Introduction

Libraries have made an impact on the public for generations. They are physical repositories that hold a wealth of resources of information and are ever changing to adapt to the demands and needs of our future libraries. In addition, many libraries and even community organizations hold resources of historical value while at the same time, we have separate institutions known as archives and special collections that house our esteemed historical records and artifacts.

This module explores the distinctions between archives and special collections and how both of them are different from libraries. People are unfamiliar with what archives are and how they are used. This module covers some of the basic concepts of archives and special collections and will help distinguish archival materials from other types of historical materials, introduce the core concepts related to archival collections, and begin to discuss how to care for and provide access to these materials.