ARLIS/NA 32nd Annual Conference

Roosevelt Hotel, New York, New York, April 15-20, 2004

 

Reference and Information Services Section (RISS)

Business Meeting, Saturday, April 17, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

 

Vice-Moderator:  Ellen Kempf, University of California, Santa Barbara

(Moderator, Erika Dowell, Indiana University, was unable to attend the conference)

 

ARLIS/NA Executive Board Representative: Suzy Frechette, St. Louis Public Library

 

Recorder: Rebecca Kranz, Wake Forest University

 

Ellen Kempf read the Section’s purpose: “To study and analyze current issues, trends, and developments relating to the provision of services to art library users; to gather and disseminate information concerning the interactions between art librarians and their clientele within the context of serving the informational and educational needs of library users; to disperse information about techniques, methods, and trends in the field of reference and information services to all interested art librarians and others interested in the field; to develop a system of current awareness in reference and information services of Section members, as well as other Society Divisions, Sections, and Round Tables, which affect the provision of reference and information service in an art library setting; to recommend to the Executive Board appropriate actions and projects which may serve as effective means of accomplishing this charge.”

 

The meeting’s agenda and minutes from the 2003 meeting in Baltimore were passed out.  The members in attendance approved the 2003 minutes.

 

Election of New Officers:

Moderator: Ellen Kempf, University of California, Santa Barbara

Vice-Moderator: Anne Haas, Bowdoin College

Update Column Editor: Laura Graveline, Dartmouth College

 

A call for a new unofficial Webmaster was made, as Erika Dowell (the current Webmaster) is leaving art libraries.  Annette Haines, University of Michigan, offered to serve in this role.

 

Artist Files Working Group:

The group was assembled to improve access to various libraries’ holdings of these resources.  Erika Dowell had asked for volunteers to form this group at last year’s RISS meeting.  Jon Evans, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, offered to give a report in Erika’s absence.  He spoke of the possible creation of a directory or union catalog of individual institutional holdings.  It could be a Web-based directory grouped by region.  A survey could be sent to ARLIS-L seeking information on what types of collections are out there.  The feedback would determine the structure of the information. Who will gather this information?  Should there be regional representatives to oversee the process?  Chapters are limited due to their changing structures.  What constitutes an artist file?  Jon is happy to head this group and called for interested individuals to contact him.

 

Linda Seckelson, Metropolitan Museum of Art, reported that member libraries of RLG had submitted reports on such holdings.  RLG’s AAG (Art & Architecture Group) had reported on the findings of artist and vertical file holdings.  Linda mentioned Amy Lucker, Harvard University, as the Chair of the AAG, and the need to keep abreast of further discussions on this.

 

Jon Evans noted that the structure of the directory has not been determined, but RLG involvement would be ideal.  At the moment, the group is starting with names of individuals and groups (museums).

 

Linda suggested including such institutional collections at the folder level in OCLC or RLIN.  Several attendees emphasized the need to add to OCLC, in particular.  But, budgets and staff time to do this are both in short supply.

 

Nina Stephenson, University of New Mexico, asked how many members were from RLG libraries.  The majority was not, so contributing only to RLIN would not be useful.

 

Cheryl Siegel, Vancouver Art Gallery, mentioned a Canadian model from the 1970s, where holdings were reported to the National Library.  A printed catalog was produced, which is now online and updated by the National Gallery.  This may be a model for us, and it is worth talking to someone at the Gallery.

 

Lee Sorenson, Duke University, asked about the new uses of the Society’s website.  Was this type of list initially there?  How was it used exactly?  What about interlibrary loan implications for these materials?

 

Jon Evans added that ideally, the directory would be a marketing tool to make others aware of these resources and to have one place to search rather than in multiple locations.

 

Martha Walker, Cornell University, mentioned that there are different types of files.  Would we contact an institution for information on a particular artist?

 

Jon responded yes, that it would be a way to make contact with a particular institution.

 

Linda Seckelson wondered why would we need to create a separate apparatus.  If holdings were submitted to one of the utilities, OCLC/RLIN, it would not be practical to create a separate database.  She asked how many institutions represented in the room were not members of either utility.  Three hands were raised.

 

Amy Ciccone, University of Southern California, thought it might be challenging for staff to catalog artist and vertical files.

