Vanderbilt University Special Collections & University Archives
Location Description
The Special Collections and University Archives Library is part of the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries System. The mission of the Special Collections Library is to collect, preserve, and provide access to Vanderbilt University’s impressive collection of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, memorabilia, and institutional archives. Special Collections supplies primary resource material to a variety of local, national, and international scholars.
Practicum Work Mode
On site
Semesters or Time Period Available
Ongoing, not limited to a specific semester
Location
419 21st Ave. S
Nashville, TN 37203
https://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/specialcollections/
Contact
Mary McSparran
Curator of Manuscripts
mary.mcsparran@vanderbilt.edu
615-343-6708
Student Tasks
This practicum encompasses multiple aspects of archiving and special collections librarianship. These may include the following: completing inventories of unprocessed collections, reboxing and relabeling rare materials, completing archival processing, creating finding aids using ArchivesSpace, using our Aeon tracking system to pull materials and send them to researchers for review, and answering reference questions. Students may also assist with creating and maintaining digital collections.
Type of Mentoring Provided to the Student
I believe in hands-on learning and will guide students through the process of working in a special collections library. I will be happy to share what I learned from my own experience in library school and working at five different archives.
Student Interaction With Others at the Location
The Vanderbilt Special Collections & University Archives is very collaborative, and we all work together to make things run smoothly. Other members of the department will be on-site and available to share their expertise with practicum students.