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Re: New Yorker Article



Nick Baker is one of our local novelists. He writes as a patron...and patrons
have the right to express their values concerning libraries. Hard copy has
some very practical value for researchers, particularly those involved in
producing image-based media presentations.

On         Thu, 20 Jul 2000 10:19:47 -0500 you wrote:
>(Reply-To: Archives & Archivists <ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU>)
>Does anyone know if Nicholson Baker is a librarian or historian? I am just
>wondering where he is coming with his so-called expert advice regarding
>management of libraries.
>
>Barbara M. Allen, M.L.S.
>O.J. Cloughly Alumni Library
>St. Louis College of Pharmacy
>4588 Parkview Place
>St. Louis, MO 63110
>Voice: +1 314-367-8700, ext. 1001
>Fax:    +1 314-367-2784
>Email:  ballen@stlcop.edu
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kathleen M Delaney [mailto:kdelaney@ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU]
>Sent: 20 July, 2000 8:42 AM
>To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
>Subject: Re: New Yorker Article
>
>
>Nicholas Baker makes a point of differenting deterioration of newsprint:
>rag content used before 1890 or so, and the pulp used later. [And right up
>front in the article he does credit himself with being the source of the
>controvery re: San Francisco Public Library weeding.]
>
>One of the major points he makes in his article is that deaccessioning
>full runs of newpaper volumes diminishes history. He writes about the
>non-linear reading pattern a newspaper readers; that is the circular
>browsing motion. He also writes about how non-contextual news articles can
>skew interpretation.
>
>Of minor note in his article is the correlation between microfilming (and
>the poor step-sister microfiche) and digitization. He writes of the P.R.
>campaigns by the corporations (i.e., IBM, Univeristy Microfilm) and their
>ability to win over influential library directors or curators to the
>newest methods of preservation. In light of what he writes, I couldn't
>help but think of all the digitization projects going on. For the past few
>years I have been involved in a project involving newspaper clippings and
>full newspapers related to the Love Canal Toxic Waste crisis. We thought
>long and hard before disgarding anything because this crisis was literally
>played out in the press. We digitize portions of the collection, and for
>the most part photocopy all clippings onto acid free paper so there is a
>continuity. That could be easily lost with pure digitization. [One of the
>other points Baker makes is the notation of nearby articles in newspapers
>provide a historical context. They sure do for Love Canal...it shared
>headlines with the Iran Hostage crisis, the shooting of the Pope, and the
>President, and the decline of industry in the Northeast.]
>
>I agree with Daniel Sokolow that, "... he's
>found his crusade and can't understand why the rest of us aren't as
>horrified (and motivated) as he is." Baker actually formed a non-profit
>organization consisting of himself, his wife and parents in an effort to
>persuade the British Library to "donate" the American newspaper collection
>that they were deaccessioning...to him...on the premise that they had a
>directive from their trustees/govt. to seek a qualified and
>appropriate non-profit for the deselection. In the end he ended up bidding
>hundreds of thousands of pounds to acquire the bound volumes at auction.
>In the 6th months between auction win and auction payment, he was hoping
>to receive grant money to assist with his preservation, access, and space
>acquisition for the collection. He did get some. What I couldn't figure
>out is how, in the less than 2 weeks he had to set up the non-profit
>before the auction deadline ...he actually thought through the whole
>process, did the paperwork, filed it and got approval.Any of us who has
>ever had to deal with establishing the non-profit (or
>not-for-profit)status, surely will want his legal team for advisement. [ I'd
>also like to know how he got his wife to agree to this...the whole process
>involved cashing in their retirement funds after he admits to being
>cash-strapped due to the acquisition of a 19th century house in Maine
>without doorknobs.]
>
>Regardless, Baker's article is a good read, albeit critical of some
>aspects of library preservation and policies. If nothing, it will make you
>think.
>
>By the way, the title is "Deadline" and it appears in this week's edition
>of The New Yorker.
>
>Regards
>
>Kathleen M. DeLaney, MA, MLS
>Project Archivist
>University at Buffalo
>University Archives
>420 Capen Hall, North Campus
>Buffalo, New York 14260-2200, USA
>e-mail: kdelaney@acsu.buffalo.edu
>tel: 716-645-2916
>fax: 716-645-3714
>
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>A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
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Steven Lavoie
(510) 531-4694


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Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>