Six Hundred Years of Czech Literature in the New York Public Library: From Hus to Havel

ABSTRACT

Six hundred years of Czech writing are documented in The New York Public Library's holdings. The article shows how ideas traveled from century to century in the Czech lands and who transmitted those ideas. Examples from the collection are presented.     

Digitizing Geosciences Information Proposal and Report for the Center for Research Libraries Working Group on Cooperative Collection Development in Science and Technology

ABSTRACT

A Center for Research Libraries working group on cooperative collection development in the sciences and technology identified the geosciences as a domain whose current and historical publications make ideal candidates for a digitization demonstration project, due to their utility and the diverse nature of their text, tables and images. State geological surveys engage in some of the most important and practical fieldwork undertaken by geologists. State geological surveys and maps have had a critical impact in the discovery, exploration, use and conservation of natural resources. As a consequence, close to 2,000 selected publications from the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming were chosen for the scope, quality and variety exhibited in them. The eighteen-month digitization pilot project will, upon conclusion, design a self-sustaining model for a continuation program.     

Research on Library Services for Distance Learning

Abstract

This paper examines the research that has been conducted to date on the topic of library support for distance learning programs and identifies some priorities for future research. The two main types of studies prevalent in the literature on this topic are surveys of libraries and user studies. Research findings from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada provide a perspective on the knowledge base in this area and enable some generalizations to be made about service provision and user needs. The results of a recent survey of librarians indicate that the number one research priority in distance learning library services is collaboration with faculty to integrate library and electronic resources into Web-based distance learning courses.     

Assisting with Information Technology in East Africa

Summary

There are opportunities for Law Librarians, no matter what their position, to assist with the development of information technology in many interesting locations throughout the world. This article describes two such opportunities experienced by the author in East Africa. The article also provides a starting place for those who wish to become involved as well as listing some issues one should take into consideration when considering such an opportunity.     

Classifying the Imaginary: An Expansion of Library of Congress’ Subclass G9930 for Local Use

Abstract

Class G provides granular classification for most cartographic materials through a well-established and expanded Cuttering system, maps of imaginary places are classified under G9930 which has no formal expansion. With the creation of a collection of imaginary maps at the Texas A&M University Libraries, the lack of expansion under G9930 created access and filing complications. This case study describes the problem that growing a collection under the unexpanded classification system posed and the solution that was found through the creation of an in-house expansion for G9930.     

Services to Distance Learners: Planning for E-Reserves and Copyright

Abstract

This paper focuses on the outreach to over 3,000 students taking classes at over 80 locations within the State of Maine, as well as students taking classes nationally via the Web through the University of Maine System Network (UNE1). The discussion will briefly note the wide range of collections and services available through the University of Maine System's digital library and the Off-Campus Library Services Office. In particular, the discussion will center on reserve services for students at remote locations, using traditional paper copies and particularly electronic reserves, and the copyright issues that surround the e-reserve service.     

Cards and Reflections: The Eugene Gros Collection of Sputnik-Era Technical Literature at Texas A&M University

ABSTRACT

British translator and publisher of Russian technical literature Eugene Gros, evidently of Czech origin, collected over two thousand titles published in the Soviet Union from approximately 1945 to 1965. These books are now at Texas A&M University library, which introduced the books into the OCLC online union catalog from Library of Congress catalog cards while updating name entries, series, subject headings, and classification numbers. Publishers, notable authors, and titles in the Gros collection are surveyed, proceeding from power, mechanical and civil engineering, metallurgy and defense (e.g., aerospace and electrical engineering) to Academy of Sciences and popular publications on science and technology. Book title imagery and style are another perspective on the collection.     

Polska Biblioteka Internetowa (Polish Internet Library) <http://www.pbi.edu.pl>

ABSTRACT

The article describes the website Polska Biblioteka Internetowa (Polish Internet Library), currently a collection of many full texts of major literary works in Polish. The site will eventually also include musical scores, maps, paintings, and photographs. Title and author keyword searching is available, along with a browsable index of authors. The site is in Polish.     

