Hidden Treasures: Exploring Cal Poly Humboldt’s Special Collections

Tues., Aug. 4 & Thurs. Aug. 6, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Location: In person: On Campus

Cost: $35

With Camille Charette, Interim Special Collections Librarian

Step behind the scenes of the Cal Poly Humboldt Library’s Special Collections and discover the rich historical resources that document the people, cultures, and events of our region. In this hands-on OLLI class, participants will be introduced to rare books, archival manuscripts, photographs, maps, newspapers, and unique local records that bring Humboldt County’s past to life.

After an orientation to the collection and guidance on how to handle and interpret primary sources, students will work on a small research project focused on a topic in Humboldt history, using materials from the archives. Along the way, you’ll learn practical strategies for locating, evaluating, and using primary sources in your own research.

By the end of the class, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the breadth of resources in Special Collections and the confidence to begin exploring your own historical questions.

• Summer Camp Class Schedule at a Glance

Registration opens for OLLI members on May 27. Non-members may register starting May 29.

Camille Charette

Camille Charette is the interim special collections librarian at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she provides research support, instruction, and stewardship for archival and special collections materials. Her work focuses on archival pedagogy, responsible access to cultural heritage collections, and teaching with primary sources. Camille holds an MLIS from San José State University and an M.A. in philosophy from Columbia University. Her research explores archives instruction, epistemic justice in reference work, and ethical approaches to cultural heritage stewardship. She has published in venues including Open Praxis and the Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, and presents regularly at national conferences such as the American Library Association Annual Conference and the Rare Book and Manuscript Section.