SAN DIEGO (Press Release) –Every year, Professor Beth Pollard (History) brings classes to San Diego State University’s Love Library’s Special Collections and University Archives unit. She knows her students succeed when they are exposed to rare, unique, and fragile books, periodicals, manuscripts, audio/visual materials, art, and ephemera. Among the collections housed in Special Collections are those that have been curated by the Jewish Historical Society of San Diego from official records and personal memorabilia of Jewish community organizations and individuals.
Dr. Pollard is one of many instructors who understand that primary resources give students a powerful sense of history and the complexity of the past. These materials guide students toward higher-order thinking, better reasoning, and critical analysis skills. They enable students to go beyond their textbook to develop their own understandings.
Moving Special Collections to the center of Love Library, will make it visible and easily accessible to thousands of students. Inviting, large research spaces will meet the demand for this service and propel creativity and inspiration. The materials will be in one place, creating a research bonanza for faculty and students.
In this phase, walls will be built to enclose the book shelves and workroom. Flooring, weatherproofing, security, lighting, and other critical needs will be addressed.
In an earlier phase, almost 45,000 bound serial volumes were moved to make space; librarian offices were renovated; and the new construction of the Edward Marsh Golden Age of Science Fiction Room formed two walls for the new Special Collections.
Future enhancements could refurbish the main entry, service desk, and reading room, replace furniture and exhibit cases, and enhance preservation controls. This project is part of the Library’s Strategic Plan for Space Renovation, which was undertaken in 2011 in coordination with the 40th anniversary of Love Library.
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Preceding provided by San Diego State University