asked to write a report discussing the following:

– Impact of resource description on findability and promotion

– Merits of hybrid cataloguing

– Difference between primary and secondary sources

• Part 2: students are asked to analyse a series of bibliographic records and identify various MARC fields



Photo courtesy of Alan Monahan

Conclusion • Special collections librarians and archivists are educators

as well as facilitators

• Primary source material provides opportunities for active learning in terms of library instruction

• Special collections librarians can collaborate with subject librarians to deliver IL programmes

• Information literacy sessions in special collections can be delivered as ‘one-off’ sessions or a series of lectures, workshops, and tours over a semester or academic year

• Further study is needed in terms of the impact of special collections instruction


References

• Bahde, A 2014, ‘The History Labs: Integrating Primary Source Literacy Skills into a History Survey Course’, Journal of Archival Organization, 11, 3-4, pp. 175-204, DOI: 10.1080/15332748.2013.951254

• Hubbard, MA and Lotts, M 2013, ‘Special Collections, Primary Resources, and Information Literacy Pedagogy’, Communications in Information Literacy, 7, 1.

• Krause, MG 2010, '"It Makes History Alive for them": the Role of Archivists and Special Collections Librarians in Instructing Undergraduates', Journal Of Academic Librarianship, 36, 5, pp. 401-411, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 19 March 2015.

• Lee Roberts, R and Taormina, M 2013, ‘Collaborative Co-Design for Library Workshops’, Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 32, 1, pp. 46-56, DOI: 10.1080/01639269.2013.755875


Download - Approaches to using archival and special collections in information literacy programmes: experiences at Maynooth University - Barbara McCormack

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