The Next Chapter: Rare Books in Modern Times 

Millions of books are contained in 21st-century libraries, museums, archives, and special collections. Those defined as rare may be historically significant, scarce, unusual or innovative in format, or otherwise unique. The evolution from handwritten text to printed volume and digital page is indicative of cultural and intellectual growth and parallels improvements in the use and care of books. The book in modern times is a source of knowledge and a work of art. This two-day program will explore the definition of the rare book within the context of its physical history and current preservation concerns. Presenters will also address ways to engage the public with rare book collections in conservation work, social media, and exhibition planning.

Topics will include:

• Identification and description of historical bindings
• Preservation priorities and conservation issues for rare books in the digital age
• Objectives in targeting volumes for conservation treatment
• Selection for digitization
• Rare book exhibition planning and interpretation

Major funding for this program was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), with additional support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

For more than 125 years, the Newberry Library has been building, preserving, and providing access to an extensive collection of books, maps, music, and other printed and manuscript materials related to various fields within the humanities. This cultural heritage is available to anyone who is at least 16 years of age and who has a research topic supported by the Newberry's collecting areas; meanwhile, extensive cataloging and digitization projects make an increasing portion of the Newberry collection accessible to remote users around the world. 

The Newberry collection's special strengths include maps, travel, and exploration; Indigenous cultures of North and South America; the history of the book; the Renaissance and early modern world; American history and culture; Chicago and the Midwest; genealogy and local history; music and the performing arts; and the history of religion. Four program centers - on the history of cartography, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, the Renaissance, and American history and culture - connect these strengths to the scholarly community, as do a large fellowships program and professional conferences. Educational activities serving the public began in the 1890s; today they involve exhibitions, continuing education seminars, professional development programs for high school teachers, panel discussions, concerts, book talks, two semester-long undergraduate seminars, and many other activities and events.