2021 Conferencehttp://hdl.handle.net/11213/167182024-03-28T19:22:49Z2024-03-28T19:22:49ZRBMS 2021 Virtual Conference Schedulehttp://hdl.handle.net/11213/181502022-06-10T03:58:28Z2021-06-01T00:00:00ZRBMS 2021 Virtual Conference Schedule
This conference will critically examine the existing power structures that have shaped and continue to impact special collections and archives. The program will explore the power dynamics within our profession and the ways in which we experience, exert, and/or defy power. We are interested in stories of resistance, large and small, successful or not. The content will provide participants tools and strategies that will inspire and lead to transformative change. Please see conference core values.
The RBMS 2021 conference is committed to the following core values: create a supportive and challenging environment; foster respectful dialogue, reflection, and growth; empower participants to voice their concerns and perspectives; encourage participants to learn from mistakes; build consciousness around issues of power and to decenter privilege in all its forms; minimize the environmental impact of this conference and to reduce our profession’s contributions to the climate crisis; work toward a fully accessible conference.
All participants are expected to uphold the conference participation policies.
2021-06-01T00:00:00ZA Participatory Session in Ugly History: Exposing It, Confronting It, and Navigating the ExperienceSchmidt, GregVarry, SandraRamirez, Lizethhttp://hdl.handle.net/11213/181492022-06-03T15:03:01Z2021-06-09T00:00:00ZA Participatory Session in Ugly History: Exposing It, Confronting It, and Navigating the Experience
Schmidt, Greg; Varry, Sandra; Ramirez, Lizeth
What should we do when we discover potentially difficult or embarrassing information about our institutions, or about powerful individuals in the course of our work? How should the archives and other cultural heritage institutions navigate the politically charged effort to diversify the narrative of remembrance? Are there emerging best practices for contributing insight to institutional discussions on culturally sensitive topics? What is the responsibility of the archivist to the historical record vis a vis the responsibility to protect their institution? Newly discovered evidence of the unsavory has the potential to come to light through our activities; through description of collections, through digitization of historic media, and through harvesting of electronic communications. These histories may be unearthed by researchers as well. This proposed participant driven session will engage attendees in discussing several cases where archives have found themselves with the power to have an impact in the shaping of cultural memory. Two archivists will lead attendees in an open and free exploration of their experiences and then invite participants to add their own stories. Ultimately, we hope to find common practices that stay true to our professional obligations. From Auburn University, Greg Schmidt, Special Collections Librarian will share the story of discovering and eventually releasing evidence that would embarrass the institution and the current Governor of Alabama. In Auburn’s case, archival staff discovered an audio recording where the current Governor was identified as admitting to wearing blackface in college (1967); something she had previously denied. From Florida State University, Sandra Varry, Heritage & University Archivist will discuss the effort at Florida State to address expressions of white supremacy on the campus through her work in supporting the Presidential Advisory Panel on Namings and Recognitions. The events and activities surrounding the panel brought to light both new evidence of beginnings of the institution and new questions and challenges in creating and supporting an accurate and inclusive university history.
2021-06-09T00:00:00ZThe Power of Partnerships to Uncover Hidden StoriesSchuba, AndreaBarrett, ColleenBergstrom, TracyCastaneda, AmaliaCooper, DeborahCusimano, FabioMcCormack, Alliehttp://hdl.handle.net/11213/180442022-05-20T04:57:25Z2021-06-10T00:00:00ZThe Power of Partnerships to Uncover Hidden Stories
Schuba, Andrea; Barrett, Colleen; Bergstrom, Tracy; Castaneda, Amalia; Cooper, Deborah; Cusimano, Fabio; McCormack, Allie
This panel will present four perspectives on the power of collaboration in special collections to uncover hidden stories. Innovative partnerships have the potential to expand accessibility and discoverability by overcoming barriers such as language, geography, politics and institutional hierarchy. Each presenter will discuss how partnerships can challenge these issues within special collections to the benefit of a broader range of patrons, especially by empowering both staff and users.
