ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 5 1 6 / C&KL News A t the Crossroads: Assessing and responding to change Highlights o f ACRL programs at ALA’s A n n u a l Conference: P artII A djusting to change, making room for m ul­ ticulturalism , a n d assuring c o n tin u e d progress, both technological and social w ere som e of the issues covered by ACRL at ALA’s 112th A nnual C onference in N ew O rleans. Highlights of som e ACRL program s are given below; part one appeared in September. (See the Septem ber issue for information on order­ ing audiotapes of selected program s.) The role o f libraries in conceptualizing Am erican history “Portraits of Louisiana: Em powering Commu­ nities through Diversity,” a multi-media pro­ gram presented by the Anthropology and Soci­ ology Section, was set within the larger debate current in American society concerning w ho w e are and how to conceptualize our history. Four speakers discussed the docum entation of selected groups, the role of libraries and ar­ chives in that endeavor, and the im portance of that role tow ards resolving the debate. Joint sponsors w ere ACRL Afro-American Studies Li­ brarians Section, ACRL Racial and Ethnic Di­ versity Committee and the Reference and Adult Services Division History Section. Florence Borders (archivist, Center for Afri­ can and African American Studies, Southern Uni­ versity at New Orleans) spoke eloquently of the historical accom plishm ents of Afro-Louisi­ ana w om en and described her efforts to in­ c re a s e a c c e ss to th e ir d o c u m e n ta tio n . As founder of the Chicory Society for Afro-Louisi­ an a H istory a n d C ulture a n d e d ito r o f th e Chicory Review, she created her ow n vehicle for that purpose. Irvan Perez (a spokesperson for the St. Bernard Isleño community, Louisi­ ana) described Isleño history and culture and his concerns with preserving it. He also sang three decimas, traditional Spanish songs that form an im portant part of the g ro u p ’s oral his­ tory. Ulysses Ricard (Senior Archivist, Amistad R esearch C e n te r) s p o k e a u th o rita tiv e ly of Louisiana’s Creoles and others of African d e ­ scent in early Louisiana. He referred to his on­ going collection and study of their historical docum entation. He described the Amistad Re­ search Center’s mission and how such collec­ tions broaden our understanding of m inorities’ contributions. Finally, Marcia G audet (folklor­ ist, University of Southwestern Louisiana) spoke o f th e history a n d m ulti-faceted culture of Cajuns, illustrating it w ith slides from the Cajun rural Mardi Gras. She em phasized the pivotal role libraries and archives play in providing accurate cultural docum entation to counteract too often inaccurate images in the media or m ore p o p u la r w ritings.— M aggie Dittemore, University o f P ennsylvania EBSS celebrates 2 5 y e a rs W hat does personality theory have to do with the American character, education reform, and AIDS prevention? Quite a lot, according to Dr. Frank Farley, 1993 president of the American Psychological Association and guest speaker at the 25th Anniversary program for the Educa­ tion and Behavioral Sciences Section. Farley discussed his research on people with the Type- T personality— the highly creative, questing thrill-seekers and risk-takers w h o are respon­ sible for both hum an progress and m any of the w o rld ’s m ost destructive forces. Farley feels Type T is fundam ental to the hum an race; other species play by the rules, but w e live in and for the unknow n. The survival skill for the 21st century— som ething educators need to teach their student,s— will be the ability to deal with change. Education will consist of the four Rs: reading, w riting, ’rithm etic, and risk-taking. Type-T kids m ust be channeled into positive, constructive risk-taking activities at an early age, or they will seek the “T-negative” thrills of de­ linquency, violence, and crime. Farley characterized the United States as a Type-T nation, with a relatively high percent­ age of Type Ts. This m ay be a result of the October 1 9 9 3 / 5 1 7 Dear Swami Romma: In this life, I am a research specialist working in an academic library. My shelf space is disappearing before my eyes, my budget is shrinking, and requests for services are way up. Talk about bad karma! What am I to do? Your words of wisdom will set me upon the right path. —Unœntered in Ukiah Dear Unœntered: sociology and Not to worry! The Swami linguistics, and are priced for knows all and tells all. Call down to earth budgets like sociological abstracts, inc. yours. Each CD-ROM offers and they will ease your worries comprehensive