LC's Digital Future Envisioned
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Volume 14, No. 10 A Weekly Newspaper for the Library Staff March 21, 2003 Oral Histories LC’s Digital Future Envisioned Feature Former the technical framework, communication By GAIL FINEBERG networks, services, and applications that Library Staffers allow individual institutions to undertake The Library possibly could function in local activities that are compatible with By JOSEPHUS NELSON the future as a central repository for the the larger program. Together, the plan most critical at-risk digital collections; as refers to these two components as the arlene Morrisey, Alan Fern, and a portal and gatekeeper John Kominski, all former staff to other preservation Mmembers, will be the featured organizations; and as a speakers at an oral history program central organizing body at noon on Thursday, April 10, in the for a national preserva- Mumford Room, LM 649. tion enterprise. Beginning her career in April 1941 These are not neces- as a research secretary, Morrisey had sarily distinct scenarios, the unusual experience of working with rather a progression from three successive Librarians of Congress— selective to broader col- Archibald MacLeish, Luther Evans, and L. lecting and preservation Quincy Mumford. In June 1941, she was activities. assigned to the offi ce of the chief assis- In recent staff brief- tant librarian, for which she participated ings, Laura Campbell, In a progression of possible scenarios, LC would take in studies leading to the reorganization associate librarian for the lead in collecting the most critical digital materials of the Library. From 1945 to 1953, she strategic initiatives, de- (Triage); act as a clearinghouse in coordinating other scribed these three pos- institutions’ preservation efforts (Congress of libraries); served as the special assistant to Luther H. and develop technical standards, intellectual property Evans, and from 1954 to 1976, she was the sible scenarios for the agreements, and business models that serve as a platform executive assistant to L. Quincy Mumford. Library’s role in the for a peer-to-peer system of comprehensive preservation Morrisey worked as special assistant to National Digital Infor- (Universal library). the register of copyrights from March mation Infrastructure and 1976 until April 1981. In April 1981, she Preservation Program (NDIIPP). She also Preservation Infrastructure. transferred to the Manuscript Division, for described the program background and With congressional acceptance of which she had the responsibility of setting funding (see March 7 Gazette). the plan in January 2003, the program up the Library of Congress Archives. A Campbell will discuss the program began its second phase, that of building graduate of Baker University in Kansas, again from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March the high-level preservation architecture in Morrisey retired in April 1983. 21, in the Mumford Room, LM 649. Her collaboration with a network of partners Fern joined the Library’s staff in 1961 presentation, “The National Digital over the next fi ve to seven years. as assistant curator for fi ne prints. He Preservation Program: Challenges and Campbell described a scenario-plan- served successively as the curator for Solutions,” will be part of the Luminary ning exercise to help the Library and its fi ne prints in the Prints and Photographs Lectures @ Your Library series. partners “to inform and help shape the Division, assistant chief and chief of that Unveiled at the Library in February, the Library’s larger strategy and planning division, director of the former Research digital preservation program plan has two process.” Department, and director of special col- major components: the fi rst is to create “This scenario process was designed lections in Research Services. As director what the plan refers to as the Preservation to be consistent with the Library’s desire for special collections, he supervised six Network, the vast network of cooperating not to search for ‘the one right answer’ divisions whose collections ranged from institutions and partners, the program’s to the challenge of digital preservation, SPEAKERS, Continues on page 5 human face; and the second is to build DIGITAL, Continues on page 4 2 THE GAZETTE MARCH 21, 2003 FORUM The Gazette Pass Needed to Visitors Gallery A weekly newspaper for the Library of Congress staff GAIL FINEBERG Access to the Visitors Gallery overlooking the Main Reading Room in the Editor Jefferson Building is now restricted, during the busy tourist season from March MICHAELA McNICHOL through July, to visitors holding a yellow pass. Visual Information Specialist To obtain a Library visitor’s pass, employees should stop at the Visitor Services Contributing Editors: Deborah Durham-Vichr, Calendar; Carla Offi ce, LJ G63, before going upstairs to the gallery. Passes are good for the day V. Bussey, Moving On