RBMS 2025 is an initiative by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the American Library Association (ALA) to develop a vision for the future of special collections librarianship. The initiative was launched in 2015 and has since engaged in a variety of activities, including surveys, workshops, and discussions, to gather input from the special collections community.
The RBMS 2025 initiative is important for a number of reasons. First, it provides a forum for special collections librarians to come together and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the profession. Second, it helps to identify emerging trends and issues that will impact special collections libraries in the future. Third, it develops recommendations for how special collections libraries can adapt to the changing landscape of higher education and research.
The RBMS 2025 initiative is built on a foundation of research and collaboration. The initiative’s steering committee has conducted a number of surveys and workshops to gather input from the special collections community. The committee has also partnered with other organizations, such as the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Society of American Archivists (SAA), to develop recommendations for the future of special collections librarianship.
1. Collaboration
Collaboration is essential to the success of RBMS 2025. By working together, special collections libraries can achieve more than they could on their own. Collaboration can take many forms, such as:
- Joint projects: Special collections libraries can partner with faculty and researchers on joint projects, such as developing exhibitions, creating digital collections, and conducting research.
- Shared resources: Special collections libraries can share resources with each other, such as staff expertise, equipment, and collections.
- Advocacy: Special collections libraries can advocate together for the importance of special collections and the need for increased funding and support.
Collaboration is essential to the future of special collections librarianship. By working together, special collections libraries can ensure that they continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
2. Innovation
Innovation is essential to the success of RBMS 2025. Special collections libraries need to embrace new technologies and approaches to better serve their users. This includes developing new ways to make collections accessible online, creating innovative educational programs, and using new technologies to preserve collections.
One example of innovation in special collections libraries is the use of digital technologies to make collections more accessible online. Many special collections libraries are now digitizing their collections and making them available online through digital repositories. This allows users from all over the world to access and use these collections.
Another example of innovation in special collections libraries is the development of new educational programs. Special collections libraries are increasingly offering educational programs that are tailored to the needs of their users. These programs can range from workshops on how to use special collections to lectures by experts in the field.
Innovation is essential to the future of special collections librarianship. By embracing new technologies and approaches, special collections libraries can ensure that they continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
3. Diversity
Diversity and inclusion are essential to the success of RBMS 2025. The special collections profession is becoming increasingly diverse, and special collections libraries need to be able to serve the needs of all users. This includes users from different racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Outreach: Special collections libraries can reach out to diverse communities to promote their collections and services. This can be done through partnerships with community organizations, schools, and libraries.
- Collections: Special collections libraries can develop collections that reflect the diversity of their communities. This includes acquiring materials from diverse cultures and perspectives.
- Staff: Special collections libraries can hire staff from diverse backgrounds. This will help to ensure that the library is able to serve the needs of all users.
- Programs: Special collections libraries can offer programs that are tailored to the needs of diverse communities. This can include programs on the history of marginalized groups, programs for children from diverse backgrounds, and programs for people with disabilities.
Diversity and inclusion are essential to the future of special collections librarianship. By promoting diversity and inclusion, special collections libraries can ensure that they continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
4. Sustainability
Sustainability is essential to the success of RBMS 2025. Special collections libraries need to be able to sustain their collections and services for future generations. This includes preserving collections, managing resources, and reducing the environmental impact of library operations.
- Preserving collections: Special collections libraries need to preserve their collections for future generations. This includes protecting collections from damage and deterioration, and ensuring that collections are accessible to users.
- Managing resources: Special collections libraries need to manage their resources wisely. This includes managing staff, space, and financial resources.
- Reducing environmental impact: Special collections libraries need to reduce their environmental impact. This includes reducing energy consumption, waste production, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainability is essential to the future of special collections librarianship. By promoting sustainability, special collections libraries can ensure that they continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
RBMS 2025 FAQs
This section addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) about RBMS 2025, an initiative by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the American Library Association (ALA) to develop a vision for the future of special collections librarianship.
Question 1: What is RBMS 2025?
RBMS 2025 is an initiative to develop a vision for the future of special collections librarianship. The initiative was launched in 2015 and has since engaged in a variety of activities, including surveys, workshops, and discussions, to gather input from the special collections community.
Question 2: Why is RBMS 2025 important?
