John A. Schweitzer Gallery Exhibit Policy

Purpose

This policy applies to the exhibit of all archival and special collections materials from the holdings of Archives and Special Collections, Western Libraries. It governs their use in the John A. Schweitzer Gallery at the Archives and Research Collections Centre.

Exhibit Approval

Exhibit approval will be made by Archives and Special Collections’ archivists and/or librarians. To discuss your exhibit project, please contact Archives and Special Collections at archives.services@uwo.ca .

Exhibit Criteria

  • ASC holdings should be in stable physical condition, and their display should not result in any physical damage or deterioration.
  • Exhibits shall be based on their research significance, relevance to academic programs, potential educational value, or potential outreach value.
  • Exhibits may be created as experiential learning projects for classroom assignments or independent study.
  • Priority may be given to items not previously exhibited or those relevant to ongoing campus events, academic research, or curriculum.
  • Exhibit of material outside of ASC’s holdings is subject to approval.

Responsibility of Exhibit Organizer

  • All individuals involved in the planning, curation, or oversight of exhibits must adhere to this policy and any accompanying procedures.
  • Violations and concerns regarding the handling or display of materials should be promptly reported to ASC staff.
  • Each exhibit shall be documented by the exhibit organizer through photographs and descriptive labels to provide context and facilitate scholarly inquiry.
  • Cataloging information, including item descriptions, call numbers, item numbers, provenance details, and historical significance, shall be made accessible to exhibit visitors via signage and captions.
  • Exhibit captions and signage shall be created using standards established by Western Libraries to support accessibility.

Duration and Rotation

The duration of exhibits shall be determined based on the physical nature of the materials, with consideration given to preservation requirements and best practices, but shall not exceed four months. Periodic rotation of exhibited items is done to ensure continued engagement and to prevent overexposure to visible light, ultraviolet radiation, and other environmental stressors. Ordinarily, exhibits shall be two to four months in duration and align with the academic terms.

John A. Schweitzer Gallery

  • Public space at the entrance to the Archives and Research Collections Centre’s Reading Room
  • Five enclosed, lockable glass and wooden display cabinets, suitable for exhibit of regular-sized rare book, maps, and archival materials.
  • Use of this space includes the availability of acrylic stands, book pillows, and other approved display supplies.

Publicity

  • Exhibitors will supply ASC staff with an exhibit description suitable for ASC social media accounts
  • Information about your exhibit will be added to the Western Libraries events web page upon the exhibit’s completion.

Created: December 2024