 

Jennifer Hehman, Indiana University, Indianapolis, noted that not all such records are listed in the utilities and some are incomplete.  There are a lot of records out there that may not be designated as artist files.  Her ARLIS chapter tried to undertake such a project several years ago (Ursula Kolmstetter, Indianapolis Museum of Art, was involved).  She thought this is something RISS should keep on with, and that using the ARLIS website in some way is a good idea.

 

Ruth Thomas, Boston University, suggested creating a form for institutions to input data.

 

For further information on this project or to submit suggestions, contact Jon Evans at jevans@mfah.org.

 

RISS-Produced Web-Based Directory of Free Internet Resources on the Arts:

Martha Walker, Cornell University, led the discussion, which had originated in Baltimore and at previous RISS meetings.  Shortly before the New York conference, Martha had sought feedback via ARLIS-L, and passed out an extensive list of these comments to the group.  There had been disagreement in the past as to what the directory/portal/gateway should include.  Martha read some of the pros and cons from the handout, as well a few particularly interesting statements.

 

Cons: the enormity of the project; how to organize it?; definition of what the directory

will be; not wanting to reinvent the wheel; evaluation criteria

 

Pros: positive PR; good advertisement for ARLIS; trusted authorities; professional

development tool; to reach new patrons; efficient way to stay up-to-date

 

Martha read up on different types of portals—have a real-time, interactive element—versus Web-based (subject) directories, which may have real-time components.  The definition of a portal is an evolving one.

 

Jeanne Brown, the incoming ARLIS president and Jack Robertson, the incoming Chair of the Publications Committee, may wish to support such a project and their commitment, especially the latter’s, would be very beneficial to the process.

 

Volunteers are needed.  Jennifer Hehman, Indiana University, Indianapolis, worked on a similar K-12 project (grant-supported), and noted that there are models out there to follow.  A Google search might be a way to start finding them.

 

Martha spoke to a preservation officer at Cornell who had mentioned an Internet portal tool kit that can check websites, pull links and maintain such research.  She asked the group if anyone had used such a service.

 

Jennifer Hehman thought that human intervention is still necessary and foundations, etc., might be willing to donate funds.

 

RISS needs to see if there is interest for this project and recruit volunteers willing to work on it.  Questions?

 

Liv Valmestad, University of Manitoba, mentioned a similar project in Los Angeles.

 

Linda Zieper, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, was worried that we might be duplicating efforts.  She mentioned various British projects underway, such as full cataloging of sites, HUMBUL, and Artifact. She is not sure if we need to produce a parallel project.

 

Debbie Sommer, University of California, Berkeley, thought that the subcommittee working on this project should determine whether we would be duplicating efforts by evaluating what is out there first.

 

Lucie Stylianopoulos, University of Virginia, stressed that we should take advantage of Jack Robertson’s offer to assist us with this, and that the task force should definitely work with him.

 

Martha Walker noted that the branding is important and should be a constant theme.  Ultimately, the project could be an initiative of ARLIS groups outside RISS too.  There may be other such discussions going on.  How to organize and present it?

 

Ellen Kempf asked for volunteers and suggested contacting Martha if interested; Martha thought that meeting right after this RISS meeting would be ideal.  Martha’s e-mail address: maw6@cornell.edu.

 

“They Never Covered This in Library School”:

Barbara Prior, Oberlin College, spoke about the workshop offered at this year’s conference on the Western Middle Ages (in two parts).  The first part was sponsored by RISS, and Barbara wanted to recognize the committee made up of Barbara Polowy, Smith College; Terrie Wilson, Michigan State University; Linda Zieper, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth; Sara Harrington, Rutgers University; Laurel Bliss, Princeton University; and, Lou Adrean, Cleveland Museum of Art.

 

Introductions of Incoming ARLIS President and Vice-President:

Jeanne Brown, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, incoming ARLIS President, and Margaret Webster, Cornell University, incoming ARLIS Vice-President, interrupted the RISS meeting to introduce themselves.  Margaret is a Program Co-Chair for the New York conference and would welcome feedback on the conference.  She is also the ARLIS Board Liaison for RISS and all section concerns for the Board can be forwarded to her.  May 31st is the deadline for conference proposals for the Houston conference (which are no longer sponsor-based), and meeting minutes also need to be submitted by this date to Ted Goodman.

