[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Tape of Baker/Cox Debate



Last month, the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at
Simmons College, Boston, hosted a debate between Nicholson Baker and
Richard Cox.  At the time that I announced  this event on the List, a
number of people expressed interest in getting a videotape of the event.
A slightly edited (adding a title, cutting out some of the introductory
remarks by a third person) videotape of this two hour debate is now being
prepared and we would like to get a sense of how many people would like a
copy (costs, if any, will be fairly minimal).  Please contact me if you
are interested in a copy.

As a member of the audience at the debate, I can say that both sides
presented their cases convincingly and well.   Both were very
well-prepared and evenly matched. Both participants were extremely civil,
good-humored, often very funny.  Baker essentially expanded on Doublefold
and showed a moving series of color slides of illustrations from the New
York World with their  (inadequate) microfilm counterparts.  Cox made
compelling arguments for many of the issues that archivists and librarians
are concerned about, namely, preservation issues, access, appraisal, and,
of course, physical, financial and human resources.  He suggested that
Baker's now well-publicized concerns offers opportunities and challenges
to the library and archival professions.  Baker pointed out that he
basically loves libraries and that his attack was only focused on
practices at larger national libraries. Cox countered that whatever the
motive, libraries and archives were normally so far below the public's
radar screen that any issues involving them would be perceived as
generally applicable.  Both men agreed that the archives and library
communities should take the opportunity to rethink some of their processes
to insure that these were in the best interests of the material and the
users, and perhaps try to explain them better to the public.

The most dramatic moment of the debate came during the  Q and A period
when a representative from the Library of Congress defended some of LC's
past actions with regards to brittle books and newspaper microfilming, and
mentioned  some present and future LC initiatives to try to correct for
any miscalculations.  The point was made that it often takes several
missteps to achieve the best solution but that without making the
attempts, no solutions could ever be found.

For the audience the entire debate was a very satisfying and well-rounded
experience with the thorough ( and non-acrimonious) airing of all sides of
the issues.

If you are interested in getting copies of the videotape, please reply to
me at   bastian@simmons.edu   and I will pass your requests along.

Jeannette
______________________

Jeannette A. Bastian, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Director of the Archives Program
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
300 The Fenway
Simmons College,
Boston, MA 02115

ph- (617)521-2808
fax-(617)521-3192

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

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