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Survey Results

Public Services in Special Collections · 11
Executive Summary
Introduction
Over the past few years there have been a number
of surveys examining current practices in Special
Collections, as well as discussion about the need
for further data gathering activities. Recent surveys
of ARL member libraries have addressed topics
such as security, preservation, digital projects, and
hidden collections. None of these surveys has fo-
cused specifically on issues related to reference and
patron services in Special Collections. However,
the manner in which Special Collections provide
access to their holdings is as important as the sub-
stance and extent of the holdings they collect. The
purpose of this survey was to gather information
pertaining to the provision of reference and related
public services for both on- and off-site patrons.
The survey focused on public service staffing,
reference and public services offered, methods
of patron access, types of intellectual access tools
used, patron registration, the reference interview
process, and public service evaluation and promo-
tion methods. In addition, respondents were asked
to comment on significant changes in reference and
public services in Special Collections in the last few
years, particularly those related to outreach, in-
struction, and learning.
Special Collections have been defined as library
materials that, in addition to supporting research,
often are characterized by artifactual and monetary
value, by uniqueness or rarity, and by a long-term
commitment to preservation and access on the part
of the library. For the purposes of this survey, we
also defined Special Collections as the department,
unit, or library that collects and manages those ma-
terials.
Background
This survey was distributed to the 123 ARL mem-
ber libraries in March 2006. Seventy-nine libraries
(64%) responded to the survey. Thirty-five of the
responding libraries (44%) have a single Special
Collections unit. Twenty-five of the libraries (32%)
have one primary Special Collections unit and ad-
ditional, smaller special collections in other librar-
ies or branches. Eleven (14%) have multiple Special
Collections units dispersed across a number of
libraries or branches. Respondents who have dis-
persed units were asked to base all survey respons-
es on services provided at one primary Special
Collections unit.
The large majority of Special Collections in ARL
libraries are open on a regular schedule two are
open by appointment only. Most of the libraries
with a regular schedule are open 40 to 49 hours per
week with an average of 44.6 hours. There is no
real difference between the number of hours open
to the public and the number of hours that public
services are available, indicating that most libraries
are not providing services during times when they
are closed to the public. Of the respondents who
indicated that they provide more hours of public
service than hours open to the public, two provide