Conference Hightlights

Over the past few days, I've had the opportunity to sit in on a number of excellent and exciting research presentations. One session that really grabbed my attention was titled, Of Bits, Bytes, and Books: Use and Meaning in Digital Humanities and the Emerging Library. While we have all heard about the how great digitization is, this group of presenters spoke about serious research problems that have risen in the past couple of years.

The Historic Columbia Foundation's Kyra Herzinger began by comparing digital information dissemination to a buffet style restaurant, meaning that objects were sometimes loosely arranged into arbitrary categories from which the consumer can pick and choose without sifting through the totality of the collection. She went on to say that digitization can cause objects to loose their intrinsic value. For example, a person can view the scanned version of a diploma, but viewing the physical artifact allows the researcher to see if and how the diploma was framed, displayed, etc. She also warned that archivist have a tendency to scan aesthetically pleasing collections and while overlooking documents that many may consider important.

Melanie Griffin, University of South Florida Special and Digital Collections Librarian, expressed concern about the research value of Victorian sensation novels in the digital format. Paraphrasing her description of Victorian sensation novels, Griffins states these are works "appearing between 1860 and 1880 England that are marked by adultery, illegitimate children, poisoning, bigamy by women, paranormal activity, and drug use." Many of these novels were first published in serial format then as as multi-volume sets, then as condensed single-volume books. Additionally, many authors wrote a "base text" and publishers sometimes add details and drama might appeal to their audience. Obviously, this poses problems when presented in the digital format. Often times only one edition is presented and usually it is the most attractive copy or the shortest version. Researchers could be led to believe they are looking at the only copy or the finished text, while in reality the physical archive may contain multiple runs of the novel presented in book and serial format.

Finally, Patricia Sasser, University of South Carolina, discussed musicology and the lack of coherent digital resources available. She states that the study of music history lacks clear and centralized tools and researchers depend on sources ranging from information in scholarly databases in other subjects to YouTube. Sasser laments that even the Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology tool, meant to actively collect citations in a bibliographic format, is not comprehensive and lacks standardization in its information gathering techniques.

All three presenters highlighted problems that are applicable to almost any field in this new technological age and are worth exploring by scholars and practitioners alike. While digitization adds a significant geographic convenience for researchers, many collections are still worth a visit.

Greetings from Maryland

The morning began with David Gracy's keynote address. Before joining the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin, he served as the 14th Texas State Archivist. While in this position, he began a project that has evolved into a book titled, The State Library and Archives of Texas: A History, 1835-1962.

During his address, Gracy spoke about how the idea of funding libraries has always been popular with politicians until the actual budget request is made. He cites specific instances of this throughout Texas history beginning with the group that gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos to found the Republic of Texas in 1836. The men loved the thought of ordering books on law and government to aid them in writing a constitution and actually created a committee to explore the idea further. The committee regarded this purchase as essential for the survival of Texas, but in the end declined to actually buy the materials because it just wasn't the right time.

Gracy closed his speech by pointing to the lack of research being performed on library history, especially on state libraries and archives. He argued that this is fertile ground for exploration and research on the institutions themselves is as valuable as what they contain.

Off to another round of sessions and then a trip to Annapolis.

Delta Gamma Gets Caught Reading

Photo and graphics by Joel Bullock

The ladies of Delta Gamma were in the library earlier this week with some of their favorite books in hand. The Zeta Nu chapter of the sorority was founded in 1991 and now includes over 50 sisters.

We caught the ladies in the main floor browsing area of Carmichael Library just in front of our new coffee shop, Ollie's Simply To Go Café. The library café offers fresh coffee and tea, as well as snacks, salads, and sandwiches.

We asked a few of the Delta Gammas to talk to us about what they were reading.

Kate Lewallen, Chapter President, History and French major

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?
Kate: Un Americano a Fusine Laghi, by Robert McCall

Carmichael Library: Why did you choose this book?
Kate: My grandfather wrote this book about the time he spent in northern Italy immediately following World War II. He was a soldier in the 88th infantry that helped secure the border with Yugoslavia.

My grandfather is one of my biggest role models, and I love having this piece of his history, especially since I got to see these places with him and the rest of my family a few years ago.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?
Kate: I use the upstairs area as a quiet place to study. I also use the Interlibrary Loan service a lot.

Olivia Tennant, Chapter Public Relations Officer, Undeclared major

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?
Olivia: Big Fish, by Daniel Wallace.

Carmichael Library: Why did you choose this book?
Olivia: I saw the movie and I thought that it would be a fun book to read.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?
Olivia: I use the ground floor area for study all of the time. I make "A"s on tests that I study for here!

Mattie Owens, Political Science major

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?
Mattie: Paper Towns, by John Green.

Carmichael Library: Why did you choose this book?
Mattie: Because I love the author dearly.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?
Mattie: I use the library to meet with groups: it's a good place to meet with friends. I've also been stopping in at Ollie's a lot this past week!

Olivia Timpson, Art major

Carmichael Library: What are you reading?
Olivia: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling

Carmichael Library: Why did you choose this book?
Olivia: I'm a huge fan of the series. I read all of the books when I was younger and I'm now re-reading them to remember what happens in them and to renew my love of the series.

Carmichael Library: How do you use your campus library?
Olivia: I use the computers for research and spend a lot of time in the second floor quiet study area.

Thanks to the ladies of the Delta Gamma Zeta Nu chapter for appearing in this edition of Get Caught Reading. Be sure to stay tuned to our updates here and on Facebook. You never know who we'll catch curled up with their favorite book!

Library Research Seminar-V

Library Research Seminar-V will begin in a little more than 24 hours with a large number of librarians descending on College Park, Maryland. The official start will happen first thing Thursday morning as Diane Barlow and Trudi Hahn welcome conference attendees and introduce our keynote speaker, David B. Gracy and his presentation, Is There Counsel in those Curtains? Research Agendas for the Times. Both Barlow and Hahn represent the University of Maryland's iSchool where they serve as Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice, respectively. Dr. Gracy is the Governor Bill Daniel Professor in Archival Enterprise at the School of Information, University of Texas at Austin.

Celebrating National Tutoring Week

In celebration of National Tutoring Week, The Learning Enrichment Center will host a series of events. The Center will host an Open House, Wednesday, October 6^th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the lower level of library. Come and enjoy refreshments, meet the tutors and see what the LEC has to offer!