backfiles (this with two CD ROMs created lifetime only), and retrieval especially for professionals software that makes search­ like you. Both sociofile and ing easy for both novice and LLBA D isc contain timely savvy souls. Focus your abstracts of theoretical and energy. applied research in Tune in to: sociological abstracts, in c ./p o box 2 2 2 0 6 /s a n diego, ca 9 2 1 9 2 -0 2 0 6 (619) 6 9 5 -8 8 0 3 f a x (619) 695 -0 416 In te rn e t soclo@cerf.net genetics of our risk-taking immigrant forebears as well as the political and cultural environ­ m ent they cam e here to create. The American character itself can b e described using Type-T traits such as creativity, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to break the rules. Type-T personality m ay be a risk factor for the spread of AIDS in the U.S., according to research Farley has conducted. Librarians probably have the sam e p ercent­ age of Type Ts as the rest of the population, Farley said. The Type-T personality can facili­ tate positive change for any organization or profession, including libraries and librarianship. EBSS recognized the leadership provided by past chairs, m any of w hom w ere present, and ho n o red Ruth B auner for having the longest continuous record of service to EBSS.— Deborah Rollins, University o f M aine Techniques & technology: Striving to connect w ith a d u lt learners Speakers Mem Catania, G w endolyn Chandler, and Elizabeth Burge exam ined the factors that m ust be considered in p reparing to su p p o rt adult learners and the changes that technology has brought and will continue to bring to the continuing ed u c atio n ex p erien ce during the Extended Cam pus Library Services’ program . Four characteristics w ere identified as being critical to the success of learning experiences for the adult learner: em pow erm ent, relevance to adulthood, informed use of models, and con­ nectedness. The differences b etw een teacher- centered a n d learner-centered m odels of learn­ ing w ere presented. Six “Cs” in the program developm ent process w ere reviewed: create a climate, connect learner to resources, change the agenda, confirm learning, correct m isun­ derstanding, a n d challenge the individual to learn further. The n e e d for connectedness, the evidence of relationships b etw een o n e ’s ow n a n d o th e rs ’ kn o w led g e, w as e x p lo re d . The im portance of reliable, transparent, a n d a p p ro ­ priate learning technologies was underscored.— K enneth Marks, East Carolina University Three ap p ro ach es to a Brave N e w W o rld : SEES's special p ro g ra m The three speakers on the Slavic and East Eu­ ro p ea n Section’s program: “Brave New World: Slavic a n d East European Librarianship in the Post-Soviet Era,” addressed three critical areas w hich have b e e n dramatically affected by the recent upheavals in the form er Soviet Union and Eastern Europe: collection developm ent, research, a n d preservation. Harold Leich (Li­ brary of Congress) described how traditional mailto:soclo@cerf.net 5 1 8 / C&RL News means of centralized bibliographic control, p u b ­ lishing, and distribution in the former Soviet Union have collapsed, which has m ade acqui­ sitions and collection developm ent in the West m ore difficult. The critical m eans for coping with the current Russian b ook scene are flex­ ibility, contact, communication, and travel. Such initiatives as the survey of the collecting of for­ eign research materials by the Association of Research Libraries and Library of Congress’ li­ brary intern program for Russian librarians are helping to create a new w orld of cooperation. While granting that scholarly access to li­ brary and archival material in Eurasia and Cen­ tral and Eastern Europe is unprecedented, Carol Erickson (International Research and Exchange Board (IREX)), stated that “the research land­ scape is w ithout controls or standard policies with regard to ‘foreign’ scholars.” She described the m any problem s that are increasingly affect­ ing access to materials: deteriorating facilities, staff shortages, preservation problem s, lack of equipm ent such as photocopy m achines, new and often exorbitant fees for access, usage, and photocopying. IREX is currently sponsoring m any library and archival projects relating to the form er Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Hans Rütimann (Commission on Preserva­ tion and Access) focused on yet another crisis, one on an international scale—preservation of the hum an record. The w orld’s libraries and archives “are losing, at an alarming rate, an enor­ mous proportion of our collective memory.” But there is a growing aw areness of the problem , and in a new developm ent richer countries are com ing to the aid of less advantaged areas. He spoke of UNESCO’s “Memory of the W orld” pro­ gram and the European Register of Microform Masters (sponsored in part by the Commission) and other projects. Future success in preserva­ tion efforts will d e p e n d on continuing interna­ tional cooperation. Dennis Kimmage (SUNY at Plattsburgh) served as the discussant in this w e l l - a t t e n d e d p r o g r a m .