There and Back Again: Integrating Special Collections into Offsite Storage

Abstract

The University Libraries have been storing general collection items in offsite storage for several years, but only now are we starting to accession and store special collections items. At Severn Library, we have had to figure out not only how to store special collections which require specialized care, but also develop intake and request procedures. In this talk, I will discuss Severn’s method of handling special collections items and our partnership with UMD Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives department. I will also go over how we distinguish special collections items from general collection items, and go over how I developed the workflow for handling requests for special collections items.