Exhibitions in Libraries and Archives

SALC60372 Exhibitions in Libraries and Archives 15 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Susana Sanchez-Gonzalez Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 This module considers the theory and practice of exhibitions in the context of libraries and archives. The curriculum builds on the MA’s core unit Engagement and Advocacy I: Exhibitions and public engagement as it allows you to delve deeper into issues of exhibition management, reception, and design.   During the first half of the module, you will be introduced to the latest theories and debates on library exhibition practice. Through recommended readings and group discussions, you will be asked to interrogate the written word as exhibition material and the library and/or the archive as exhibition space. You will also engage with literature on exhibition typologies, interpretation approaches, exhibition audiences, and exhibition experiences.   During the second part of the module, you will think critically about exhibitions from a practitioner’s point of view. You will be provided with sample policies, checklists, and other forms of exhibition documentation recommended to deliver successful exhibitions, either on your own or as part of larger team, and regardless of the budget, size, and scope of your exhibition projects. There will be curator-led visits to other library exhibitions and the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences on exhibition development, design, and installation by members of the Exhibitions and Collection Care teams at the JRRIL.  Throughout the course, readings and analysis of case-studies will allow you to consider issues of equality, diversity, inclusion, access, and engagement in the physical and digital exhibition space as well as via public programming. You will also explore ways to sensitively match library collections with a wide range of audiences. By the end of this module, you will have a deeper understanding of the challenges specific to the display of books and archival material as well as greater awareness of the opportunities and benefits of displaying collections from a professional and institutional perspective. You will have also acquired a range of effective strategies and procedural knowledge to confidently take on every aspect of the exhibition life cycle, from conceptualization, object selection and space design to project planning, implementation, marketing, outreach, and evaluation.    This module is particularly relevant to students seeking to work with rare books and special collections in archives and libraries but also to those interested in curatorial positions in literary museums, writers’ houses museums, and museums of the book. NB: Although this unit is not open as free choice, it is available to SALC PGT students subject to availability.  Interested students should contact the course convenor for consideration.  This module considers the theory and practice of exhibitions in the context of libraries and archives. The curriculum builds on the MA’s core unit Engagement and Advocacy I: Exhibitions and public engagement as it allows you to delve deeper into issues of exhibition management, reception, and design.   During the first half of the module, you will be introduced to the latest theories and debates on library exhibition practice. Through recommended readings and group discussions, you will be asked to interrogate the written word as exhibition material and the library and/or the archive as exhibition space. You will also engage with literature on exhibition typologies, interpretation approaches, exhibition audiences, and exhibition experiences.   During the second part of the module, you will think critically about exhibitions from a practitioner’s point of view. You will be provided with sample policies, checklists, and other forms of exhibition documentation recommended to deliver successful exhibitions, either on your own or as part of larger team, and regardless of the budget, size, and scope of your exhibition projects. There will be curator-led visits to other library exhibitions and the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences on exhibition development, design, and installation by members of the Exhibitions and Collection Care teams at the JRRIL.  Throughout the course, readings and analysis of case-studies will allow you to consider issues of equality, diversity, inclusion, access, and engagement in the physical and digital exhibition space as well as via public programming. You will also explore ways to sensitively match library collections with a wide range of audiences. By the end of this module, you will have a deeper understanding of the challenges specific to the display of books and archival material as well as greater awareness of the opportunities and benefits of displaying collections from a professional and institutional perspective. You will have also acquired a range of effective strategies and procedural knowledge to confidently take on every aspect of the exhibition life cycle, from conceptualization, object selection and space design to project planning, implementation, marketing, outreach, and evaluation.    This module is particularly relevant to students seeking to work with rare books and special collections in archives and libraries but also to those interested in curatorial positions in literary museums, writers’ houses museums, and museums of the book. NB: Although this unit is not open as free choice, it is available to SALC PGT students subject to availability.  Interested students should contact the course convenor for consideration.  <ul><li>Describe the main landmarks in the life cycle of an exhibition project</li><li>Equip students with resources, practical knowledge and skills to confidently approach the management and delivering of successful exhibitions  </li><li>Situate the theory and practice of exhibitions in the context of libraries and archives</li><li>Think critically about the challenges, opportunities and benefits specific to the display of books and archival material in contrast to other collection types</li><li>Develop an awareness of the challenges, opportunities and benefits of exhibitions for audiences, collections, professionals and institutions</li><li>Interrogate processes for sensitively matching collections, audiences, locations and expertise when developing exhibitions with library and archive materials</li></ul> At the end of this module, students should be able to:<ul><li>Understand the principles underpinning good exhibition management and practice  </li><li>Appraise curatorial decisions in exhibitions according to different theoretical frameworks  </li><li>Apply strategies to bring new voices and ideas to the interpretation of collections  </li><li>In the absence of such document, develop an exhibitions policy tailored to their own workplace</li><li>Understand technical matters related to the preservation, mounting and installation of the exhibition and the exhibited material  </li><li>Undertake some basic exhibition tasks such as object label writing, display case design and exhibition publicity and promotion </li></ul> <ul><li>Critical evaluation  </li><li>Concept formation</li><li>Creative thinking</li><li>Leadership  </li><li>Coordination and organisation </li></ul> <ul><li>Exhibition management, design, and promotion</li><li>Best practices on exhibition documentation  </li><li>Different interpretation approaches to communicate books and archival material in exhibitions  </li><li>Conventions on object label writing and design</li><li>Public programming and engagement</li><li>Collaboration, advocacy, and networking  </li></ul> <ul><li>Project management skills</li><li>Time management skills</li><li>Teamwork and communication skills</li><li>Design awareness and skills</li><li>Problem solving skills</li><li>Ability to think critically, laterally and, creatively  </li><li>Community engagement and advocacy skills </li></ul> Other This module is particularly relevant to students seeking to work with rare books and special collections in archives and libraries but also to those interested in curatorial positions in literary museums, writers’ houses museums, and museums of the book. Each session will be dedicated to reflecting on a specific aspect of the theory and practice of exhibitions. This will be done through the analysis of the recommended readings, case studies and examples of exhibition documentation in different formats (articles, videos, talks). Students will be expected to explore this material in advance of each session and contribute to small-group or full-seminar discussions. Each week students will be asked to write a short post summarising their reflections on the ideas and material introduced in each seminar and share this on the Blackboard notice board for the group to read and comment on, if appropriate. In addition, there will be an opportunity to ask questions directly to members of staff working on exhibitions at the JRRIL and to visit two exhibitions in Manchester guided by the curators. The group exercise aims to put students in situations similar to those currently working on exhibition projects.  2 Written assignment (inc essay) 70% 7 Oral assessment/presentation 30% <figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 90%);border-style:solid;">Assessment Task</td><td style="background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 90%);border-style:solid;">Formative or Summative</td><td style="background-color:hsl(0, 0%, 90%);border-style:solid;">Weighting (if summative)</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">Six Seminar Reflections on Blackboard</td><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">Formative</td><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">One Reflection Piece</td><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">Summative</td><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">70%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">One Group Presentation</td><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">Summative</td><td style="border-style:solid;padding:3px;">30%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> Feedback method  Formative: Verbal feedback in seminar discussionsFormative: Written feedback on seminar reflections  N Loxley, J (ed.), Vincent, H., Marshall, J., & Otty, L. (2011). <a href="https://doi.org/10.7488/era/exhibit ">Exhibiting the Written Word. University of Edinburgh</a>. Cannon, C., Comrie, A., Covert, C., Kohl, K., Meinke, E., Ng-He, C., ... & Van Heukelem, M. (2021). <a href="https://www.arlisna.org/news/best-practices-for-library-exhibitions">Best practices for library exhibitions</a>. Ng-He, C., & Meinke, E. (2022). <a href="https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/5582/files/History-of-Library-Exhibitions-and-Their-Development.pdf">A history of library exhibitions and their development</a>. Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America, 41(1), 120-136. Dutka, A., Hayes, S., & Parnell, J. (2019). <a href="https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.63.1.19">The surprise part of a librarian’s life: Exhibition design and preparation course</a>. College & Research Libraries News, 63(1), 19-23. Marini, F. (2019). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0955749019876122">Exhibitions in special collections, rare book libraries and archives: Questions to ask ourselves</a>. Alexandria, 29(1–2), 8–29.   Taylor, M. (2018). <a href="https://doi.org/10.5860/rbm.19.2.121">Special Collections Exhibitions: How They Pay Dividends for Your Library.</a> RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage, 19(2), 121. Lacher-Feldman, J. (2013). <a href="https://www.alastore.ala.org/content/exhibits-archives-and-special-collections-libraries ">Exhibits in Archives and Special Collections Libraries</a>. Societyof American Archivists. Matassa, F. (2015). <a href="https://doi.org/10.29085/9781783300273">Organizing Exhibitions: A Handbook for Museums, Libraries and Archives</a>. Facet. Reed, M. (2007). <a href="https://doi.org/10.5860/rbm.8.1.275">Blurring the Boundaries: Collaborative Library and Museum Exhibitions in Los Angeles</a>. RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage, 8(1), 45-50. Lester, P. (2022). <a href="https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003159193 ">Exhibiting the archive: space, encounter, and experience</a>. Routledge. Barth, G. L., Davis, L. D., & Mita, A. (2018). <a href="https://marac.memberclicks.net/assets/documents/marac_technical_leaflet_12.pdf.">Digital exhibitions: Concepts and practices</a>. In Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference technical leaflet series (Vol. 12).     Seminars 18 0 132 NB: Although this unit is not open as free choice, it is available to SALC PGT students subject to availability.  Interested students should contact the course convenor for consideration.