Author Archives: artlibgal

Texas-Mexico Chapter Fall Meeting – Student Award Announcement

Applications Due: Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The ARLIS/NA Texas-Mexico Chapter is pleased to announce our first annual Student Award, generously funded by Eric Wolf, Head Librarian at the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas. This award covers both the ARLIS/NA student membership dues of $50 along with the local chapter dues of $10 for one year, beginning in the fall of 2014 and gives the new member a financial incentive to attend the local chapter annual meeting in Orange, Texas. At the 2013 annual meeting in San Antonio, members of the local chapter acknowledged their responsibility to future art librarians. By granting this award, we intend to encourage student involvement in the Art Libraries Society of North America not only on a national level but, as importantly, on a local chapter level.

This is a big year for Texas! Our local chapter will have its annual meeting in Orange from October 17 through 19, 2014 where the Stark Museum, a southeast Texas gem, will open its doors to us. From March 19 through 23, 2015, the 43^rdAnnual ARLIS/NA Conference will take place in Fort Worth. As a student member of ARLIS/NA and the ARLIS/NA Texas-Mexico Chapter, you can experience the professional development side of your future career in all types of art libraries and see important works of art and architecture in cities across the United States and Canada by attending these conferences or simply accessing the following websites: ARLIS/NA and ARLIS/NA Texas-Mexico Chapter.

The award committee urges all students with interest and need to apply; we especially encourage first-time conference attendees. To meet the primary requirement, applicants must lack full institutional funding. Apply for the Student Award by submitting a letter of application and a curriculum vitae to the Award Committee chair Lynn Wexler atlwexler@mfah.org. The letter must include a statement of qualification and your proposed conference program involvement.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, September 24, 2014. The award committee will announce the winner on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Direct all inquiries to the 2014 Award Committee chair: Lynn Wexler, lwexler@mfah.org, (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston). Other members of the 2014 committee are Beth Dodd (University of Texas, Austin) and Joel Pelanne (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston).

Bye bye #42 and Hello #43

So it’s one month since ARLIS/NA #42 and my life is back to normal. For me that means work and summer classes, and pondering the issues of arts librarianship. Washington DC invigorated and affirmed me, and yet, also challenged me with the realization that I have ALOT to learn. And since I have a small role on the planning committee for the 2015 conference, I now know we have a big act to follow. As a regional chapter travel award recipient, I was required to write a post-conference report for the chapter’s newsletter. I decided to post it here as well. Although it’s geared for the TX-MX audience, Arlisnappers may enjoy references both general and specific to themselves throughout. I encourage all students and new professionals to apply for their respective chapter travel awards for next year. You won’t regret it!

ARLIS/NA 2014 Conference Report, Washington, DC

If you had run into me on the first day of ARLIS/NA 2014, I think there would be no doubt as to the amount of excitement and nervous anticipation that I exuded. I was practically giddy just to be in Washington DC for my first ARLIS/NA conference. From the moment I knew that I would definitely be attending, I was scouring the conference schedule, planning how to get the most out of every session, workshop, and tour. It was frustrating to be sure! I must have changed my mind at least a half dozen times. There were just too many concurrent and/or overlapping events that piqued my curiosity to make it all doable without cloning myself. I will attempt to recap the highlights, although it will not fairly encompass the fun I also had in chance conversations and in friendships established from collegial rapport.

My conference began with the Society of the Cincinnati Tour on Thursday morning, followed by the Mentoring workshop in the afternoon. I was pleased to see this late add-on tour as my conference duties precluded attendance at any others. As a small tour group of five, we were treated to an intimate visit to the collection vault. One of the tour participants agreed to serve as my recorder for my session the next day. That was such a relief since I had attempted and failed to secure one prior to the conference! Afterwards, the workshop focused my goals in arts librarianship and paired me with Canadian librarian Jennifer Garland as my mentor. I am looking forward to a productive year to come with her guidance. Dinner with fellow first-time attendees Courtney Baron and Anna-Sophia Zingarelli-Sweet familiarized me with Penn Quarter as we enjoyed Mexican inspired fare and lively comparisons of our respective library schools and work experiences.

