Dissertation Information for Ann Michelle Knight Randall NAME: - Ann Michelle Knight Randall
- (Alias) Ann Knight Randall
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Columbia University (USA) (1976)
ADVISORS: - Oliver L. Lilley
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Phyllis Dain - Miriam Ruth Braverman - Jane Anne Therese Hannigan - Edward Mapp
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: African American resources in American libraries : collection development, reader services, and administrative factors
Abstract: The decade of the 1960's was an era of vigorous activity in research, publication, and reprinting of materials by and about black people in America, Africa, and other parts of the world. Black Studies programs were created at all educational levels. The library activity was influenced by publication, curriculum change, student awareness, and governmental and foundation support. In urban comunities, the social improvement goals of the civil Rights movement were associated with the increased quest for knowledge about the African American heritage. The library commitment to resource development is more widespread in recent years, but some excellent collections were developed during the first half of the century. The special black collections at New York Public Library, Howard University, Fisk University, Chicago Public Library, Atlanta University, and Tuskegee Institute are long established. Other research libraries such as Yale University, and the Library of Congress have impressive holdings, which are not separately organized. Over one hundred libraries are arranged by geographic region; their Africa~ American resources are described by size, organization, subject specialty, unique items, language, media range, geographic scope, printed catalog or bibliography, etc. The research problem involves documentation and analysis of professional experience. It is of interest to know what factors influenced collection development practices, and what readers services are provided. Factors which indicate how the problem is related to the broad background of library practice, and to specialized areas within librarianship are examined. The methodology is priMarily normative. The 186 respondents were drawn from: member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries, public libraries including the fifty largest cities (1970 Census), predominantly black college and university libraries with more than 1,000 students, and other academic libraries engaged in developing these resources. The Crosstabs II computer program was used for statistical analysis and tabular data. Findings and implications are: (1) Administrative patterns vary according to type of library, institutional objectives, collection size, financial resources, and presence of specialist personnel. Eight steps for program assessment, and ten indicators of importance are stated. (2) Special black collections are not appropriate to all libraries, the concept of major centers for African American research is consistent with prior studies and current trends. (3) In the absence of a special black collection, some definition of responsibility for these materials is desirable. Additionally, (4) Among the library problems which continue arp identification of black authorship, and dete~.ination of significant materials about the black experience. (5) Readers services indices, based upon the "Checklist of Library Services," indicated that the readers services level was significantly higher when there was one or more librarians specifically assigned. (6) While special funding has benefited resource development, it does not take the place of a specific budget to facilitate systematic growth. Moreover, (7) Librarians indicated high interest in related issues. Opinions were sometimes affected by education and ethnicity. (8) Library school training in black studies was generally evaluated at a low level. Overall educational preparation, including continuing professional study was more significantly related to readers services involvement. (9) Access to unique or specialized materials is enhanced by cooperation between resource centers, and participation in major bibliographical systems. Finally, (10) the network for communication should involve special black collections, large research centers, and many interested libraries at all levels which would benefit from shared ideas and resources.
The period of expansion and experimentation had begun to decline by 1973. Nevertheless, a more thorough understanding of history and society had been derived from developments of the prior decade. It is believed that African American resources will remain a viable part of the historical record collected by libraries. The logo statement is appropriate: "Enlightenment, growth and knowledge through reading and research.
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MPACT Scores for Ann Michelle Knight Randall A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-05-09 10:37:51
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