ACRL Member- Get-A-Member Campaign

At the Crossroads: Assessing and responding to change tory. Ulysses Ricard (Senior Archivist, Amistad Highlights of ACRL programs at Research Center) spoke authoritatively of Louisiana’s Creoles and others of African de ALA’s Annual Conference: PartII scent in early Louisiana. He referred to his on going collection and study of their historical A djusting to change, making room for mul documentation. He described the Amistad Re ticulturalism, and assuring continued search Center’s mission and how such collec progress, both technological and social were tions broaden our understanding of minorities’ some of the issues covered by ACRL at ALA’s contributions. Finally, Marcia Gaudet (folklor 112th Annual Conference in New Orleans. ist, University of Southwestern Louisiana) spoke Highlights of some ACRL programs are given of the history and multi-faceted culture of below; part one appeared in September. (See Cajuns, illustrating it with slides from the Cajun the September issue for information on order rural Mardi Gras. She emphasized the pivotal ing audiotapes of selected programs.) role libraries and archives play in providing accurate cultural documentation to counteract The role of libraries in conceptualizing too often inaccurate images in the media or American history more popular writings.—Maggie Dittemore, “Portraits of Louisiana: Empowering Commu University of Pennsylvania nities through Diversity,” a multi-media pro gram presented by the Anthropology and Soci EBSS celebrates 25 years ology Section, was set within the larger debate What does personality theory have to do with current in American society concerning who the American character, education reform, and we are and how to conceptualize our history. AIDS prevention? Quite a lot, according to Dr. Four speakers discussed the documentation of Frank Farley, 1993 president of the American selected groups, the role of libraries and ar Psychological Association and guest speaker at chives in that endeavor, and the importance of the 25th Anniversary program for the Educa that role towards resolving the debate. Joint tion and Behavioral Sciences Section. Farley sponsors were ACRL Afro-American Studies Li discussed his research on people with the Type- brarians Section, ACRL Racial and Ethnic Di T personality—the highly creative, questing versity Committee and the Reference and Adult thrill-seekers and risk-takers who are respon Services Division History Section. sible for both human progress and many of the Florence Borders (archivist, Center for Afri world’s most destructive forces. Farley feels can and African American Studies, Southern Uni Type T is fundamental to the human race; other versity at New Orleans) spoke eloquently of species play by the rules, but we live in and the historical accomplishments of Afro-Louisi for the unknown. The survival skill for the 21st ana women and described her efforts to in century—something educators need to teach crease access to their documentation. As their student,s—will be the ability to deal with founder of the Chicory Society for Afro-Louisi change. Education will consist of the four Rs: ana History and Culture and editor of the reading, writing, ’rithmetic, and risk-taking. Chicory Review, she created her own vehicle Type-T kids must be channeled into positive, for that purpose. Irvan Perez (a spokesperson constructive risk-taking activities at an early age, for the St. Bernard Isleño community, Louisi or they will seek the “T-negative” thrills of de ana) described Isleño history and culture and linquency, violence, and crime. his concerns with preserving it. He also sang Farley characterized the United States as a three decimas, traditional Spanish songs that Type-T nation, with a relatively high percent form an important part of the group’s oral his age of Type Ts. This may be a result of the 516 / C&KL News Dear Swami Romma: In this life, I am a research specialist working in an academic library. My shelf space is disappearing before my eyes, my budget is shrinking, and requests for services are way up. Talk about bad karma! What am I to do? Your words of wisdom will set me upon the right path. —Unœntered in Ukiah Dear Unœntered: sociology and Not to worry! The Swami linguistics, and are priced for knows all and tells all. Call down to earth budgets like sociological abstracts, inc. yours. Each CD-ROM offers and they will ease your worries comprehensive backfiles (this with two CD ROMs created lifetime only), and retrieval especially for professionals software that makes search like you. Both sociofile and ing easy for both novice and LLBA Disc contain timely savvy souls. Focus your abstracts of theoretical and energy. applied research in Tune in to: sociological abstracts, inc./po box 22206/san diego, ca 92192-0206 (619) 695-8803 fax (619) 695-0416 Internet [email protected] genetics of our risk-taking immigrant forebears Four characteristics were identified as being as well as the political and cultural environ critical to the success of learning experiences ment they came here to create. The American for the adult learner: empowerment, relevance character itself can be described using Type-T to adulthood, informed use of models, and con traits such as creativity, a sense of adventure, nectedness. The differences between teacher- and a willingness to break the rules. centered and learner-centered models of learn Type-T personality may be a risk factor for ing were presented. Six “Cs” in the program the spread of AIDS in the U.S., according to development process were reviewed: create a research Farley has conducted. climate, connect learner to resources, change Librarians probably have the same percent the agenda, confirm learning, correct misun age of Type Ts as the rest of the population, derstanding, and challenge the individual to Farley said. The Type-T personality can facili learn further. The need for connectedness, the tate positive change for any organization or evidence of relationships between one’s own profession, including libraries and librarianship. and others’ knowledge, was explored. The EBSS recognized the leadership provided by importance of reliable, transparent, and appro past chairs, many of whom were present, and priate learning technologies was underscored.— honored Ruth Bauner for having the longest Kenneth Marks, East Carolina University continuous record of service to EBSS.—Deborah Rollins, University of Maine Three approaches to a Brave New World: SEES's special program Techniques & technology: Striving to The three speakers on the Slavic and East Eu connect with adult learners ropean Section’s program: “Brave New World: Speakers Mem Catania, Gwendolyn Chandler, Slavic and East European Librarianship in the and Elizabeth Burge examined the factors that Post-Soviet Era,” addressed three critical areas must be considered in preparing to support which have been dramatically affected by the adult learners and the changes that technology recent upheavals in the former Soviet Union has brought and will continue to bring to the and Eastern Europe: collection development, continuing education experience during the research, and preservation. Harold Leich (Li Extended Campus Library Services’ program. brary of Congress) described how traditional October 1993/517 means of centralized bibliographic control, pub the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. lishing, and distribution in the former Soviet Hans Rütimann (Commission on Preserva Union have collapsed, which has made acqui tion and Access) focused on yet another crisis, sitions and collection development in the West one on an international scale—preservation of more difficult. The critical means for coping the human record. The world’s libraries and with the current Russian book scene are flex archives “are losing, at an alarming rate, an enor ibility, contact, communication, and travel. Such mous proportion of our collective memory.” But initiatives as the survey of the collecting of for there is a growing awareness of the problem, eign research materials by the Association of and in a new development richer countries are Research Libraries and Library of Congress’ li coming to the aid of less advantaged areas. He brary intern program for Russian librarians are spoke of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” pro helping to create a new world of cooperation. gram and the European Register of Microform While granting that scholarly access to li Masters (sponsored in part by the Commission) brary and archival material in Eurasia and Cen and other projects. Future success in preserva tral and Eastern Europe is unprecedented, Carol tion efforts will depend on continuing interna Erickson (International Research and Exchange tional cooperation. Dennis Kimmage (SUNY at Board (IREX)), stated that “the research land Plattsburgh) served as the discussant in this scape is without controls or standard policies well-attended program.— Tatiana Barr, with regard to ‘foreign’ scholars.” She described Stanford University the many problems that are increasingly affect ing access to materials: deteriorating facilities, Clear thinking and blunt prose staff shortages, preservation problems, lack of At the W om en’s Studies Section program, equipment such as photocopy machines, new “Women’s Popular Literature: Challenges for the and often exorbitant fees for access, usage, and Curriculum and Librarians,” Dr. Emily Toth, photocopying. IREX is currently sponsoring Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge, ad many library and archival

Load more