UVa Library Press Releases 1999 - 2000
U.Va. LIBRARY CHOSEN HOST FOR NHPRC FELLOW
Contact: Michael Plunkett, director of Special Collections at (804) 924-3998 or e-mail: mfp@virginia.edu
March 3, 2000 - The University of Virginia Library Special Collections Department was chosen to host a National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Fellowship in Archival Administration for the 2000-2001 academic year.
As the host institution, the department will train the Fellow in administrative responsibilities in the department and the Library. The Fellow will study and develop a plan for moving the collections of the department to the new Albert H. Small Special Collections Library that will be built adjacent to the current location in Alderman Library. Moving the collections will be a large endeavor considering their size. Special Collections administers over 237,000 rare books; 3,500 maps; 4,000 broadsides; 133,960 photographs and prints; 9,600 reels of microfilm; nearly 90,000 microfiche; and substantial holdings of audio recordings and motion picture film; in addition to manuscript holdings of over 10.2 million items and the University Archives of over 2.5 million items.
Established by Congress in 1934, the NHPRC is a 15-member body, chaired by the Archivist of the United States, and composed of representatives of the three branches of the Federal government and of professional associations of archivists, historians, documentary editors, and records administrators. Through grants and programs such as the fellowship, the NHPRC aims to educate and encourage the use and preservation of documentary resources relating to United States history. The NHPRC views the fellowship as an opportunity for professional archivists to broaden their work training, and for the host institution to benefit from the experience gained by the Fellow.
Institutions apply through a competitive grant process to host a Fellow. The U.Va. Library Special Collections Department was chosen because it will expose the Fellow to a wide variety of archival administrative experiences, as well as offer formal management or supervisory training at the University. Past host institutions include New York University, Cornell University, University of Vermont, and Princeton University among others.
"We are both honored and thrilled to have been chosen by the NHPRC as this year‰s host institution," said Director of Special Collections Mike Plunkett. "We look forward to working with the recipient of the fellowship in what we believe will be a mutually beneficial relationship."
The NHPRC is currently accepting applications for the fellowship, which is set to begin in late summer or early fall of 2000.
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