RBSCG in Conversation is an open forum for members of the rare books and special collections community to share questions, concerns, and creative solutions to current issues.

During times of financial hardship, special collections can sometimes look like easy targets for cutting costs, either by reducing staffing levels or selling high-value collections items. Since the start of the pandemic, multiple libraries have faced threats of closure, redundancy, or dispersal of collections. In response, RBSCG has partnered with organisations like RLUK and ARLIS to support at-risk libraries.

Sarah Mahurter is the current chair of the RBSCG Committee, and the Manager of the University Archives and Special Collections Centre at the University of the Arts London. During this session, Sarah will share some insights into the advocacy work that RBSCG has engaged in during the pandemic. She will share the draft 'Advocacy Manifesto' that is in development with CILIP and a network of supporting organisations, and will invite feedback from participants. You are invited to join us for a discussion of how documents like this one could be used to support colleagues in future discussions.

To submit a question for discussion in advance of the session, please email Christine Megowan (MegowanC@cardiff.ac.uk)

This event is free of charge and open to all, but registration is required. A link to the Zoom meeting will be available upon registration.

In order to promote free and open communication, this event will NOT be recorded, but a summary of highlights from the discussion will be available after the event.