Palmer School Professor Gives Keynote Address at Rare Books Preconference

August 26, 2005 — New York, NY--Deirdre Stam, Associate Professor at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science of Long Island University and Director of the New York Center for the Book, was the keynote speaker at the preconference for the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

Her presentation related to bridging the gap between education and library special collections.  Beginning with a critical review of earlier special collections practices, Stam advocated extending tradition by forming alliances with new partners such as exhibition designers from museums, public relations professionals and seasoned teachers.

Stam coordinates a concentration in Rare Book and Special Collections for the Palmer School as part of a Master’s Program in Library and Information Science, where students prepare for careers in libraries, historical societies, museums and the book trade. Specialists work as curators, researchers, dealers, exhibition planners, scholars and administrators of collections. All courses for the concentration are available through the Palmer School’s Manhattan site at the Bobst Library of New York University in Manhattan.

The program offers an inventive approach that includes hands-on experience in handling rare books; working with book artists, printers and papermakers; and visiting libraries with world-famous collections. “People are looking at our program as the most alive, most vigorous out there,” Stam said. “We have some very innovative things happening here and people are taking notice.”

The RBMS represents and promotes the interests of librarians who work with rare books, manuscripts, and other types of special collections, playing a leading role in the local, national, and international special collections communities. The preconference, which was held in June in St. Louis, Missouri, explored opportunities for  special collections librarians as teachers, advocates, interpreters, impresarios to participate in education, both formal and informal, and addressed the expected expansion in special collections activities as books become perceived as museum objects as well as purveyors of information.

Stam holds a Doctor of Library Science from Columbia University’s School of Library Service; a Master of Library Science from Catholic University of America; a Master of Education from Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s Degree from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts and a B.A. from Radcliffe College at Harvard University. She serves on the boards for the American Printing History Association, the Bibliographical Society of America, Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music, The Society for New Music, and is on the Council at The Frick Collection.

Inquiries about the Rare Book and Special Collections Concentration should be directed to the Coordinator, Professor Deirdre C. Stam, Palmer School, Bobst Library, NYU, 70 Washington Square South #707, New York, NY 10012. 

For more information, e-mail Deirdre.stam@liu.edu or call (212) 998-2681 or visit the Palmer School web page at www.liu.edu/palmer.