New York City is an acknowledged center of rare book and special collections activity located in public and institutional collections, clubs, auction houses, and universities. The new Palmer School concentration introduced students to this wealth of resources and incorporates into its formal program ample opportunity for contact with the city's bibliophilic community.

The entire Rare Books and Special Collections concentration is offered in Manhattan at Long Island University facilities in NYU's Bobst Library. If students find it more convenient, they may take the core requirement at the Palmer School on Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus in Brookville, or at the University's Brentwood or Westchester Graduate campuses.

Through a unique arrangement with the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, (http://rarebookschool.org/) under the direction of Terry Belanger, Palmer School students may take selected RBS courses for credit in their MSLIS program.

Rare books and special collections are enjoying new popularity as part of the recently developed interest in the history of the book among universities, historical societies, and museums. Both scholarly and popular communities are currently interested in special collections which might include film, posters, photographs, correspondence, architectural plans, designs, and printed emphemera. Specialists work as curators, researchers, dealers, exhibition planners, scholars, and administrators of collections.

The Palmer School has received a grant of $236,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (http://www.newyorkbooks.org/imls/) to support the training of rare book and special collections librarians during the period from January, 2005 through December, 2007. The major portion of this grant is for scholarships. While the major IMLS scholarships have been awarded as of March 2006, some opportunities for paid internships remain. Other scholarships opportunities are listed on the Palmer School in Manhattan Program Web Page (http://dlib.info/palmer-manhattan/). Some of these are specificially for the Palmer School and some, from professional societies and other sources, can be applied to studies at the Palmer School.

Students will develop proficiency in rare book curatorship, archival techniques, the history of the book, rare book cataloging, preservation, and exhibition planning. They will become acquainted with major collections through field trips and internships, and will have opportunity to meet experts in this area.

In addition to the regular course schedule, specialized courses will be offered as Special Topics. Included as Special Topics are scheduled visits to great collections, the history of various aspects of "the book," and an introduction to the book trade and auction world. Other Special Topics can be arranged in response to students' needs and interests.

A student will be expected to complete four pertinent elective courses from the list below to complete this concentration. These electives must include LIS 713-Rare Books and Special Collections Librarianship, and a course in the history of the book.

Upon graduation, students who complete these requirements may receive a letter from the Dean and Coordinator of the concentration acknowledging their achievement; this letter should be requested from the Coordinator, Deirdre C. Stam.

Students interested in this concentration should Email Deirdre Stam (deirdre.stam@liu.edu) before beginning their specialized courses in this area. Dr. Stam, who oversees the Rare Book and Special Collections concentration, will review with students their goals and backgrounds, and will work with them to identify a set of courses that will meet their objectives.