On Friday morning, I moderated the session Meet the Policy Experts, and then attended Pro amore liborum: Rare Book and Special Collections Librarianship in the afternoon. I mingled with several of the Texas contingency at our chapter meeting. Unfortunately, I missed the First Time Attendees’ Reception, but Friday night, after a visit and dinner with relatives in the area, I hung out with the ArLiSNAP (Art Library Students and New ARLIS Professionals) crowd at Capitol City Brewery across from the Grand Hyatt. Surrounded by some dangerously smart students as well as a few more mature, but no less enthusiastic professionals, I was delighted to finally meet in person some online friends that I have been communicating and collaborating with as a Discussion Liaison over the past year in ArLiSNAP. See http://arlisnap.org

I volunteered for Exhibits set-up on Saturday morning early and although most of the work had already been completed by that time, I had a fortuitous encounter with a past ARLIS/NA President, Ted Goodman, who gave me a crash course in exhibits management. I couldn’t have received it from anyone more experienced or more versatile in this area! It was the perfect initiation for duties I will have in Fort Worth next year. I later wandered through the Eastern Market and found myself at Capitol Hill Books – the layout of which was both a treasure hunter’s dream and a librarian’s nightmare!

And yes, of course I bought a book there! After a Metro adventure back to the hotel, I enjoyed Retooling Art Reference and Information Services: Collaborative Tools, Strategies, and Models, and later, the Emerging Technology Forum. Following a spin through the Exhibit Hall and Posters, it was off to the Convocation and Reception at the Library of Congress, or as Susan Stamberg referred to it during her keynote address, “the Mothership” – a truly inspiring evening that I will always associate with an incredible experience.

I jumped up Sunday morning for an 8am ArLiSNAP business meeting and then sandwiched the Membership Brunch and Meeting between morning and afternoon sessions Collaborating to Achieve and Activist Outreach in the Book Arts. A pleasant surprise on Sunday evening occurred when I happened upon fellow chapter members on their way to dinner for an informal planning meeting for 2015. Together we digested the enormity of the task before us along with some excellent seafood. Thanks for inviting me along, ladies!

Is it any wonder that I was completely exhausted by the time I got home Monday afternoon? I had a fabulous time start to finish. My brain is still processing all the new information and ideas, yet I feel more clearly focused in the direction I want to go in future coursework and in dedication to finishing my degree in 2015. It was such a pleasure to meet, talk to, and learn from so many interesting people and to get to know some of our chapter members a little bit better. I cannot neglect to thank Cheryl Payne from MFAH for agreeing to be my roommate, although we had never met previously. My experience would not have been possible without the ARLIS/NA-TXMX chapter’s generous support, for which I am truly grateful. I look forward to seeing everyone again at the fall meeting in Orange, TX, and of course, for more artful adventures!

Alison A. Larson

MLS student, UNT

Art Reference, Weekend Operations, Baylor University, Crouch Fine Arts Library

Lois Swan Jones Travel Award Winner, 2014

And so, with that, we move forward to #43 in Fort Worth! Don’t forget that proposal deadline is in 12 short days! http://arlisna.org/news/news-events/302-43rd-annual-conference-call-for-proposals

An exciting NEW idea has emerged in the past month among the ArLiSNAP Liaison crew regarding an “unconference” session proposal. This session would focus on current trends/hot topics in arts librarianship and be lead by ArLiSNAP Canadian Liaison Allana Mayer. She needs your brainstorming minds FAST! In these last few days before the proposal is due, you have the chance to submit your thoughts and ideas for this session by replying to this post. ArLiSNAP has also put out a call for a Conference Planning Liaison to assist Allana in this project. Be a part of what we hope will be groundbreaking new frontiers!

Pre-conference Jitters

It’s just under six weeks until ARLIS/NA Conference 2014 http://www.arlisna.org/washingtondc2014/index.php in Washington, DC, and I am eagerly looking forward to attending my first, of what I hope will be, many ARLIS/NA conferences to come. That being said, I am also a mess of nervous anticipation. I have logged in to the Conference SCHED no less than a dozen times to look at sessions, tours, and activities. http://arlisna2014.sched.org/ There is so much I want to do, but I am resigned to the fact that I cannot physically be in three places at once, no matter how many times I rearrange my choices. I have made a priority list though, which includes the ArLiSnap meetings, sessions geared for academic librarians, my regional chapter meeting, and Exhibits Hall events.

So I have had to remind myself that “firsts” are never without some fear and trepidation regardless of excitement level or experience. And it is going to be great fun to be there with professionals in the field! If like me, this is your first ARLIS/NA conference as a student or new professional, then perhaps you are filled with the same concurrent enthusiasm and anxiety.

Here’s my short list of concerns:

1 – LODGING -still up in the air for me – I have a reservation at the conference hotel, The Grand Hyatt, which I cannot afford on my own, but refuse to cancel until absolutely necessary. (I do have alternate arrangements should I not be able to find a roomie)

2- PUBLIC SPEAKING– this one is going to be difficult to avoid since I am a moderator!

