Expand opportunities to explore the MIT Institute Archives & Special Collections library

As a student of Media in Cultural Context (21L.715) this past fall, I had the opportunity to visit the MIT Special Collections library a few times over the course of the semester, for viewings of specific rare books such as MIT’s copy of The Nuremburg Chronicle and for an extended research project. While the collection is open for the MIT community as well as outside researchers to view, I feel I speak for the undergraduate MIT population when I say that many students do not know the collections exist or that they are easily accessible. I propose for more opportunities to be available (more literature, CMS, STS, etc. classes) for a directed and curated way to expose more students to the treasures that can be found in the rare books collection. Technical classes may even be able to visit the collections to see Newton’s or other manuscripts in person, for example. A lot can be gathered from the way scientists laid out their thoughts through notes and diagrams. Also, increased promotion, tours, or events in the Special Collections library would encourage even more members of the MIT community to explore official records of the institute, and the variety of the rare (scientific) books and manuscripts MIT holds in its possession.