This story from the Archives and Archivists listserv is one of the most horrifying stories I have heard in some time. In fact, I cannot find the words to comment on it. To say the least, it has started an interesting thread among archivists and librarians on the list about how to deal with well-intentioned (if that is the correct phrasing in this case) vandals.
Add comment January 20th, 2004
For some time, I have thought that there were not archives and special collections weblogs because archivists and special collections librarians, simply, were not interested in the format. But, now, I am re-thinking this idea.
In an effort to be better informed, I subscribed to the Archives and Archivists listserv over the weekend. For years, I used to be a subscriber, but the sad fact about lists is that listserv messages quickly become additional items vying for time and attention in an already crowded in-box.
When I originally subscribed to this list years ago, I had never heard of RSS, aggregators, or weblogs. So, returning to the list this weekend, I had a new perspective. What struck me was that much of what I saw posted could easily and more effectively be posted on a weblog. In fact, it can be argued that archivists already know how to write weblogs; they just have not been given (or convinced to use) the technology.
RAIN (Records/Archives in the News) is an excellent weekly roundup of news stories involving records management and archives. Peter Kurilecz, a Virginia-based certified records manager and archivist, gathers links for stories relevant to archivists, records managers, and curators and posts the links with excerpts to the Archives and Archivists listserv each week. It is an incredible resource, but, as a digest-format subscriber, I used to dread RAIN posts. Now, however, I see all sorts of potential. Imagine a RAIN weblog with RSS–a bookmarkable URL, archives and records management news in a subscriber’s news aggregator instead of lost in his/her e-mail inbox, an easily searchable archive of posts, permalinks, and much more.
But, what does it take to make this happen (excluding creating the weblog myself)? Librarians, in general, it seems, are adopting RSS and weblog technology, slowly but surely. Yet, I would argue that many of the weblog workshops for librarians are “preaching to the choir” of tech and reference librarians. There is little in either the titles of these workshops or the methods of advertising them to convince archivists and special collections librarians that these workshops are useful or relevant for their field.
Is anyone conducting workshops especially for archivists? Is anyone working with archivist groups and associations on this? Is anyone interested in this at all?
[Updated 1.30.04: corrected Peter Kurilecz's title. Also, see my lengthy response in the comments section]
9 comments January 19th, 2004
The Richard F. Wright Jazz Archive at the University of Kansas, according to this story from the Lawrence Journal-World, is struggling to stay open. The collection of more than 21,000 recordings, books, and periodicals has run out of funding and will be closed to the public (except by appointment).The archive’s history has been a troubled one since the 1990s when it was transferred from the University of Kansas’s library system to the school’s Department of Music and Dance. Orphaned, the archive was left with neither adequate funding nor staffing to catalogue, preserve, and provide access to the materials.
This article cites copyright laws, which restrict copies of recordings from being made for patrons for personal use or research, as a possible source of a lack of student interest in the collection. However, with 95% of the collection uncatalogued and no staff available for in-depth research assistance, it is not surprising that students are not making better use of the collection–a fact of which everyone at the archive is well aware.
At any rate, this is a very sad weekend story. I hope that grant money is found for the collection soon.
Related links
Add comment January 17th, 2004
This week (November 2-8) is Archives Week in New England. There are not many events listed on the New England Archivists (NEA) events page, but I am sure that many local archives and repositories have events planned.SCoSAA (Simmons College’s student chapter of the Society of American Archivists) is sending out a daily archives-related link to members of its listserv. Today’s link was to the J. Paul Getty Museum and Research Institute, known for its vocabulary databases and provenance index, among other wonderful things.
I am still gathering my thoughts to post something about Works on Paper Weekend (which was last weekend). Although I did not buy anything at the book fair, I have many observations and thoughts (and some overheard gossip) to share. It may take me a while, however, to edit things down to a reasonable post size. With any luck, I will post something by this evening.
Add comment November 3rd, 2003
Before the end of this week, I must buy several volumes of poetry, preferably from a local independent bookseller. Why? As atonement for the fact that in the past few days I have read an entire 700 page anthology of poetry and several smaller poetry collections using the new Amazon full-text search feature.This does not seem right at all. But, I suppose in publishing (and apparently, in setting up copyright protection measures) no one thinks about poets. It sort of makes me reconsider my plan to get my act together and try to get published. But, then again, I never had the misconception that it would be possible to make a living as a poet anyhow.
While I am making Amazon confessions, I must also admit that I looked up pumpkin pie recipes, but I felt too guilty to actually use any of the recipes to make a pumpkin pie. Nonetheless, I should probably add a couple of cookbooks to my book shopping list as well.
Add comment October 28th, 2003