Annual
Report
(2003)
March 1, 2004
Submitted by Paul Glassman
& Debra Kruse, co-chairs
paul.glassman@hofstra.edu;
dkruse@risd.edu
Telephone (516) 463-5963
Facsimile (516) 463-6387
Committee members
Paul Glassman, editor, Occasional
Papers, & Debra Kruse, co-chairs
Judy Dyki, co-editor, Art
Documentation
Jonathan Franklin, ARLIS/NA Web
site editor
Ted Goodman, administrative
documents editor
Jennifer Hehman, Bibliographic
Notes column editor, ARLIS/NA Update
Eileen Markson, copy editor, Art Documentation
Joan Stahl, reviews editor, Art Documentation
Terrie L. Wilson,
member-at-large
Linda Zieper, editor, ARLIS/NA
Update
Leadership
update
Jack Robertson, incoming chair
Activities
ARLIS/NA Web site—The chairs
served on a task force headed by Jeanne M. Brown, ARLIS/NA
vice-president/president-elect, to explore options for the development of the
electronic portal to information on the society.
The chairs evaluated a prototype developed by a student at the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas, and provided recommendations of four association Web sites
that could serve as templates for the structure and composition of a revised
society Web site.
The chairs produced an operating plan addressing the following areas:
▪ Committee vacancies
▪
Online listing of reporting schedule for Update
▪ Timetable for link checking the ARLIS/NA Web site
▪ Cooperative publishing
▪ Interagency collaboration
▪ Occasional papers
▪ Advertising
▪ Design of ARLIS/NA Web site
▪ Electronic publishing
ARLIS/NA Update
The current Update
formats have been a success: a plain text Web, put into HTML and posted
instantaneously by Jonathan Franklin, the AWS editor, and a simple two-column
print version, essentially ready to print, sent to Michael Birklein for the
insertion of the masthead and dispatch to the printer. The editor announces the
availability of each new issue on the Society Web site. Occasionally
contributors have sent in corrections or changes to their columns once they’ve
seen the Web version. Jonathan has been very willing to incorporate such changes
in the Web version and a short delay between the posting of the Web version and
the transmission of the print version to ion communications means that the print
version is correct. Because this system seems efficient, cost-effective, and
popular with the membership, the editor has not yet convened the committee asked
to investigate newsletter software packages.
The one issue that arose on ARLIS-L was a discussion of the decision to put the
current issue in the “members only” section of the AWS. Some questioned why
the publication should be restricted in that way. (The answer: a benefit of
membership). Another issue was the password system of gaining access to the
“members only” section. Members forget the password. Perhaps it might be
possible either to make that section of the Web site recognize members’ e-mail
addresses or to add a system of supplying lost passwords by e-mail, like
those available on most commercial sites.
Art Documentation
Spring and fall issues 2003 were published.
Beginning with this issue of Art Documentation, the annual index will no longer be a part of the print publication. With the reduction to a semi-annual publication schedule and the availability of indexing in various commercial services, it was determined that the annual print index served a limited purpose. Art Documentation editors, however, are currently exploring options for a Web-based retrospective index to provide improved access to current and past articles to better serve our readers.
The chairs asked, at the suggestion of the executive board liaison to the committee, that current Society Circle supporters be acknowledged in each issue.
Electronic
licensing
In advance of its 2004 meeting
the committee will conduct a virtual discussion of the merits of a proposal from
EBSCO Publishing to license Art
Documentation.
Electronic
publishing
In advance of its 2004 meeting, the committee will discuss online possibilities for a pilot program in electronic publishing, beginning with an advance or retrospective article from Art Documentation.
Occasional Papers
Occasional Paper #14, The Library and the Accreditation Process in Design Disciplines, was published in December 2003. The committee and the executive board approved publication of Occasional Paper #15: Ancient Greek Costume Studies. Completion and publication are expected in mid-2005.
Facilities Standards for Art Libraries and
Visual Resources Collections
Publication of this title on the ARLIS/NA Web site, along with the creation of an addendum, will be discussed online and placed on the agenda for the Publications Committee's April meeting in New York.
Board-requested tasks
The position description for the ARLIS Web site editor was updated and posted on ARLIS-L in anticipation of interviews at the annual conference in New York in April. Three strong applications were received, in addition to one inquiry.
Strategic plan action items
1.
Strengthen
Occasional Papers (OP) program by establishing specifications including style
sheet and design templates, initiate regular promotion of all in-print OPs, and
financial analysis on proposed new OPs. (I F)
The editor established specifications, a style sheet, and design templates
for the series, promotes all in-print issues in Art Documentation regularly, and provides a business plan for all
proposed new Occasional Papers.
2.
Create
a proactive plan for producing more ARLIS/NA publications electronically as
downloadable files as well as Web-accessible sites. (I F)
This will be explored in advance of the 2004 meeting, with the goal of
submitting a proposal to the executive board at that time.
3.
Create
guidelines and procedures for publishing pre-conference program and session
summaries, as well as posting conference individual papers, session reports and
full conference proceedings. (I F)
This falls within the purview of the newly established position of
administrative documents editor.
Issues
for the executive board
▪ Timely updating of members' directory online
▪ Pilot program in electronic publishing on the ARLIS/NA Web site
▪ Evaluation of the EBSCO proposal for electronic licensing in concert with the committee's recommendation
▪ Re-design of the Web site, with professional design services employed for the development of a design template