Twenty Things: Archives and Development in Collaboration

Special collections librarians and archivists are committed to caring for their unique collections and making them accessible to users. Library development staff are equally dedicated to the library and its collections and services. Both may play roles in fostering relationships with donors and bringing in donations—but how and when do they need to really work together, and to do so effectively? Kim Fill, Assistant Director of Development and Donor Relations, and Caroline White, Archives and Manuscript Librarian, both at UMass Amherst Libraries, have been colleagues for nearly seven years, and even they aren’t entirely sure what each other does. With a light touch and a serious intent, each will share five things they want the other to know about what they do and five questions they have for the other department. Such issues as collecting policies and goals, what makes a collection “valuable,” working with “small” donors for big returns, balancing the goals and directives of your library with those of central advancement, taking the long view, and more will be covered, with time for attendees to share their own comments and questions. *NOTE: We are open to partnering with another library team on this session