Sample interview questions: Can you provide an example of a time when you had to address issues of authenticity or provenance in relation to special collections items?
Sample answer:
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In my previous role as the Special Collections Librarian at the University of California, Berkeley, I encountered a situation where the authenticity of a rare manuscript was called into question. A researcher had come across the manuscript in our collection and believed it might be a previously unknown work by a renowned author. However, upon closer examination, I noticed several inconsistencies in the manuscript’s physical characteristics and handwriting, which raised doubts about its authenticity.
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To address this issue, I consulted with other experts in the field, including paleographers and literary scholars, to gain their insights. We conducted extensive research, comparing the manuscript to known works by the author and analyzing its language, style, and content. We also examined the manuscript’s provenance, tracing its ownership history to determine if there were any susp… Read full answer
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