Bruce Peel Special Collections

The University of Alberta "Rare Book Room" was founded in 1964, when room became available in the new Cameron Science & Technology Library.{{Cite book|last=Distad, N. Merrill (Norman Merrill), 1946-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/317743791|title=The University of Alberta Library : the first hundred years, 1908-2008|date=2009|publisher=University of Alberta Libraries|others=University of Alberta. Library.|isbn=978-1-55195-245-1|location=Edmonton|pages=42|oclc=317743791}} Before the establishment of the rare book room, the Library had most of its collections stored on open stacks, and in 1964 the decision was made to segregate the oldest and most expensive books into a protected area.{{Cite book|last=Distad, N. Merrill (Norman Merrill), 1946-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/317743791|title=The University of Alberta Library : the first hundred years, 1908-2008|date=2009|publisher=University of Alberta Libraries|others=University of Alberta. Library.|isbn=978-1-55195-245-1|location=Edmonton|pages=91–92|oclc=317743791}} The rare book room was curated and managed by Dorothy Hamilton, who had previously served as head of the Reference Department. In 1964, the Library Committee established a special fund for purchasing special collections, and a fund of $50,000 was set aside to support the nimble purchasing decisions necessary to take advantage of "fleeting opportunities."{{Cite book|last=Distad, N. Merrill (Norman Merrill), 1946-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/317743791|title=The University of Alberta Library : the first hundred years, 1908-2008|date=2009|publisher=University of Alberta Libraries|others=University of Alberta. Library.|isbn=978-1-55195-245-1|location=Edmonton|pages=125|oclc=317743791}} This increased to an annual commitment of $100,000 in 1965, and the flexibility of this fund allowed the University to acquire many gems for its special collections.

When Bruce Peel retired from his post as head librarian in 1982, the library's special collections was named in honour of his contributions to the growth of the university library.{{Cite book|last=Distad, N. Merrill (Norman Merrill), 1946-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/317743791|title=The University of Alberta Library : the first hundred years, 1908-2008|date=2009|publisher=University of Alberta Libraries|others=University of Alberta. Library.|isbn=978-1-55195-245-1|location=Edmonton|pages=154|oclc=317743791}} In a letter to the current president, Myer Horowitz, Peel wrote, "The naming of the Library's Special Collections area was completely unexpected. I began librarianship in charge of a special collection of Canadiana so that the field of scarce, rare and valuable books has always been an interest of mine; I am very happy with the naming."

In 1984, the library's special collections were moved from Cameron library to Rutherford Library basement.{{Cite web|title=BPSC Library|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/exhibits|access-date=2020-08-13|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} In 2015-16, Bruce Peel Special Collections closed for renovations.{{Cite web|date=2016-06-26|title=Bruce Peel Special Collections library reopens after renovations, students can now read rarest books on campus|url=https://thegatewayonline.ca/2016/06/bruce-peel-library-reopens/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=The Gateway|language=en-US}} Five floors of existing library stacks were converted into a climate-controlled space suitable for special collections.{{Cite web|title=Bruce Peel Special Collections Relocation|url=http://www.mcw.com/Projects/Details?f=p&title=Bruce-Peel-Special-Collections-Relocation|access-date=2020-08-13|website=www.mcw.com}} The Peel library's storage capacity grew from 3400 to approximately 9000 linear meters of shelving.

The collection includes more than 100,000 rare books and a collection of archival materials that explore a range of local and international subjects.{{Cite web|title=About BPSC Library|access-date=2020-08-11|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/info/about|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} Highlighted research collections are described on the Peel website{{Cite web|title=BPSC Research Collections|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/collections|access-date=2020-08-20|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} and often include a sampling of representative images. Notable collections include the 3,500-volume library of the Archbishop of Salzburg,{{Cite web|title=Archbishop of Salzburg's Library|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/collections/archbishop-of-salzburgs-library|access-date=2020-08-12|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} the 8,000-volume Robert J. Woods Collection of western Americana,{{Cite web|title=Robert J. Woods Western Americana|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/collections/robert-j-woods-western-americana|access-date=2020-08-12|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} the Viennese Theatre Playbills Collection, the archives of Black Sparrow Press{{Cite web|title=Black Sparrow Press Archive|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/collections/black-sparrow-press-archive|access-date=2020-08-12|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} and Curwen Press,{{Cite web|title=Curwen Press Publications|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/collections/curwen-press-publications|access-date=2020-08-12|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} and a voluminous collection of John Bunyan’s works.{{Cite web|title=John Bunyan's Works|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/collections/john-bunyans-works|access-date=2020-08-12|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} Some of the library's collections have been partially digitized on the Internet Archive, such as the Indigenous Photographs Collection{{Cite web|title=Indigenous Photographs Collection|url=https://archive.org/details/bpsc_indigenous_photographs?tab=collection|access-date=2022-02-22|website=archive.org}} and the Dr. Ronald B. Madge Entomology Collection.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Ronald B. Made Entomology Collection|url=https://archive.org/details/bpsc_madge|access-date=2022-02-22|website=archive.org}} Certain archival collections housed in the Peel library also have publicly available finding aids.{{Cite web|title=Bruce Peel Special Collections Finding Aids|url=https://discoverarchives.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/bruce-peel-special-collections|access-date=2022-02-22|website=discoverarchives.library.ualberta.ca}}

