In 2018, under the leadership of now President Emeritus Michael A. McRobbie, IU launched University Collections, part of a sustained effort to ensure that all of IU’s collections, regardless of size, location, or resource level, are properly preserved, housed, and made accessible to all members of the IU community, the general public, and scholars everywhere.
Where IU once was dominated by siloed collections, with many left without significant resources to support proper stewardship, University Collections seeks to bring a newfound unity. This fresh vision provides all collections, no matter their size or geographic location, with access to advocates who work to find ways to share resources, provide training opportunities, and assist in creating necessary plans and policies to ensure the safety and longevity of all collections. This new vision has already unearthed many previously unacknowledged collections across the state, aided collections during emergencies and moves, and enhanced exposure for IU's holdings.
The once disparate and isolated collections are becoming a cohesive, cooperative entity that holistically considers all aspects of collections preservation, stewardship, and public accessibility. Such an approach both reinforces the value of IU's most prestigious collections and elevates those little-known, but still very important, collections across the state. University Collections at McCalla, located in the historic McCalla School, is the centerpiece for these efforts, where collections from Bloomington and other IU campuses are brought into conversation with one another, including collections in the visual arts, humanities, media, and beyond.
University Collections staff creating an exhibit. Shown are Executive Director Heather Calloway, Associate Director Brian Woodman, and Administrative and Project Coordinator Erica Kendall.