New name and new email address for University Collections and Museums.
Following the merger of Libraries and Museums during 2020-22, the directorate of University Collections and Museums was established from the previously separate Special Collections division of the Library and the Museum Collections Unit. You may have already noticed in communications from Libraries and Museums that we refer to University Collections, but we haven’t, until now, specifically announced the change of name.
The new name of University Collections and Museums identifies the archive, rare book, museum and photographic collections, collectively called University Collections; and the physical Museums that we are responsible for as well as the specific engagement and exhibition activity that is focussed around the museum venues. We no longer use the name Special Collections, a term that I know is still used in some parts of the HE library sector, but a term that we feel is not really understood by a majority of our users, and does not reflect how we think about our collections in St Andrews.
In line with this new structure and new name we are now transitioning to a new email address – [email protected] . This will replace both the SpecColl@ and ReadRoom@ email addresses. Although SpecColl@ and ReadRoom@ will not be cut off immediately, please do start using the UniColls@ email for enquiries about the collections, making bookings to see material in the reading room, and making requests for teaching. [email protected] will remain as the main address for enquiries specific to visiting or attending events at one of the museum sites, as well as for collaborating on museum-based activities (eg. exhibitions).
We are also doing some work, which we hope will be completed over the summer, to update the Libraries and Museums website, both to improve user experience and to reflect the new structure and naming. The term Special Collections will not be appearing on the website once this work has been done, but you will still find information on these collections and museum collections under the banner of University Collections.