notes on some conferences/meetings attended: Atlanta

notes made on workshops, sessions, and meetings: Art Librarians of North America annual conference, Atlanta GA
Apr. 26-30, 2007

notes by: Tom Hartmann, Librarian, Harrington College of Design, Chicago, IL.

These are notes garnered from notes taken at the above-noted conference. They are sometimes detailed, somtimes very light in detail. I’ve noted conference and meeting names in bold, in a sort of short-hand such as “Getty vocabulary contributions,” rather than full name.

The notes are not meant to be comprehensive. Perhaps for those who attended other conferences and meetings, the notes may afford an insight. I have not consulted any powerpoint versions of lectures, so facts, spelling of personal names, and other details may not be accurate.

1) Getty Vocabulary contributions

–Librarians may add subject heads, personal names (authors, creators…)

geographic subjects to Getty Museum cataloging.

Getty is basically taking voluntary informational contributions

via an Internet form it makes available.

Information at the Getty site is updated once per month.

One name (of author, creator, etc.) is preferred, usually a vernacular

name.

Go to www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/vocabularies/editorial_guidelines.html

If nothing else this is a reminder that information is shared. Libraries can contribute information, but also may obtain information at the Getty website.

2) Working with faculty for information fluency

–varying projects were done by one college:

a.) before-and-after test of library literacy: what learned? was it helpful?
b.) displays of student work
c.) coffee initiatives

–another college:

a.) survey sent to faculty asking about if tour wanted: they did, and tours were arranged

and interest in library increased

b.) quick/short survey eliciting knowledge of plagiarism (most students don’t know what it is).

c.) Univ. of VA Fisk Library (architectural studies):

information literacy was studied

Decided to become “imbedded librarians” : teach in classrooms; use library less

Closed down its special classroom, which was part of the library

Did instruction sessions on reference books they have

page 2 conference notes Atlanta

3) Cataloging Section meeting

This is a meeting for issues important to catalogers.

Some points to note:

Some family names are becoming corporate entities.

[Rest of meeting was administrative, mostly re type of

“clout” Cataloging Section will have….Survey done by ARLIS

suggests too much “administrative discussion” is being done

in meetings—to exclusion of addressing issues.

Cataloging Section decided to study further what should be

done—to change way meetings are done, to continue on, or???]

4) Copyright ten years later: a decade of copyright developments

Lawyer (special counsel to the librarian at Univ. of Virginia)

says she believe an orphan works bill “has legs.”

–There are prohibited works, especially some media ones

–Kids believe in right to harvest

–Litigious society

–Fair Use has 4 factors: but doesn’t tell which most important;

is deliberately vague, but is useable

Case of universal garage door opener mfr being sued.

Court found against idea of universal idea.

Likely a Fair Use Act—if not, then likely courts will review

Likely effect on digital.

Bridgeman vs Corral: had to do with thumbnail issue

Finding was that just because losts of effort ==> not copyrightable

9^th circuit court (west coast court; influential; Hollywood rulings):

Commercial co. okay to have fair use, but just students/faculty have

allowance to use.

Sonny Bono law disallowed use of old stuff

–Lots of orphaned works are new.

–There is a chance to go back to the former copyright rules dating back to 1963.

–Problem is new publishings go to 2047

****Be careful what’s in licenses: CHECK FINE PRINT. **

conference notes Atlanta page 3

Joseph Beck an attorney who does some copyright work:

most is case-by-case basis.

study shows 1923-1999: less than 15% of works renewed

why? Cost of negotiating w/ copyright owners

still likely orphaned works will come

–have to make reasonably diligent effort to find owner: use technology/pay fee

**each college should be asking re classroom use as new books/materials are received**

–section 108: wants balance of use vs. something in return

Maybe 3 copy limit to digital works?

“Fair Use Act” = unfortunate name as it’s hard to oppose:

BUT would eliminate statutory damages; however $175 per damage primary

damages would be allowed (an add up!)

libraries have difficulty making high quality reproductions

protection of images, but want fair us: is this a contradiction?

2^nd district court (Wash, DC) becoming liberal

ruled on Graham Archives (thumbnails) case

talked about purpose and character of use;

commercialism doesn’t carry the day

real issue is transportative use (changing work into new)

Bill Graham case (Grateful Dead art-quality posters):

wanted to put posters on timeline

2^nd district ct said didn’t care re commercialism;

rather transformative use worried about:

posters are promotional; and secondarily art

tried to accentuate an event

search engine case:

Ct. allows thumbnail on cell phone there’s license

5) Social tagging and controlled vocabularies

Director of Rhizome.org (Rhizome at the New Museum)

Is non-profit project of art engaging digital technology

have 2 archives: a textbase and art base (archival)

after thinking about, then surveying members,

allowed social tags; worried re having too many tags

ended up allowing

conference notes Atlanta page 4

Jean Riley of Indiana University:

asks about identity of those who tag

categories need refining

she detailed their system by which tagging has been allowed: getting cooperation,

keeping control

6) Art and Design School Division meeting

Much akin to point 3 above (Cataloging Section meeting)

VP Elect of ARLIS NA Ken spoke of thought of cross-pollinating groups:

it’s a trend amongst many organizations…Can have interest group or clique

rather than so formal a group.

There was request to send art and design school news on to the secretary of this group.

There was proposal to formulate ideas for next conference (Denver) 3 months ahead of

time to help minimize the “administrative discussion” that bogs down meetings.

Meetings become meeting to discuss more meetings.

7) Walking tour of Ansley Park (just past Sheraton Colony Sq. = conference site)

Single family homes. Low rise, but can see tall buildings on Peachtree—

SBC Bldg., etc.

Not quite a historic district; but new buildings seem to try to blend in.

Novelist Pat Conroy lived/worked in one home; later burned to group: no fire

hydrants nearby worked.

In the 1940’s oil magnate lived there; traveled much; had second wife and a mistress…

8) Challenges, Choices for art librarian

To summarize, there were talks by three librarians who each discussed their

past and present positons as librarians.

Eugene Downing of the Getty had a handout showing websites of standards present and future for art librarians and giving informational listings of job skills important to art librarians.

Sarah McClesky of Hofstra University had moved from classical languages to archeology to librarianship. She spoke of preparing for future change:

getting decision-making experience; establishing user-services group;

getting budget experience; learning to supervise (more than just student workers), etc.

Alessia Zanin-Yost, Ref. Librarian Western Carolina Univ.

Spoke of handling all the humanities (6 depts.): 17 faculty and 1000 students

conference notes Atlanta page 5

Alessia Zanin-Yost (continued):

Her specialty is art (has masters).

She does 10 hours per week ref. desk duty.

Is on tenure track (to be achieved 3 years hence)

Has to publish.

Does outreach.

Attends committee meetings.

Work aplenty, but enjoys greatly her position.

Other librarians iin her library cover just two subject areas each.

9) Atlanta: architecture of the 20^th century

Eliz. Dowling of GA Institute of Technology spoke on Philip Shutze, an architect in the classical traditionwho resisted modernism, and retired early rather than give in to it.

In contrast Alfred Willis, Harvey Library Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia

Gave a slide tour of modernism in small town Georgia.

Prof. Robert M. Craig of GA Inst. Of Tech. had an ample slide show, from classical to modern buildings, in Atlanta.

END OF NOTES