— T a tia n a B a rr, Stanford University C lear th in k in g a n d blunt prose At th e W o m e n ’s Studies Section p rogram , “W om en’s Popular Literature: Challenges for the Curriculum and Librarians,” Dr. Emily Toth, Louisiana State U niversity-Baton Rouge, a d ­ dressed the impact of w o m en ’s literature on (Continued on page 526) Mainstream or margins?—RBMS preconference Exploring survival in an environm ent of re­ duced resources and technological innova­ tion, those attending the Rare Books and Manu­ scripts Section’s 34th Preconference heard observations and recom m endations of several colleagues. University of Virginia president Jo h n Casteen placed special collections at the heart of a research library’s “core business of preserving primary sources in their least e d ­ ited or fictionalized form .” For a generation of scholars trained primarily in theory, sp e ­ cial collections “are a new and as yet incom ­ pletely know n source of pleasure w hich w e are eager to explore,” stated anthropology professor Judith Goldstein of Vassar College. She cited her ow n research and that of col­ leagues as exam ples of “how the questions w e ask point to new uses for old collections.” Thriving in the electronic mainstream, asserted University o f W ashington Library director Betty Bengston, requires increased online ac­ cessibility to special collections. “Be prepared to deal with increased usage,” a dded Emory U niversity Library directo r J o a n G otw als. UCIA assistant university librarian for techni­ cal services Brian S chottlaender advocated “balance b etw een a shrinking pool of cata­ loging resources and expanding set of access n e e d s” through negotiation of standards with the technical services departm ent. To m eet dem ands of efficiency and scholarship, Wil­ liam Jones, assistant university librarian for col­ lections developm ent and information services at the University of Illinois, Chicago, suggested “m ore discrim inating review of w hich poli­ cies in special collections must be followed to the letter and w hich may be flexibly applied.” Kansas City Public Library directo r D aniel Bradbury offered the option of de-accessioning in light of a library’s overall mission. Summa­ rizing the plenary sessions, UCLA head of spe­ cial collections David Zeidberg listed ways for special collections to operate m ore effectively in the overall library context. “Do not let the m ainstream control us,” he w arned. “Rather than being sw ept along, step out of the flood and review w here w e are being taken.”— Rob­ ert Parks, Pierpont Morgan Library ■ The Power of Partnership ACRL Member- Get-A-Member Campaign October 1993 through January 1994 Association of College ond Research Libraries The Power of Partnership ACRL Member-Get-A-Member Campaign October 1993 through January 1994 There is strength in numbers! Here’s your opportunity to make ACRL stronger. Invite your colleagues to share in the many benefits of ACRL membership. Sponsor a new member today— it’s easy and rewarding. Participate in the ACRL Member-Get-A-Member Campaign and win prizes. Here’s how it works: Use the membership appli­ cation opposite to recruit new members. Remember to print your name on the “Sponsor’s Name” line to receive credit when someone you recruit joins. Call 800-545-2433, ext. 2515 to get advice on your recruiting efforts or to get additional copies of the form (you may use photocopies). Tips for Recruiting New Members 1. Print your name on the “sponsor” line of the attached membership application. Make as many copies as you like. 2. Make a list of prospective members you know personally. 