RBMS: An Overview

Abstract

A look over the history of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) is instructive. Since its inception in 1955 as a committee of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)—it became a Section in 1958—it has demonstrated an unflagging devotion to an annual conference addressing the issues of rare books and manuscripts acquisition and management and to the preparation of professional tools. The group’s first program, held in Philadelphia on 5 July 1955, addressed the topic of buying rare books and manuscripts. Its speakers were Mary A. Benjamin and Jacob Zeitlin, two distinguished members of the . . .