Overview

Welcome to the official website of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). RBMS strives to represent and promote the interests of librarians who work with rare books, manuscripts, and other types of special collections. If you happened on our website because you are interested in finding out more about your old books, please refer to our guide titled "Your Old Books" for some basic information and references. If you are a new member of RBMS or are interested in becoming one, please refer to our membership information page.

News & Events

• Winners of the 2010 Katharine Kyes Leab & Daniel J. Leab Exhibition Awards announced [posted 6/20/2010]
• The 2010 RBMS Implementation Report of ACRL's Strategic Plan is now available [posted 6/15/2010]
• Draft ACRL/RBMS Guidelines for Borrowing and Lending Special Collections Materials for Research Use and Exhibition under discussion at the ALA Annual Meeting preliminary hearing are available for review [posted 6/9/2010]
• RBMS ALA Annual Meeting times and locations (June 25-30, 2010) [posted 4/26/2010]
• RBMS announces its 2010 ALA Conference Program, To Catch a Thief: Cataloging and the Security of Special Collections [posted 2/2010]
• Registration is open for Join or Die: Collaboration in Special Collections, the 2010 RBMS Preconference [posted 2/9/2010]