#1: Behind the Cyrillic Curtain. A casual conversation with a graduate student led to a powerful long-term collaboration. Driven by the student's own interests in translating Russian language rare works, she is now an intern. Through her translations and historical expertise we are uncovering previously unknown stories reflecting the Russian cultural and political landscape from the late 19th century to the Soviet era. This previously shelf-sitting and inaccessible collection, holds great potential for research, outreach, and campus collaborations.
#2: Leveraging a partnership to enhance discovery and preservation of manuscript collections. Based on a longstanding agreement, the University of Notre Dame functions as the secondary repository for manuscript images owned by the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. This partnership was recently reconceived to address challenges of the discovery, accessibility, and preservation of digital images. As both institutions hold medieval manuscript collections, this partnership forces each institution to consider the other and combat traditional notions of limiting access for specialized materials.
#3: Metadata for a Book Arts Program. Students in the University of Utah’s Book Arts Program often found that technical aspects of the library’s artists’ books they wished to consult didn’t have authorized access points in the catalog records. To improve online searching, a cataloger, the Book Arts Program director, and a book arts student collaboratively recataloged ~3,500 artists’ books to expose these physical characteristics in the bibliographic records. This presentation will discuss training, workflows, and preliminary outcomes of this innovative project.
#4: The “Save La Plaza” Movement. Adjacent to the famous Olvera Street, the United Methodist Museum of Social Justice highlights the history of Los Angeles and social change. A series of protests and negotiations saved the historic church from demolition in 2011, and as part of the deal the church created a museum to showcase the history of its social justice advocacy. This presentation focuses on how a partnership with CSUN’s Bradley Center established the museum's archives.
2021-06-10T00:00:00ZUnder Construction: A Renovation Support GroupLogue, SaraPlanton, IsabelThomas, Lynne M.http://hdl.handle.net/11213/180432022-05-20T04:41:23Z2021-06-09T00:00:00ZUnder Construction: A Renovation Support Group
Logue, Sara; Planton, Isabel; Thomas, Lynne M.
Many special collections libraries are currently undergoing, preparing for, or have just completed major renovations. Large-scale library renovation projects tend to lay bare the power structure of organizations. While some administrators may be open to input from librarians, staff, and patrons, others may employ a more “top down” approach to project planning. How do library workers and managers navigate the bureaucratic structures of our institutions to contribute our professional input on renovation projects as our collections are moved and our buildings undergo major changes? As daily priorities shift, how do staff manage their work and their own self-care while trying to maintain a high level of service to their communities during times of upheaval? Discussion will center around: 1) the power dynamics between administrators and librarians with regard to renovation planning and implementation. How have these dynamics helped or hindered your experience with a renovation project? Are there proven methods for communicating the unique needs of a library to administrators or other project partners? 2) strategies for making visible the invisible labor of keeping a library open while collections are moving out the back door. Who did most of the physical and mental work of your renovation? How and to what extent was that work acknowledged? What are effective ways managers can utilize the skills of their staff without burning them out? What resources can managers request to best assist staff (temporary workers, outside experts, flexible hours, shifts in priorities)? 3) managing the expectations of the various communities we serve. How do we accommodate the needs of our patrons equitably? When the expectation from administrators is that a certain level of service will be maintained, what are creative ways library staff have made this work during a renovation? This participatory session stems from the Public Services Discussion Group topic at ALA Annual 2019. We had such a spirited conversation that we wanted to give those attending RBMS a chance to also be involved. This participatory session is a continuation of that conversation with the goal of bringing together librarians at different levels and at different stages in renovation to share experiences, discuss methods of advocacy, offer support and guidance, and hopefully develop productive methods for dealing with the various issues that surface when a library undergoes a renovation.
2021-06-09T00:00:00Z