Person reading a book sitting at a table.

Photos by Robert DeSanto.

The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library serves as a nexus for discovery and knowledge, providing over 150,000 students, researchers, and visitors access to its holdings annually. As associate director for special collections instruction and research services, Jae Rossman, Ph.D., and her team play a vital role in this mission by supporting education and research activities.

Rossman began her career at Yale Library as a special collections librarian at the Arts Library, now the Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library, which supports the Schools of Art, Architecture, Drama, and the History of Art Department. Before Yale Library, she worked at the libraries of Brandeis University and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She is also a historian of and researcher in library science. Her most recent publication is “Access to Special Collections and Archives: Bridging Theory and Practice” (2024).

Could you describe your main responsibilities?

At the Beinecke, I lead a team providing instruction and research services. I also collaborate with colleagues across the Yale Library system and cultural heritage institutions to create an environment that supports teaching and learning with Yale’s collections.

Our education program team coordinates the use of collection materials in the classroom and partners with over 40 subject-expert librarians, archivists, and curators from across Yale Library to develop collections-based instruction. Our teaching librarians and Beinecke Education Program staff support more than 500 classes per academic year. We also provide ongoing research services to students who need additional support related to their coursework or areas of study. During Yale’s academic breaks, we extend our services to other area institutions, including Southern Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven.

As part of my role, I serve on university committees. While each cultural heritage institution at Yale — such as the Yale University Art Gallery — maintains its own identity and mandate, we maintain strong communication and share common goals in our work. Within the library system, we are developing shared best practices and teaching collaborations across all the libraries with special collections. In addition to the Arts Library and Medical Library, these include the Yale Divinity Library, the Lewis Walpole Library, and the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library.

Special collections librarianship encompasses the work of librarians, archivists, and other specialists who manage these unique materials.

Special collections librarianship encompasses the work of librarians, archivists, and other specialists who manage these unique materials.

Describe what special collections are and their significance?

Special collections are materials housed in dedicated library spaces with specific preservation and protection measures. These materials hold particular significance — whether cultural, monetary, or due to their fragility — which warrants the additional effort we invest in their preservation and long-term accessibility.

Special collections librarianship encompasses the work of librarians, archivists, and other specialists who manage these unique materials. Behind the scenes, these professionals describe and digitize materials, do research on and acquire materials, create programming, and develop specialized housing solutions for fragile items of diverse formats and time periods, all of which ensure their preservation and continued public access.

While our primary mission is to serve the university community, we equally value public access. Our service model may appear similar to a museum’s, as we curate educational exhibitions and carefully preserve materials for scholars and the public. However, we remain distinctly a library, allowing visitors to directly touch many materials, an experience that sets us apart from traditional museums.

What do you think it means for Yale to have a library like the Beinecke?

The public is welcome to visit the Beinecke 7 days a week. Thousands of objects from Beinecke and other special collections are available online through Yale Library Digital Collections.

The Beinecke, housed in this iconic building, stands as one of the nation’s premier special collections libraries, with holdings internationally recognized for their scholarly significance. We attract researchers from across the globe, establishing Yale as a vital center for humanistic inquiry. We take pride in nurturing the next generation of scholars while serving as responsible stewards of our collections, helping to develop and implement best practices in our field.

The Beinecke is one part of Yale’s cultural heritage institutions. Other specialized collections are integrated within professional schools and their supporting libraries. For example, the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library houses the Medical Historical Library. Both centralized and embedded models advance teaching and research through access to primary sources.

Special collections are materials housed in dedicated library spaces with specific preservation and protection measures.

Special collections are materials housed in dedicated library spaces with specific preservation and protection measures.

What challenges do you face when working with rare books and manuscripts in an educational setting?

A lingering misconception suggests that special collections are reserved solely for graduate students and advanced scholars — a professional attitude that dates to the mid-20th century. Today, we embrace our role as a public resource, welcoming all visitors and actively working to communicate this inclusive approach.

One of our challenges is helping visitors understand why certain books cannot leave the library while ensuring they know how to access and use these materials effectively. Most students arrive on campus without prior experience using special collections. Our staff is dedicated to guiding them through the simple procedures required to access our materials, whether for academic research or personal interest.

What do you find most rewarding about introducing individuals to rare and unique materials?

There’s a special joy in watching students’ faces light up when they connect with meaningful materials. Even more rewarding is empowering them to navigate the library independently. The irony isn’t lost on me that my greatest satisfaction comes from helping students outgrow their need for my guidance — seeing them confidently explore the collections, coordinate their own research visits, and engage with materials on their own terms is extremely rewarding.

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