Exhibits Guidelines for Public Services

Exhibits housed in the libraries are generally mounted to highlight or explicate materials in the collections.  Their purpose is to educate and inform.  Most material included will be from the libraries' collections (rather than artifacts, private collections, etc.)  Library call numbers should be visible, and directions for locating exhibited items or related materials should be provided.  Whenever possible, duplicate copies or book jackets should be displayed in order to facilitate prompt access to materials.

Display

1. Each exhibit must have a specific purpose and focus which should be clearly explained by descriptions included within the exhibit.  Thought and organization underlying the exhibit should be evident; i.e., no exhibit should be a group of items gathered and arranged in a case without explanation.

2.  Exhibits may be controversial in terms of topic highlighted material included, but they should be clearly explicated, with context explained, so that they neither stand as the personal view of the person who prepared the exhibit nor appear to reflect a library "position" on the issue.

3.  Exhibits should be visually pleasing and uncluttered.  Given the limited exhibit space for library exhibits, it is particularly important for exhibits to be clearly focused and spare.
 

Responsibility for display

1.  Within each location housing exhibits, there should be a group which has oversight responsibility for exhibits, including preparation of exhibit schedule, review of subjects covered, and review of exhibit presentation.  Overall responsibility for exhibits resides with the head librarian in each library (the Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences Services for Library West).

2.  Each exhibit should be scheduled for a time certain and should be mounted and removed according to schedule.

3.  These are general guidelines for the small exhibits that are put together by PS or Collection Management staff primarily to celebrate an event.  They do not apply to the scholarly exhibits Special Collections will some day be doing.

Approved by PSSC July, 1991.

Please send any questions or comments to: Cynthia Bowker

 Last updated December 1992