Article #3: Ivory Towers

Allen, S. M. (2003). Special Collections Outside the Ivory Tower. Library Trends, 52(1), 60-68. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Contrary to public thought, special collections are not only in academic libraries. They can also be museums, public libraries, state and national libraries, and independent libraries. These such libraries hold some of the greatest and more valuable special collections out there. This article focuses on special collections in independent research libraries.

Independent research libraries have no affiliations, are private, and are not-for-profit. Often their collections are of national or international significance, rather than just being for local use. In 1972, fifteen such libraries formed the Independent Research Libraries Association (IRLA). The creation of this association was in response to previous threats to funds for independent research libraries. Currently there are 18 member libraries of the IRLA. These libraries focus their collections to support research rather than an academic curriculum. Funding and visibility are the two main challenges that these libraries face in the coming years in order to stay alive.