A History of Library Exhibitions and Their Development

Abstract

Exhibitions have been an important aspect of librarianship throughout history. Without an understanding of their past, the current efforts and impacts of exhibitions are undervalued. Through a literature review that focuses on the history of exhibitions with roots in Europe and related contemporary issues in the United States, the authors argue that exhibitions are part of a library’s identity. They also make recommendations for how to document library exhibitions for the future, including following library exhibition best practices, forging institutional collaborations, and expanding librarian professional development opportunities.