With the start of the new school year, I always like to provide an introduction to Special Collections & Archives operations so that ZSR will be better informed about our Team. Here is the update for 2023-2024!

First, we frequently hear: “So, I have a question for Special Collections & Archives, who should I contact first?” The best place to start is archives@wfu.edu, your go-to for reference questions, requesting instruction for classes, or donations. Messages sent to this email go to Emily, Megan, Rebecca, and Tanya, so we can make sure something is handled even if one of us is out of the office. We will reopen to walk-in traffic on August 28 from 10-4, but we do encourage researchers and visitors to schedule an appointment. As more of our collections reside off-site or elsewhere in ZSR, it can take time for us to ensure we are completely prepared for visits. As a reminder, our main public space for researchers and the public is Room 625, Reynolds Wing, Z. Smith Reynolds Library.

Each SCA Team member has responsibilities where they focus their attention and here is a general description for what each Team member does as well as their position title:

• Stephanie Bennett (Collections Archivist) processes collections, supervises students working with collections, and oversees the creation of collection finding aids, which are then made available online.

• Craig Fansler (Preservation Librarian) creates boxes for rare books, rehouses collections, and completes minor repairs on both SCA and General Collection materials.

• Ashelee Gerald Hill (Processing Archivist) is responsible for our collection accessions (keeping track of all the material incoming to SCA) and is inventorying several of our larger collections.

• Emily Houlditch (Reference and Processing Assistant) helps research many of our reference questions and compiles research resources for our patrons.

• Rebecca Petersen May (Public Services Archivist) coordinates our introductory instruction efforts (including Lib100), answers reference questions, schedules the Room 625 reference desk, and coordinates many of our outreach programs.

• Megan Mulder (Special Collections Librarian and Rare Books Curator) does in-depth instruction and works closely with faculty to integrate our rare books and SCA collections into their curriculum. She also creates original catalog records for SCA materials.

• Melde Rutledge (Digital Services Librarian) oversees reproduction requests from our patrons and coordinates our many SCA digitization projects.

• Beth Tedford (Cataloging Assistant) reviews catalog records and creates copy catalog records for SCA materials.

• Alayna Veasey (Collections Assistant), moves, shifts, and reshelves our collections and coordinates collection transport back and forth to the ZSR Off-site Facility (where she also assists the Public Services Team).

• In addition to managing and supervising the department (see our SCA Goals here), Tanya Zanish-Belcher (Director) appraises collections, interacts with on-campus and external donors about collection donations or transfers, and develops outreach events and projects with campus and external partners.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, we also have two part-time donor-funded positions based in SCA. Marcia Phillips (Metadata Technician) is creating descriptions for our Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)-funded digitized audiotapes for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Documentary Film graduate student Parker Beverly (Oral History Coordinator) oversees the collecting of oral history interviews (by herself, the SCA Team, and participating classes) and is working to implement our brand new oral history platform, TheirStory.

Finally, we could not do everything we do without our student assistants who process collections, scan materials, and assist with reference.

Anyone with questions can go to the SCA website or send requests to archives@wfu.edu. We will also keep you posted on our upcoming fall 2023 events/exhibits/programs and hope to see you soon!