Mind the Gap: Integrating Special Collections Teaching

Abstract

Instruction is a vital part of the academic librarian’s public services mission, but the teaching efforts of special collections librarians can be overlooked due to the culture and particularities of teaching in an archival setting. This article documents the challenges special collections librarians face in integrating their teaching program into that of general library instruction, and details several approaches taken at our institution to achieve effective collaboration while retaining the value of our individual strengths and differences.