3- ATTIRE- ????? I guess I will take a little bit of everything.

What is on your list? Do you have some concern or question about the conference? Be aware that as a first-timer, you can also request a conference “guide” and there is also First Time Attendees reception scheduled for Friday, May 2, 4:45-5:45 hosted by Gregg Most, current ARLIS/NA President. Hopefully, I’ll see you there!

Books of the Heart

Pictured above are the current contents of the Crouch Fine Arts Library’s display at Baylor University Library in Waco, Texas. For the month of February 2014, a small but eclectic group of selections from the Baylor Artist Book Collection pertaining to *LOVE* in its varied manifestations engages viewers with themes as diverse as the playful revision of Shakespearian dialogue in r&j: the txt message edition to more jaded reflections in Heart Assortment: A Bittersweet Sampler.

Many academic libraries have artist book collections of various sizes and scopes. Some institutions collect regionally, thematically, or structurally, while others prefer a mix of all types and kinds. Collection scale, of course, depends heavily on the acquisitions budget. Art librarians have found artist books to be interesting objects for display within their libraries and useful tools for developing interdisciplinary relationships with faculty and students. The Baylor Artist Book Collection is often requested for art department classes, but is also requested by professors from other departments. An emerging trend at Baylor is engagement by students in the Medical Humanities program.

For more information on the collection see http://www.researchguides.baylor.edu/heartbooks.

What other ways are artist book collections used in libraries? Do you or would you collect artist books in your role as an art librarian? Why do you think these types of collections are popular in an increasingly digital age?

Are you Library Management Material?

Although it might seem to many of us, while students, that library management is something to consider years from now, if ever, it might be worth a second thought during your MLIS program. If you have been in library school any length of time, you are bound to have picked up on something like “a shortage of qualified library leaders is coming, so get ready!” While this may or may not be true, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that some of us will eventually be library managers. With the proliferation of educational tracks and certificate programs, choosing one is sometimes a daunting prospect. What would entice you to choose a Library Management emphasis over others?

Maybe the answer lies in taking stock of your personality, skills, abilities, and goals. For me personally, Management Studies is ideal. I LOVED 5300: Library and Information Center Management. I reveled in topics like Strategic Planning, Organizational Culture, Human Resource Management, Ethics, and Development/Fundraising. Of course, maybe this has something to do with the fact that I have had some management experience and can envision myself in a leadership role readily. Or maybe it’s simply that I like being in charge!

What about you? Can you picture yourself in a management role of some kind? Do you think the administrative side of the job would perhaps overshadow your primary objectives as a librarian? Yes or no?

Sunday Soliloquies no. 2: A haunting tragedy

Detroit Public Library, Mark Twain Branch, Detroit, Michigan

This image to me, is by far the scariest thing I have seen this Halloween season. The demise of the Detroit Public Library, Mark Twain Branch is not new news. More upsetting images can be found on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpdphotography/sets/72157626713779604/

It closed for renovations in 1996 and unfortunately, never re-opened.

But there’s no blood and gore! No skeletons, no creepy spiders, no boiling cauldrons of smelly goo…. How can I think this is scary? Take a good long look at it. Make it your wallpaper, stare at it, and try not to be terrified. I dare you. From the viewer’s perspective, you might be at the entrance to this large, nearly vacant room. A misplaced couch and two armchairs dwarfed by the enormous windows and fireplace bemoan a solitary torment. There are no books, and no other vestiges of a library. The silence, the loneliness, and the emptiness disturbs. I am getting very uncomfortable. Are you?

What do you see? What does this image “say” to you?

Sunday Soliloquies #1

I hope “Soliloquy” is a misnomer for a discussion blog, but it does alliterate well with “Sunday”, right?

By this point in Fall semester 2013, I hope those of us in graduate school have gotten into somewhat of a routine and are conquering the wonderful world of art librarianship one assignment, presentation, group project and term paper at a time! This is my first semester of classes at University of North Texas’s MLIS program and I was a bit worried that my time management skills would be put to the test early and I might give up on this before I really got started. So far, so good though, and honestly, I am loving it! I am one of those folks who has come to art librarianship by a circuitous route. How about you? I wonder how many of us ArLiSnappers were born with a burning desire for this career path or did you sort of discover it along the way? So, basically, why are you doing this? What are your degrees and in what order did you pursue them? What were the influential factors in your life that led you to this point? Did you attain your advanced degrees concurrently or spread them out? What do you see as the benefits and/or drawbacks to the degrees you have and/or are working on? For those new professionals with degrees in hand, do you see yourself returning for a PhD? Or do you already have one? Discuss!