"The Special Collection in Librarianship": Researching the History of Library Science Libraries

Abstract

Once all library schools accredited by the American Library Association had special libraries. Only a few exist today. This paper traces the rise and fall of the library science library and presents data on collections, staffing, budgets, services, and organizational structures. Based on primary sources, including school catalogs, surveys, and directories, as well as an analysis of the scant literature on the topic, a set of questions are developed for further research.