By Elizabeth Wertz, Library Volunteer

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Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of an academic library? Yes, there are plenty of books- but how are these books acquired, cataloged, and shelved? Beyond books, the library has a vast amount of material, spanning across electronic collections to special collections. And, of course, the library offers an array of services, from reference to circulation… But again, what does this all mean?! What do all of these various library departments do? And how do all of these individualized departments come together to operate an entire academic library?

Well, you’re in luck, because our latest blog post series, Behind the Scenes, will take you into, through, and around various departments of the Fordham University Libraries. Enjoy this super-exclusive backstage pass inside the academic library world!

Today, we sat down with Gabriella DiMeglio, Archives & Special Collections Librarian at the Fordham University Libraries.

What are some of your primary responsibilities as the Archives and Special Collections Librarian at Fordham University?

My primary responsibility is to preserve and develop the materials held in the Archives and Special Collections while promoting their exposure and facilitating access both within the University community and beyond. As the primary respondent to all research requests involving our holdings, I provide reference services for a diverse array of researchers including faculty, students, alumni, university colleagues, and members of the public. I also facilitate class visits for students and faculty to visit and interact with our collections and curate exhibitions that highlight the department’s holdings.

What led you to a career in archival and special collections work? Was there a specific experience that sparked your interest?

I learned about archival work for the first time while studying library science. I took an elective called Archives and Records: Practices and Principles with an amazing professor who had an obvious passion for her work in a University Archives setting. I took a couple more archival electives before graduating, and decided I had a strong interest in pursuing a career in the field. It was a bit of serendipity that landed me at Fordham as I was working part-time in Quinn Library while finishing my degree, and the position of Archives and Special Collections happened to open up at Walsh. I applied for the role in 2022, and I’ve been here ever since!

Can you explain the work done in the preservation lab?

Most of the preservation work at Walsh is done by my amazing colleague, Vivian Shen. Vivian has worked as the Preservation and Conservation Librarian for many years. She rehouses any materials with preservation concerns, including books in the circulating collections as well. She also does a lot of work preparing materials to go on exhibit and ensuring that they are protected during that process.

Do you have a favorite special collection, archive, or manuscript collection at Fordham?

My favorite is the Morgan Powell Collection. Morgan Powell was a Bronx-based historian, ecologist, landscape designer, gardener, and activist who dedicated his life to environmental justice and Black history. Both his work and his life were centered in the Bronx, where he organized and led free walking tours that linked African-American history to the rivers, waterways, and parks of the borough. Prior to his death in 2014, Powell left his personal archives to Fordham. The collection contains binders and notebooks full of research and planning for his tours, photographs, his own personal library, and much more. It’s an impressive and inspiring example of a personal archive that reflects the styles and passions of its creator.

Have you curated any Special Collections exhibits? What is that process like, and do you have a favorite exhibit you’ve worked on?

I’ve worked on a number of exhibitions since 2022, both as sole and co-curator. Since this is the most creative part of my role, I really enjoy the process. I try to keep an eye out for materials that I think are visually appealing. Often, I will come across something interesting while looking for something else. I’ll keep track of things like this and use them as inspiration when I’m planning a new exhibition. For example, I stumbled upon a collection of thank you cards made by schoolchildren that a professor had kept in his personal papers and eventually donated to the Archives. This inspired me to build an exhibition that could show them off, and so I began planning Curating Ourselves: The Power of Personal Archives. This was definitely my favorite exhibition to date, as it showcased a genre of archival collections that is close to my heart.

If you could create a new special collection at Fordham, what would it be and why?

I would love to see a collection dedicated to women’s history at Fordham. I’ve found that the telling of our institutional history can be very male-centered. This makes sense, since women weren’t always admitted to Fordham as undergrads and few held faculty positions for many of the earlier years. Still, there is a rich history of women’s experiences at the University and I think it would be interesting to have a collection whose materials focus on just that.

What are you most proud of in your department’s work?

I’m very proud of the variety of researchers that we support. We receive requests from all different types of people, with a wide range of research experience levels, and we do our very best to accommodate each of them. In my opinion, this is the most important part of the job. Ultimately, the point of preserving these records is so that people can access them.

If you could implement one major change or improvement in your department, what would it be?

More staff! With over 9,300 linear feet of materials, we could use a few more staff members to handle the processing and organization of our collections. We’re also working to create a more detailed inventory of our holdings that will be searchable by the public, which is a project that would speed up with a few more hands on deck.

What are some ways students and faculty can engage with the archives, even if they don’t consider themselves researchers?

I would encourage them to reach out to us at archives@fordham.edu. This is the most direct way to get a sense of materials we hold that are relevant to their research. And if they don’t have specific research interests, they can always browse our Digital Collections or the library catalog (making sure to narrow the location to Special Collections) for some inspiration!

What advice would you give to aspiring archivists or those interested in library science?

Come in with an open mind, and interact with as many different archives as you can. Be that as a visitor, researcher, volunteer, intern, employee, etc. You’ll find that each institution does things a little differently when it comes to organization and management. I came in with a bunch of expectations based on the things that I learned in my archival electives in library school, and many of those went out the window when I actually got to work. Of course, there are industry standards and principles to keep in mind and apply to your work. But I believe it’s important to approach each collection with a sense of curiosity and a consideration for the community that it serves.