 

Jeanne spoke about the strategic plan revision and mentioned the forum to take place after the membership meeting on Monday.  The Strategic Planning Task Force welcomes comments from the Membership regarding the Society’s strategic plan and wants to know where the Membership feels the Society is heading.  She also spoke about the revision of the ARLIS website, which will have a new design, improved navigation, and enhanced content.  This will be one of Jack Robertson’s major concerns in his position as Chair of the Publications Committee.

 

 

“They Never Covered This in Library School” (cont.):

Barbara Prior noted that the workshop was sold out and that five speakers were involved.  The workshop took place in New York Public Library’s new computer lab at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, which is a wonderful new facility for groups.  There seemed to be a greater emphasis on electronic resources this year, and less on print, but Barbara stressed that print resources should not be overlooked.  Perhaps this is something to consider for next year.  A new committee needs to be formed for next year’s workshop(s), so contact Barbara if interested at barbara.prior@oberlin.edu.

 

What to do with the materials from the workshops?  We could work with the Web group, as it would be nice to have a central place to find these things.  Perhaps these materials could have an ongoing presence on the new gateway the Section is hoping to develop.  Workshop materials will be distributed somehow (to be determined).  For the mean time, contact Barbara Polowy at Smith College, at bpolowy@smith.edu.

 

Proposals for next year’s “They Never Covered This in Library School,” workshop(s) in Houston were submitted by RISS meeting attendees:

 

  • Pre-Columbian/Latin American/Hispanic
  • Nation States/Indigenous peoples/Tribal/Anthropological
  • African/African-American/Diaspora
  • Islamic arts
  • Decorative arts
  • Architecture as a whole (a whole-day workshop)
  • Sales catalogs/Auctions/Gallery publications – managing, indexes, etc.
  • Performing arts for the fine arts librarian

 

The group brainstormed as far as what collections are located in the Houston area.  Who could speak?  Lucie Stylianopoulos thought we should take an approach towards the multi-cultural artist, which could include African, Pre-Columbian, etc.  SALALM (Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials) was mentioned, as was the Museum of Modern Art, New York (Latin American Modern and Contemporary Art bibliography), and photography possibilities (Peter Blank, Art Institute of Chicago).  A nearly unanimous vote was in favor of the Pre-Columbian/Latin American/Hispanic arts possibilities (a survey from Pre-Columbian to Contemporary).

 

Teaching Librarians in the Arts:

Rijn Templeton, University of Iowa, spoke about this discussion group, whose focus so far has been on teaching diverse learners, information literacy, etc.  She wondered if the group should join with RISS?  Should RISS be the umbrella group for this group?  Or, Peter Blank wondered if RISS should expand to include instruction issues?

 

Ellen Kempf will contact the ARLIS Board to have instruction become a more formal component of RISS.

 

New Business:

Ellen asked for projects, issues, session proposals from the floor, and announced the ARLIS/NA Members’ Exhibition being held at Queens College during the conference.

 

Mary Kay Johnsen, Carnegie Mellon University, suggested a session on information literacy.  Two current sessions in New York were mentioned: Instructing Diverse Learners, and Core Competencies.  Lee Sorensen, Duke University, mentioned CDARS (Carolina-Duke Art Resources), a resource for graduate students in art.  Debbie Sommer, University of California, Berkeley (a new member) spoke about publishing, and noted that some RISS members are on the Publications Committee; she emphasized the importance of having a RISS liaison to this group.  Edith Crowe, San Jose State University, added that her institution has established good core competencies for art.

 

Additional feedback, conference proposals, etc., may be submitted to Ellen Kempf at ekempf@library.ucsb.edu.

 

Film on the Image of the Librarian in the Movies:

Michiel Nijhoff, Stedelijk Museum, introduced and then showed his short film on the negative stereotypes associated with the image of the librarian.  He took fragments from both American and European films, and was working on his project when he came across the website, “Librarians in the Movies: An Annotated Filmography,” at http://emp.byui.edu/raishm/films/introduction.html, which he found useful.  Those interested in showing the film for educational purposes only, may contact him.