Making an Exhibition of Ourselves? Academic Libraries and Exhibitions Today

Recent years have seen a noticeable increase in the size and scope of libraries' exhibitions. To investigate this observation, interviews were conducted at five academic libraries: the Bodleian Library, British Library, Royal College of Physicians Library, Royal Society Library and Wellcome Library. Each reported growth in their involvement in exhibitions, which feature in their strategies. Exhibitions are increasingly aimed at the wider public, not necessarily with the target of increasing user numbers.Participants reported growing exhibition loan activity, yet there are no initiatives in the library sector to promote this. Investigation found that the sector has not developed practice to evaluate library exhibitions, and most participants did not have established means of doing so. Library professionals are also not formally prepared for involvement in exhibitions. Although practice from the museum sector can be used by libraries, they also face challenges specific to their exhibitions.This paper argues for both the closer integration of library and museum professionals, and further research into library-sector-specific issues. Exhibitions can be a valid and valuable undertaking for libraries, but more research is needed if they are to benefit fully from them, especially if they are using exhibitions as an example of public outreach.