Rare Books and Special Collections

From cuneiform, coins, and codices to prints, drawings, photographs, and maps, departments of rare books and special collections are teh premier repositories of significant printed and manuscript works and artifacts. Entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the records of history and culture, these institutions enable access to millions of source materials. Berger, a veteran of rare book and special collections, offers a landmark examination of this field, showing readers everything they need to know about rare books and special collections. This wide-ranging book offers coverage of such key topics as *The profession's history and its relevance in the face of an increasingly digital world; *Archives' relationship to the special collections department and their role in the wider institution; *Collection development, cataloging, processing, physical layout, and other operational functions; *What everyone needs to know about the physical materials in their care, including preservation, conservation, and restoration, storage, handling, and security; *Reference and outreach services, including a look at exhibitions and tours; *Fundraising and financial management, legal and ethical issues, forgeries and facsimiles, the present state of books and the book trade in our digital environment, and much more