[Abstract of presentation at the Medical Library Association, Chicago, May 19, 2015]
Objectives: To inspire short-staffed libraries to make themselves valuable and indispensable to their organizations. To share the story of how a small library took the initiative to spearhead the anniversary celebrations by assessing and offering its resources to the host institution. To illustrate how libraries can overcome challenges in collecting, reviewing, and displaying treasures of the past to benefit the future.
Methods: Our library, the oldest collection on addiction, not only represents but also hosts alcohol history. Since 2011, in preparation for three anniversaries in 2014, library staff has been reviewing, selecting, and digitizing material from its archives to increase accessibility and provide historical context. Two in-house physical exhibits were designed and created using library resources. By applying principles and best practices of modern information science, a digital archive is currently under construction to organize the wealth of information accumulated at the center and share the collection of documents, images, artifacts, and items preserved by former researchers and staff. A significant acknowledgement is the opportunity to celebrate with colleagues and host the 36th Conference of the Substance Abuse Librarians and Information Specialists in 2014 on the topic: “Looking Forward, Looking Back: Reflections on the Past and Planning for the Future.”
Results: Reviewing archival resources revealed gaps and prompted us to reach out to faculty and other substance abuse librarians. The first tangible results were an in-house exhibit, a special display in the library, and an article. The daunting task of creating a digital archive of alcohol studies was broken down to manageable portions. Collaborating in house, a new digital collection evolved to provide information about alcohol studies in a historical context. Pressing dates of upcoming anniversaries kept the project on track despite problems, anticipated or unforeseen. Major challenges included facing decisions and overcoming difficulties from technological, financial, ethical, and scholarly perspectives.
Conclusions: The library benefited tremendously from choosing to become instrumental in planning and executing events to celebrate. Through offering the treasures of alcohol science from its archives, the library aimed to play a vital role in bridging the gaps within the center for the anniversaries. As a result, the library gained recognition for providing content and context for the celebrations and consolidated its status within the center as a highly appreciated component and valuable asset. Virtual and physical exhibits can meaningfully link the past to the future over time and space with the help of librarians for future benefits.
Authors: Judit Ward and William Bejarano
In: Supplemental electronic content to J Med Lib Assoc. Jan;103(1):DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.103.1.E1 p. 96.