“I think it’s really empowering for students to dive into things, and for them to realize that they don’t necessarily have to [rely on] conclusions and analyses that they’re reading in books, but they can actually examine the materials themselves and analyze them and come to their own conclusions,” said Krystal Appiah, instruction librarian for Special Collections.
The impact of this expansive library doesn’t stop with undergrad research projects. Special Collections opens its doors to University faculty members, K-12 teachers and students of all ages.
Before 2004, when the collection moved into the lower levels of the Harrison-Small building, the library would host classes using its materials about once or twice a year. Now, the Special Collections Library has grown to host around 250 presentations for more than 4,000 participants each year.