Each year the Bruce Peel Special Collections creates one or two in-house exhibitions that showcase elements of their collection.{{Cite web|title=BPSC Exhibitions|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/exhibits/past|access-date=2020-08-19|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} For most exhibitions, the Peel team publishes an accompanying exhibition catalogue, which are distributed by University of Alberta Press.{{Cite web|title=Bruce Peel Special Collections Library Exhibition catalogues|url=https://www.uap.ualberta.ca/bruce-peel-special-collections-library|access-date=2020-08-20|website=www.uap.ualberta.ca}} The library's physical exhibitions are accessible to both the campus community and the general public for viewing.

The library also hosts digital exhibitions which are mounted on its website.{{Cite web|title=BPSC Exhibitions|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/exhibits/past|access-date=2020-08-19|website=bpsc.library.ualberta.ca}} Many of these digital exhibitions are related to the history of the Canadian Prairies, such as the Sam Steele, Miriam Green Ellis, and Culinaria exhibitions.{{Cite web|title=Sam Steele Exhibition|url=https://omeka.library.ualberta.ca/exhibits/show/forty/intro|access-date=2022-02-22|website=library.ualberta.ca}}{{Cite web|title=Miriam Green Ellis Exhibition|url=https://omeka.library.ualberta.ca/exhibits/show/ellis/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=library.ualberta.ca}}{{Cite web|title=Culinaria Exhibition|url=https://omeka.library.ualberta.ca/exhibits/show/culinaria/intro|access-date=2022-02-22|website=library.ualberta.ca}}

In this century, Peel's published catalogues and digital exhibitions have numerous awards, including the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Catalogue Award from the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the UCDA Design Awards.{{Cite web|title="Fishing with Flies"|url=http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/university-alberta-bruce-peel-special-collections|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.ala.org}}{{Cite web|title="Experiment: Printing the Canadian Imagination: Highlights from the David McKnight Canadian Little Magazine and Small Press Collection"|url=http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/university-alberta%E2%80%99s-bruce-peel-special-collections-library-0|access-date=2020-08-19|website=www.ala.org}}{{Cite web|date=2014-10-22|title=The Katharine Kyes Leab & Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Award Winners 2014|url=https://rbms.info/committees/exhibition_awards/2014_winners/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=RBMS - Rare Books & Manuscripts Section|language=en-US}}

Every academic year, the Peel library hosts a number of online and in-person workshops using materials from a variety of collections. These workshops are available to University of Alberta students through an online registration process.{{Cite web|title=Peel Workshops|url=https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/info/workshops|access-date=2022-02-22|website=library.ualberta.ca}} Previous workshops have focused on miniature books, artists’ books, preservation and conservatorship, prairie postcards, and rare book forgeries.

Since 1987, the Peel librarians have acquired a rare book in recognition of each honorary degree recipient celebrated at convocation.{{Cite web|last=Helm|first=Richard|title=Earning a degree, and a vintage book|url=http://www.edmontonjournal.com/earning+degree+vintage+book/6831026/story.html|access-date=2020-08-13|website=www.edmontonjournal.com|language=en-ca}} Before each convocation ceremony, honorary degree recipients are celebrated at a private event, which is when they are introduced to the rare book purchased in their honour. The books are displayed in the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium for the duration of convocation ceremonies each year, and are then inscribed with a special nameplate and housed in Bruce Peel Special Collections.

{{Commons category|Bruce Peel Special Collections}}

• {{Official website|https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/}}
• [https://bpsclibrarynews.blogspot.com/ Official blog]
• [https://discoverarchives.library.ualberta.ca/bruce-peel-special-collections Archival collections finding aids]
• Digitized Bruce Peel Special Collections in the Internet Archive

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Category:University of Alberta

Category:Special collections libraries

Category:Libraries in Alberta

Category:Academic libraries in Canada

Category:University of Alberta buildings