and Length of Service; Stefan Patejak, Getting Around; and Willie Sinclair, Donated Leave. and time of the visit. Proofreaders: Sally Craig and Suzy Platt During periods of many visitors to the Jefferson Building, a guard permits those with passes or those who are part of a tour lead by a Library volunteer to PETER BRAESTRUP JAMES W. McCLUNG Founder Founding Publisher enter the Visitors Gallery. The purpose of the restriction is to control noise and (1990 – 1997) (1990 – 1994) camera fl ashes that disturb researchers, said Visitor Services Offi cer Teresa V. Sierra. “This practice worked very well the last two years,” she added. The Gazette encourages LC staff to submit articles or photographs of general interest. Submissions will be edited to convey the most Library staff members and their guests are encouraged to visit public spaces necessary information. in the Jefferson Building and are always welcome, Sierra added. With a pass, Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Wednesday, one week prior they may join tours in the gallery or wait until the gallery is clear. to publication date. Please submit text in digital form and if pos- Questions about this practice should be sent to [email protected]. silble include hard copy with your submission. An offi cial publication of the Library of Congress, The Gazette is largely staffed by Library employees who have volunteered for part-time details. Persons interested in serving a detail as a page editor, writer, proofreader, photographer, reporter, or artist To the editor: may submit applications to the editor, LM 105, mail code 1620. Those persons interested in contributing to The Gazette as part (1) Who is paying for the tens of thousands of gallons of water that have been of a Library-wide network should fi rst check with their supervi- sors. Back issues of The Gazette are available in the newspaper pouring forth from the Adams Building sidewalk (near the corner of Second St., S.E.) offi ce, LM 105. for the past two months; and, (2) Why is it taking such a long time for the problem to be remedied? James Madison Memorial Building, LM 105 Library of Congress Evelyn Timberlake Washington, DC 20540-1620 Humanities and Social Sciences Division Editor 707-9194, gfi [email protected] Calendar Editor 707-1639, [email protected] Production 707-0970, [email protected] Response from Stephen Ayers, AOC superintendent for LC: ISSN 1049-8184 The broken water line near the Adams Building is owned and operated by the D.C. Water Authority, which is responsible for fi xing the leak. We notifi ed them on Jan. Printed on paper that contains recycled paper by the 24, 2003, and crews visited the leak site with our plumbing foreman. They indicated Printing Management Section, Offi ce Systems Services that due to the cold weather, they had numerous leaks and would appropriately prioritize this work. Gazette Welcomes Letters from Staff We have followed up with them on several occasions through the month of Febru- The staff is invited to use the Forum pages for lively and thoughtful debate relevant to Library issues. However, just ary (three calls). I asked our plumbing foreman to call them again today (March 13) as other newspaper editors exercise discretion over which letters to publish and how to edit them, so do we. In decid- to urge them to fi x the leak. For reference, their number is (202) 612-3400. ing whether or how much to publish, we consider content (including misstatements of fact, libel, innuendo, ridicule of individuals or the institution, personal attacks, and redun- dancy) and length (the limit is 600 words). Letters must be signed by the author, whose place of work and telephone extension should be included so we can Thank you: verify authorship. Letter writers should understand that I would like to thank all of my colleagues and friends for making my retirement when they sign their letters and release them to us for publication they are relinquishing privacy. If a letter calls cruise such a great success. The memories will never be forgotten. Special thanks for management response, for example an explanation of a policy or actions or clarifi cation of fact, we will ask for man- go to my co-workers in the Regional and Cooperative Cataloging Division. agement response.—Ed. Ronald C. West Regional and Cooperative Cataloging Division Gazette at a glance . 1, 4-10–News Parking Campaign — Applications Accepted March 10-28 2–Forum The Parking Program Offi ce of Integrated Support Services announces a Parking Campaign 3–People for the period of April 21 - Oct. 17. The following categories are open: Carpool, Special 11–Connections Schedule, After 3 p.m., Length of Service, Motorcyle, and Bicycle. Apply online at www.loc.gov/staff/iss/parking.html. 12–Calendar www.loc.gov/staff/gazette MARCH 21, 2003 THE GAZETTE 3 PEOPLE Factors of Sex and Gender Change Health Research diet, nutrition, and exercise are the keys By MARGARET CLIFTON to successful aging.