Friday, March 14, 2008

Week 4: Overview and Update



Overview:

Well this week has trully been special because of yesterday's Courier article which announced the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. I am so pround to be a student/intern/worker here! Shatford Library is trully getting the attention it deserves.

Also, late last week I came across a book and DVD we have in circulation entitled Cultivating Pasadena: from Roses to Redevelopment. It presents old photographs of street perspectives (archived by the Automobile Club of Southern California) and juxtaposes them next to photographs taken from the same angle in the present day. The results are remarkable! There is even a perspective of PCC included! The DVD is filled with interviews and unique interactive photgraphs. I hope to show these to Mane for inpiration for the glass case she is preparing for the award celebration.

Yesterday was also marked by an interaction I had with a gentleman at the Circulation Desk who inquired about the Archives. Mane was out yesterday, so I could not direct him to her, but I did mention that I am an intern in the Archives. He then asked about accessing past catalogs to make copies for course description verification, etc. I gave him Mane's phone number and directed him to the reference desk to obtain an Archive Request Form (I failed to find any at Circulation, so I will make copies to have on hand for next time). It was enlightening to have an experience with someone requesting access to archival material because it directly showed me how the material is still sought after and emphasized the importance of preserving past catalogs.

Okay, now down to business! As mentioned in the last blog, I was not here on Tuesday because the campus was closed for Flex Day. I was still able to accomplish some things though.

Courier:

I am glad to announce that I have a prototype folder of proof sheets ready for review! Jennifer gave me a folder to use that is like the ones that she ordered earlier this week. I used it and Mane gave me tab dividers and clear sleeves. Mane and I had a short meeting on Wednesday to discuss ideas on how to organize the folder I followed what we discussed with some minor changes. I chose the 1977 Folder of proof sheets to create this prototype. Quite a few interesting issues came up that I can't wait to discuss!

My goal listed for last week was to sort as much as possible, but instead I only worked on the prototype folder as it took priority.

Campus Archives Project (CAP):

I met with Mary Ann on Wednesday to discuss the priorities of the emailing list to Deans. I obtained a list of 16 Deans and Mary Ann gave me three dates to set up meetings (3/18, 4/1, 4/22).

I sent emails to Alex Kritselis (Visual Arts and Media Studies), Ellen Ligons (Career & Technical Education), Don Paxton (Business and Computer Technology), David Douglass (Natural Sciences), and Robert Miller (Academic Support). Hopefully I hear back from them soon! I can't wait to visit their resources.

Mary Ann has mentioned the idea of the Library buying more locked, glass cases to house some of the materials in archives outside of the main room. This would allow for more space to be available for the materials obtained from the other departments. I think this is a wonderful idea because we definitely need more space!

One thing I noticed is that the list of deans I was given at my meeting with Mary Ann does not match the list of surveys in the report. For example, I have no copy of a survey given to the English Dean, Amy Ulmer. I don't know if this means that there was no survey given/received. I hope to figure this out next week!

My goal last week mentioned that I would come up with a sheet of some kind to note was transpires at the meeting. Each meeting will most likely be unique so I will just bring my laptop and write during and after the discussion.

Policy/Procedure and Finding List Folders:

I did not have a chance to work on these!

Next Week:

Normal shedule next week!

Goals for next week:

1) Have a discussion about the Courier prototype folder and progress with it.

2) Organize more of the Courier materials with special attention to the negetives.

3) Set up meetings with the Deans I have emailed and and send more meeting requests.

4) Continue updating Policy/Procedure and Finding List folders.

5) Discuss the glass case display for the award celebration with Mane.

Until Next Monday!