3. Send an application with a personal cover letter outlining the reasons you belong to ACRL to your list. 4. Put a note on your calendar to call each prospect in a week. What else could you do? Put a copy of this brochure in your library newsletter. Take copies of the brochure to local ACRL meetings and programs. Prize List ■ Recruit one new member and receive a $10 gift certificate. ■ Recruit two new members and receive a $15 gift certificate. ■ Recruit three new members and receive a $20 gift certificate. These certificates are good for any item at the ALA Store, for any item listed in the ALA Graphics Catalog, or for any ACRL publica­ tion. The certificates are good through August 31, 1994. ■ Recruit four or more new members and receive free membership in ACRL for one year for yourself, plus your name will be placed in a drawing for one free trip (airfare and lodging) to the ACRL Seventh National Conference in Pittsburgh, March 29-April 1, 1995. To be eligible for prizes, forms must be received in the ACRL office by January 29, 1994. NOTE: This offer does not apply to dues renewal. Members of the Membership Committee and ACRL staff not eligible for any of the prizes. Membership Application 5 2 6 /C&RL News Preservation video film series developed a t IU “Basic Preservation Techniques for Libraries and Archives.” Baltimore, MD: Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins Uni­ versity, 1988. 70 min. “Caring for Your Microfilm Collection: The next step in preservation.” Ann Arbor, ML UMI Preservation Division. 13 min. “How to Operate a Book.” NY: Book Arts Press, School of Library Service, Columbia University, 1986. 29 min. “Librarian’s Video Primer: Establishing and maintaining your video collection.” Chi­ cago: ALA Video, 1988. 21 min. “Mark of the Maker: Twinrocker Handm ade Paper. ” Chicago: McGowen Film and Video, 1991. 28 min. (This was nominated for an Academy Award.) “Murder in the Stacks.” NY: Columbia Univer­ sity Libraries, Preservation Departm ent, 1987. 15 min. “Providing a Future for the Past.” Ann Arbor, ML UMI Preservation Division. 13 min. “Slow Fires: O n the Preservation of the Hu­ m an Record.” Santa Monica, CA: American Film Foundation, 1987. Two lengths avail­ able: 30 min. and 60 min. “A Tour of Heckman Bindery.” North Manches­ ter, IN: Heckman Bindery, Inc., 1991. (P.O. Box 89, North Manchester, IN 46962) librarians, support staff and student assistants on all Indiana University campuses, teaching faculty and students systemwide (particularly those enrolled in the School of Library and In­ formation Science), Monroe County residents and library donors.” The Preservation Committee, which included four staff and four librarians from a variety of departm ents and branches was chaired by Dee M ortensen, reference and collections assistant for African studies. “Hard work, good timing and bringing preservation out of the labora­ tory,” m ade the project successful according to Mortensen. Ed. note: The 1994 John Cotton Dana Con­ test deadline is February 8. Copies of the entry forms are available by writing The John Cotton Dana Library PR Awards Contest, The H. W. W ilson C om pany, 950 U niversity A venue, Bronx, NY 10452. ■ (At the Crossroads cont.from page 518) academ ics in English Departments. Using hu­ m orous anecdotes, she revealed that faculty colleagues and literary critics frequently devalue w o m e n ’s genres because such literature ad­ dresses nontraditional subject matter (in-depth discussion of personal relationships) and often contains clear thinking and blunt prose, in con­ trast to traditional obtuse academ ic verbiage. The next speaker, Carol Thurston, Austin, Texas, presented her perspective on w om en readers of popular fiction genres, including romances, mysteries, science fiction, and New Age varia­ tions, as well as trends in commercial publish­ ing. She hypothesized that w om en’s genre lit­ erature is influenced by gender bias, and thus has lower academ ic status than male genre fic­ tio n , i.e., w e s te rn s a n d m ysteries. Kristin Ramsdell, California State University-Hayward, provided a brief history of popular romance fiction and current trends. She stressed that the rom ance genre is very diverse, and this creates difficulties for collection developm ent and ref­ erence service. She then discussed ways to jus­ tify purchase of rom ance literature in academic libraries, as well as specific sources, research collections, access tools, preservation issues, a n d p re d o m in a n t p re s s e s . Finally, B onita Corliss, Seattle Public Library, p resented an overview of lesbian popular literature, includ­ ing the genres available and the role of w om en’s presses in the last 20 years. She concluded by discussing unique collection developm ent is­ sues, including those related to access, book jobbers, and personal com fort zones for both library p e rs o n n e l a n d th e g e n e ra l public. — M ary M. Nofsinger, W ashington State Uni­ versity ■ Advertiser index American Psychological cover 2 Blackwell 509 CD Plus Technologies 495 Digital Directory Assistance cover 3 EBSCO 501 Marquis W ho’s Who 503 NOTIS cover 4 PAIS 505 Sociological Abstracts 517 University of Missouri 498 H.W. Wilson 506 WLN 523