RBMS 2025 is important for a number of reasons. First, it provides a forum for special collections librarians to come together and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the profession. Second, it helps to identify emerging trends and issues that will impact special collections libraries in the future. Third, it develops recommendations for how special collections libraries can adapt to the changing landscape of higher education and research.
Question 3: What are the key aspects of RBMS 2025?
The key aspects of RBMS 2025 are collaboration, innovation, diversity, and sustainability. Collaboration is essential to the success of RBMS 2025. By working together, special collections libraries can achieve more than they could on their own. Innovation is also essential to the success of RBMS 2025. Special collections libraries need to embrace new technologies and approaches to better serve their users. Diversity and inclusion are also essential to the success of RBMS 2025. The special collections profession is becoming increasingly diverse, and special collections libraries need to be able to serve the needs of all users. Sustainability is also essential to the success of RBMS 2025. Special collections libraries need to be able to sustain their collections and services for future generations.
Question 4: How can I get involved in RBMS 2025?
There are a number of ways to get involved in RBMS 2025. You can attend RBMS 2025 events, such as workshops and webinars. You can also join the RBMS 2025 discussion list. You can also provide feedback on the RBMS 2025 website.
Question 5: What is the future of special collections librarianship?
The future of special collections librarianship is bright. Special collections libraries are increasingly recognized as valuable resources for teaching, research, and scholarship. RBMS 2025 is helping to ensure that special collections libraries continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
Summary
RBMS 2025 is an important initiative that is helping to shape the future of special collections librarianship. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, diversity, and sustainability, RBMS 2025 is ensuring that special collections libraries continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
Transition to the next article section
The next section of this article will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing special collections libraries in the 21st century.
Tips from RBMS 2025
RBMS 2025, an initiative by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the American Library Association (ALA), has identified key trends and issues that will impact special collections libraries in the future. RBMS 2025 has also developed recommendations for how special collections libraries can adapt to the changing landscape of higher education and research.
Here are five tips from RBMS 2025 for special collections libraries:
Tip 1: Collaborate with other institutions and organizations.
Collaboration is essential to the success of special collections libraries. By working together, special collections libraries can achieve more than they could on their own. Collaboration can take many forms, such as joint projects, shared resources, and advocacy.
Tip 2: Embrace new technologies and approaches.
Special collections libraries need to embrace new technologies and approaches to better serve their users. This includes developing new ways to make collections accessible online, creating innovative educational programs, and using new technologies to preserve collections.
Tip 3: Promote diversity and inclusion.
The special collections profession is becoming increasingly diverse, and special collections libraries need to be able to serve the needs of all users. This includes users from different racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Tip 4: Promote sustainability.
Special collections libraries need to be able to sustain their collections and services for future generations. This includes preserving collections, managing resources, and reducing the environmental impact of library operations.
Tip 5: Develop a strategic plan.
A strategic plan can help special collections libraries achieve their goals and objectives. A strategic plan should be based on the library’s mission, vision, and values. It should also take into account the library’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
By following these tips, special collections libraries can adapt to the changing landscape of higher education and research and continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
Summary
RBMS 2025 is an important initiative that is helping to shape the future of special collections librarianship. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, diversity, sustainability, and strategic planning, special collections libraries can continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
Transition to the article’s conclusion
The next section of this article will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing special collections libraries in the 21st century.
Conclusion
RBMS 2025 is a forward-looking initiative that is helping to shape the future of special collections librarianship. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, diversity, sustainability, and strategic planning, special collections libraries can continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
The RBMS 2025 initiative is based on the belief that special collections libraries are essential to the success of higher education and research. Special collections libraries provide access to unique and rare materials that cannot be found anywhere else. These materials are essential for teaching, research, and scholarship.
RBMS 2025 is helping special collections libraries to adapt to the changing landscape of higher education and research. By embracing new technologies and approaches, special collections libraries are making their collections more accessible and relevant to users.
RBMS 2025 is also helping special collections libraries to promote diversity and inclusion. The special collections profession is becoming increasingly diverse, and special collections libraries need to be able to serve the needs of all users.
RBMS 2025 is an important initiative that is helping to ensure the future of special collections librarianship. By working together, special collections libraries can continue to play a vital role in the academy and beyond.
