Presented at the CONUL Conference, July 2015, Athlone, Ireland by Barbara McCormack, Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Abstract This session will explore potential collaborations between Subject Librarians and Special Collections Librarians in terms of the design and delivery of innovative information literacy sessions for History students, through a case study of Maynooth University Library. It will outline the benefits of a joint approach to instruction delivery which include: delivery of dynamic sessions using primary and secondary sources, development of transferable research skills, and the delivery of collection-based, subject specific knowledge to students. It will explore the role of the Subject Librarian and Special Collections Librarian in embedded information literacy instruction, with specific reference to the MA in Historical Archives programme at Maynooth University. It will also look at subject support for undergraduate and postgraduate classes using the unique and distinctive collections at Maynooth University Library. Biography "Pauline Murray works in the Learning, Teaching & Research Development Department at Maynooth University. Her work includes participation in the library’s LIST training programme. She is a subject librarian for a number of Social Science departments and for the Department of Modern History. Barbara McCormack has library experience in a wide range of public and private institutions including: The British Library, Trinity College Library, the Irish Taxation Institute, and Fáilte Ireland. Barbara has presented at numerous conferences and library-related events, including the 2012 Rare Books Group Seminar at the Royal Irish Academy and the Fourth International Mobile Libraries Conference at the Open University. She has also presented at the Second Annual Conference of the Centre for the Study of Irish Protestantism at Maynooth University. Barbara has completed courses relating to the History of Bookbinding, the Medieval Book and Letterpress Printing at the London Rare Books School. She is currently Assistant Librarian, Special Collections & Archives at Maynooth University Library where she manages historic collections including rare books, manuscripts and archives. "

1. Working with the
Department of
History to deliver
a programme for
postgraduates
A case study of the
MA Historical Archives

2. HY618 Book Collections in Archives
• 5 credit postgraduate module
• Level 9 (Masters)
• 12 lecture hours - including
practical sessions and offsite visit
• Delivered by the Senior Librarian,
Collection Management Services
and the Assistant Librarian, Special
Collections & Archives
• 12 hours planned learning activities
• 12 hours independent student
activities
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

3. Learning Outcomes
• Understand the key stages in the
development of print and its
relationship with manuscript and
incunabula
• Understand the key stages in the
tradition of print in Ireland
• Differentiate between the different
types of catalogues (traditional and
electronic formats)
• Create a bibliographic record to a level
appropriate to that item and to the
repository in which it is held
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

4. Module Aims
• Foster an understanding and
appreciation of rare and unique
collections
• Develop navigational skills in terms
of finding aids and catalogues
• Equip students with resource
description skills
• Facilitate the evaluation of printed
items in archival collections
• Enable a comprehensive analysis of
physical characteristics of different
formatsManuscript from the collections of the
Russell Library, Maynooth University
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

5. Class Schedule
Date Topic
Week 1 Introduction
Manuscript tradition
Week 2 History of Print
Printing in Ireland
Week 3 Practical ‘hands-on’ session
Week 4 Visit to Dublin City Library & Archive, National Print Museum
Week 5 Resource Description for Print
Week 6 Curatorial Roles – Print to online
Review
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

6. Assignment 1 Incunabula
Students are asked to consult an
early printed work and write a
short report noting some or all of
the following:
– Decoration and illustration
– Annotations
– Shelf-marks
– Binding
– Clasps and ties
– General conditionEarly printed book from the collections of
the Russell Library, Maynooth University
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

7. Assignment 2 Pamphlets
Students are asked to identify and
consult a printed pamphlet in
order to write a report on the
following:
– Bibliographic information
– Provenance and binding
– Physical condition
– Typography
– Illustrations, diagrams, and maps
– Associated finding aids
Image from a pamphlet in the Russell
Library: ‘Remarks on the People and
Government of Scotland ‘printed in 1747
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

8. Assignment 3 Exhibitions
Students are asked to visit an
exhibition and write a short report on
the following aspects:
– Exhibition themes
– Target audience
– Promotion of the exhibition
– Case labels
– Exhibition layout
– Floor plan(s)
– Catalogues or handouts
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

9. Assignment 4 Resource Description
Part 1: Students are asked to write
a report discussing the following:
– Impact of resource
description
– Merits of hybrid cataloguing
– Difference between primary
and secondary sources
Part 2: Students are asked to
analyse a series of bibliographic
records and identify various MARC
fields
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

10. Conclusion
• Information literacy sessions for history students
can be delivered as ‘one-off’ sessions or a series of
lectures, workshops, and tours over a semester or
academic year
• Programmes can be tailored to both undergraduate
and postgraduate students
• Potential for dynamic sessions with practical, hands-
on elements using primary and secondary sources
• Special collections librarians and subject librarians
can collaborate to deliver teaching sessions
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015

11. Questions?
Barbara McCormack & Pauline Murray, Maynooth University Library
CONUL Inaugural Annual Conference 2015