From cuneiform, coins, and codices to prints, drawings, photographs, and maps, departments of rare books and special collections are the premier repositories of significant printed and manuscript works and artefacts. 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 covers the following key topics:



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, cataloguing, processing, physical layout, and other operational functions, with coverage of acquisition sources and methods
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, fakes, and facsimiles
Bibliography and its impact on the rare book world, including a look at booksellers, donors, and auctions
The present state of books in our digital environment
The vocabulary of the trade.

Readership: Aimed at practitioners in the library field, instructors teaching courses on the subject, booksellers, private collectors, historians, bibliophiles, and others involved in rare and unique materials, Rare Books and Special Collections presents a meticulous and systematic understanding of this growing field.