My background has mostly focused on education since being an undergrad: summer school counselor/Mr. Fanstastic for Americorps Project Yes; teacher's aide at Little Eagle Elementary/Eagle Butte Reservation; Writing Counselor at Coe College Writing Center; Admin/Paraprofessional at a local high school in Chicago; and English teacher/U.S. Ambassador for Peace Corps Jordan.
This summer, I will investigate the role of Special Collections and their relationship to undergraduate students. For example, on campus we have a collection of James Bond literature, music, and memorabilia. However, are undergraduate students aware of this collection? And, could it serve to facilitate their research and intellectual needs? If not, what can the Special Collections department do to better market and make itself relevant to the students? This is the focus of my research.
I feel that an undergraduate student arriving to campus for the first time is provided with large amounts of information at once. Usually, direct guidance and assistance is given when communicating with staff or professor during or after orientation. The idea would be not just to orient the students to the resources available on campus, but to educate them on how utilize those tools to their advantage. Awareness and knowledge of the Special Collections could help to maximize a student's educational and intellectual success.
This summer, I will investigate the role of Special Collections and their relationship to undergraduate students. For example, on campus we have a collection of James Bond literature, music, and memorabilia. However, are undergraduate students aware of this collection? And, could it serve to facilitate their research and intellectual needs? If not, what can the Special Collections department do to better market and make itself relevant to the students? This is the focus of my research.
I feel that an undergraduate student arriving to campus for the first time is provided with large amounts of information at once. Usually, direct guidance and assistance is given when communicating with staff or professor during or after orientation. The idea would be not just to orient the students to the resources available on campus, but to educate them on how utilize those tools to their advantage. Awareness and knowledge of the Special Collections could help to maximize a student's educational and intellectual success.
Alonso, I had no idea the library had a special collections on James Bond. In truth, in all the years I've been here I've not used the special collections, though now I'm realizing I definitely should have. Please do keep us informed about what you find.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I remember my family watching James Bond movies a lot when I was a child. It was sort of my immigrant families induction into what it truly means to be a Western hero - problematic in a lot of ways. But still, James Bond holds a prominent place around the world, and even within the US, in the cultural imagination about the West. A whole dissertation could be written just on the global political economy of Bond...Anyhow...thanks for sharing the info!
Alonso, this sounds very interesting! I also have never heard of Special Collections here or at my previous university. Even though I may not be looking specifically for James Bond memorabilia, I wonder what treasures they have that may be of interest to me! Keep me posted on what else you find and good luck with your work!
ReplyDeleteVery fascinating topic. I have heard of the Special collections, early on as undergrad and even as grad student. I just wish i had an opportunity to use them while conducting my undergraduate research. However,depending on the topic, special collection can be useful or not. One way i think the visibility of Special Collection can increase and becoming apparent as a resource in research process is to have instructors to continue reminding students to use it, especially in research classes. At this time, there is so much information and easy ways to access that information which can interfere with remembering about Special Collections as an available resource. I appreciate your consideration on this topic.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! I attended the University of Kansas, which is considered a college basketball Mecca because the games inventor (James Naismith) served as a professor there, and introduced the sport to the university. While doing a history assignment I was fortunate enough to stumble across multiple primary sources Naismith had written himself, and used them constructed a University of Kansas basketball lineage. However, most students on campus (despite loving KU’s basketball tradition) were unaware of that the university housed these resources, and many other primary sources as well. I think most undergraduates just think of a college library as something with a lot more books, and are unaware that university libraries often houses manuscripts, personal notes/letters, diaries and other unpublished pieces of information.
ReplyDeleteHa, that's funny; only yesterday I was walking through the library here and I noticed a poster saying something about a James Bond celebration happening here. The funny thing is that it didn't actually say why they were having it...I figured it was probably because they have some original Bond manuscripts or something, but you'd think they'd be a little more explicit about it.
ReplyDeleteAlonso! This sounds very cool, fellow GSLISer! :) It's so interesting you mentioned the whole James Bond Collection here at UIUC because, being on this campus as a student and employee for the last several years, I am very aware of these collections (also because I'm interested in this stuff...lol). I was taking a Museum Registration class in Spring of this year at Spurlock when they were preparing for their piece in all of this ( I was there the day they brought in the Astin Martin!), but I was intrigued by the marketing. See, the marketing was not done well to target the young, college student audience. It was mainly focused on the original papers and manuscripts that the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library has of Ian Flemming, but I felt like they missed a huge opportunity to make the connection between James Bond and Ian Flemming (because not all people know that is why there are these random Bond posters all over campus). So, I'm glad you are looking into how to market these types of materials- that are both entertaining and important from a socio-cultural perspective- to the main audience on campus! Marketing is something that has been historically weak in LIS, I think, but it is definitely something that is becoming more valued and needed in terms of skills on the job market, you know what I mean? :) Can't wait to learn more about your project and good luck! :D
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