Project Update 12 - Trends in rare book collection management

I am currently reading Trends in the rare book & documents special collections management report from the Primary Research Group in New York ( NQ 025.196/2). This study documents the results of interviews undertaken in November and December 2007. It profiles the efforts of academic, public and special libraries to develop, manage and market their special rare book and document collections. The institutions profiled in the report include Boston College, the Newberry Library, The San Antonio Public Library, Trinity College, San Jose State University, Huntington Library, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and the University of California, Chico. There are some interesting trends and issues included in the report including:

"most collections suffer from a lack of use and awareness by the largest potential audience - the general public or students. A strong web presence, active local programming, and maintaining communication with special interest groups... are crucial to making the collection a valuable, used resource by a younger, less experienced clientele, but are also important in making the collection materials available to researchers."

It's also time to consider rare book contenders for the Heritage Gallery 2009. How about the Art of War? De re militari, RB/SC/610Q, was originally written by Robertus Valturius in ca. 1446-1456. It is the earliest authority on mediaeval machines of war and contains 97 woodcuts of military engines and constructions, many full-page, and numerous woodcut ornamental initials throughout the text. The illustrations include numerous military engines: catapults, rams, cannons, grenades, scaling
ladders, water-raising machines, a clepsydra or water-clock (with 17 hours marked on the dial), bridges, rafts and paddle boats. The work was first printed at Verona in 1472. Our copy, printed in 1535, has some water damage but the illustrations are generally not affected.