Training librarians in the latest developments in heritage issues

Heritage collections in libraries have undergone considerable changes in recent years, with new formats for description, a considerable rise in digital material (native or otherwise), legal constraints, new online frameworks, and increasing interest from a broader cross-section of library users. At the same time, the decision to classify a given set of material as a heritage collection is increasingly falling to library professionals, who are expected to evaluate the significance of the material in their holdings rather than simply limiting heritage collections to old, rare, or precious items. Library staff therefore need to be aware of the new stakes at issue in managing heritage collections. This means devising and adapting specific training courses for staff in charge of such collections, looking at issues such as specialisation, starting a new job, and ongoing training to keep up to date with scientific and technological developments.
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