Instruction and Class Visits

Special Collections offers a range of services for instructors interested in teaching with and about the books, manuscripts, and other material in our collections. Our staff can provide help with identifying appropriate material and developing class assignments. We are also prepared to assist with or conduct any of a variety of instruction sessions ranging from a general introduction about the resources that are available in Special Collections to an in-depth session focused on specific materials and their historical contexts as well as specialized sessions that incorporate course- or assignment-based resources and activities.

Our instruction philosophy aims to cultivate undergraduate and graduate students’ abilities to think critically and to contextualize, investigate and authenticate historical and cultural documents. Student engagement with primary sources can be a key part of the transformational educational experience identified by Notre Dame’s Strategic Plan as vital to student success. We work closely with teaching faculty to develop sessions that promote and encourage these outcomes.

Special Collections Workshops

• Introduction to Special Collections: From Clay Tablet to Graphic Novel

• Archival Research Skills Workshop

• The Book as Object (Coming in 2017-18)

• History of the Book in the West (Coming in 2017-18)

Examples of Class Instruction in Special Collections
(with links to examples of RBSC materials used)

How to Arrange a Class in Special Collections

Contact Special Collections by email at: rarebook@nd.edu

Please provide the following information in your email:

• course number and title;

• preferred day/time for your class visit;

• a description of what type of session you would like.

If you are unsure and want to discuss options, let us know. We’re happy to help.

Classroom Space in Special Collections

We have two classroom areas:

• Our seminar room holds about 16. It is equipped with an overhead projector that can be connected to a laptop or to the in-house WolfVision document camera that allows an object to be placed below it and projected onto the screen for full class viewing.

• Our main room can accommodate classes up to about 25 students. Various configurations are possible to accommodate your class needs. We also have a large monitor to which you can connect a laptop.

Both spaces can get booked quickly during the semester. Please contact us as soon as possible to reserve a date and time for your class visit.

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What to Expect When You Bring Your Class to Special Collections

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