Teaching sessions in the Reading Room have been suspended, however, the Special Collections Librarian, Karen Backhouse, can provide images or help to create videos of the different materials for use in online lectures and seminars. The final video is compiled and edited by Multimedia Web Developer, Steven Hargraves, so please allow plenty of time to ensure jobs can be accommodated alongside current workloads. Email Special Collections Librarian Karen Backhouse or specialcollections@hope.ac.uk with your requirements and an indication of your deadline, or book a convenient time to work with the collections in the Reading Room.
There is also a series of YouTube videos available, under Finding Aids, to assist students in using the collections and to introduce the different formats of materials that may be useful for their academic studies. These videos may be utilised for online sessions whilst physical access to our collections is restricted due to Covid-19.
Information Literacy Strategy
Special Collections is embedded in the Library and Information Literacy Strategy which aims to enable our students to develop lifelong information skills by using a range of innovative practices to enhance sessions. Sessions are designed in consultation with course tutors and there are a number of different ways to utilise the collections in a wide range of teaching methods, including lectures, hands-on workshops, and comparative studies with online resources, to offer a unique experience.
All students receive an introduction to Special Collections to learn about what we have, how best to access the collections and to understand the regulations to be adhered to in the Reading Room. For interactive workshops students must receive a compulsory 20-minute training session in handling rare books to inform students of the importance of collection care and to familiarise them with using book supports and snake weights. Sessions are designed in consultation with course tutors to meet the needs of particular cohorts.
The Special Collections Librarian is available to discuss our archives and special collections, and how they may benefit your postgraduate study. Email specialcollections@hope.ac.uk to arrange a meeting.
For postgraduates thinking about using archives and special collections at other institutions, A&SC offers guidance in planning for a visit and help anticipate what you may expect to find when you get there. Some points to consider:
What form of identification do you need to take with you?
Do you need a letter of recommendation from your home institution?
What are you allowed to take into the archive and what are you not?
Familiarise yourself with their webpages and finding aids
Contact staff at the archive before your visit to let them know what you are researching. They may have knowledge of uncatalogued material that may be of interest
To save time during your visit, prioritise a list of items you would like to consult and include the classmark or reference number for each
A&SC also offers training in handling rare books and archival material to help overcome any anxiety in handling such unique and often delicate items of importance to our national heritage.
"I liked how we were taught how to handle the books. It made me more confident when handling them"
"Helped with wider understanding"
"Absolutely loved the illuminated manuscripts in person"
"Informed introduction on how to treat the books correctly"
"Showmanship was excellent"
"... being able to look closely in detail at the books (using magnifying glass). Also looking how delicate and special they are"
"It was fascinating being able to look at the books up close and be able to actually touch them"
"This is mind blowing – learning and history unified in one room"
"Seeing these manuscripts has helped give a real idea of the significance of them, which will help when writing about manuscripts in Art & Design History"
"... being able to truly appreciate the detail and feeling how fragile they are"
"It will help a lot in understanding the processes and skill"
"Seeing and interacting with original manuscripts. Allows us to see the image, colours properly"
"... to remember that photographs, prints don’t fully represent the actual artefact"
Some comments from visiting researchers:
"An impressive, diverse collection of music manuscripts (esp. liturgical). The students are very fortunate to have access to such a collection. Excellent tools for research and teaching"
"I am astonished at the quality of the holdings. This is an amazing resource which deserves to be exploited"
"Impressive collection of rare resources that shed light on dark areas of Christianity in the non-Western context. Thank you for making this a place worth coming to"
"Very impressive collection. It is an excellent resource for mission and evangelism in our time"
"I love to be here and I love to come back. I’m fulfilled"
"Thank you for my journey into medieval and recusant history"
