Investigating the Perceived Value of Special Collections in the Academic Library

The literature lacks empirical evidence supporting the claim that the value of special collections in the academic library has grown significantly. Through a web-based survey the perceptions of librarians and archivists (N = 243) in academic libraries were investigated. The results give insight into what measures of value are perceived as important. Minor differences were found based on institutional size and managerial status. More significant differences were found for gender identity. Findings will allow directors and staff to have more productive conversations about limited resources and staff time, and advance professional discourse about the assessment of value for special collections.