Award: Silver

Institution: University of Alberta

Title of Entry: Dancik Collection at Bruce Peel Special Collections

About this Entry: The Dancik Collection at Bruce Peel Special Collections video was developed as a solution to a problem that many special collections libraries face. How do we persuade collectors that our library is the ideal place to house their most treasured possessions? This challenge is compounded by the fact that collectors are often neither alumni nor local; their familiarity with the library is minimal. We developed the Dancik video as a way of giving potential donors a vicarious experience of donating a collection. The video follows Bruce Dancik, a donor who has given over the years hundreds of rare angling books and ephemera to the library. By blending narration and storytelling with stunning visuals from the library, we are able to trace each step of the donation process, highlighting the ways in which staff at the Peel library handle, restore, catalogue, house and display these precious objects. The video can be used in face to face meetings with donors abroad, or as part of a follow-up in the prospect cultivation process. As a bonus, since the video features a significant donor, the video acts as a unique stewardship experience, thanking Bruce and his partner for their gift.