Examination of museum objects by means of video holography

Abstract

A prototype inspection system has been tested which makes use of electronic speckle pattern interferometry with computer image processing, for deformation and stress analysis and for the location and analysis of defects in museum objects. Two different examples have been chosen: a nineteenth-century oil painting on a wood panel and a seventeenth-century enamelled terracotta vase. The method can give quite accurate metrological information; it is also particularly promising for rapid qualitative analysis.     

Faculty–library collaborations in digital history: A case study of the travel journal of Cornelius B. Gold

ABSTRACT

In this article, the authors present a case study on a teaching and learning initiative in digital humanities at Connecticut College. The article outlines a project in which students in a midlevel history course collaborated with library staff and faculty to develop a digital exhibition on a nineteenth-century journal in the College's collection. The cooperative approach and institutional support that the team received provided an effective and flexible means for achieving common goals. As students applied emergent technologies to college collections, they were able to conduct meaningful research and bring archival resources to new audiences.     

Retrospective Cataloging of Maps in a Small Liberal Arts College

Abstract

In February 2002, members of Saint Anselm College Geisel Library's Cataloging Unit started a project to retrospectively catalog the Library's small, but diverse, collection of cartographic materials. The Cataloging Unit of Geisel's Technical Services Department is comprised of two full-time catalogers plus one half-time cataloger. The Library's Government Documents Department (Geisel is a selective, 15% depository), where much of these materials are housed, does not have a dedicated cataloging staff. The collection of approximately 950 titles included topographic series maps, topographic/bathymetric maps (367), CIA country study maps (480), remote sensing image maps (20), hanging wall maps (6), globes (3), political ward maps (40), atlases (21), and monographic maps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries (10).

This article describes the planning, requirements and challenges faced by a Baccalaureate College Liberal Arts library performing an inhouse retrospective cataloging project of cartographic materials.     

In Memory of the Czar: A Review of the Memoirs of Witnesses and Contemporaries of Emperor Nicholas II

ABSTRACT

This article surveys the collection devoted to the memory of Emperor Nicholas II held at the Museum of Russian Culture in San Francisco. The author describes the cataloged materials of a unique collection of materials passed on to the Museum by Russian emigrants of the first and second waves, many of whom worked to preserve the memory of Russia’s last Sovereign and also made a significant contribution to the creation of the Museum and its archival collections.     

Researching Initiatives and Referenda: A Guide for Maine

SUMMARY

This article discusses the history of the initiative and referendum processes in Maine, including the steps needed to get an initiative or referendum on the State ballot. Part II of this paper discusses the early history of the initiative and referendum processes in Maine. Part III discusses recent use of initiatives in Maine. Part IV discusses the basics of the initiative and referendum processes in Maine, including a discussion of the differences between the People's Veto and a referendum, both used in Maine as mechanisms for the people to vote on whether a particular piece of legislation should take effect. Part V provides a detailed bibliography of research materials on the Maine initiative and referendum processes.     

美国数字地图图书馆——美国人寻根和族谱研究的辅助平台

美国数字地图图书馆旨在为美国公众和族谱专家在线提供可读性强的、有帮助的、高质量的地图。文章从资源组织、技术特征、界面设计、服务特点等方面对美国数字地图图书馆作了概要的评述,并提出了评价和建议。     

Spread or Sacrifice: Dilemma for Lighting Policies

ABSTRACT

Light sensitive objects will fade on display. Collection managers and curators face the dilemma whether to spread fading over several similar objects or sacrifice one. This paper describes an experiment in which participants were asked how they would want to pass on a collection of seventeenth century hand-coloured maps to coming generations. Results show that while colour changes are hardly visible, both public and professionals do not perceive them as damage and prefer to spread fading. Once fading becomes clearly visible in all maps, the preference shifts to sacrificing one map. The tipping point lies around five just noticeable changes. This information can be used when selecting objects for exhibition. The outcome also implies it would be prudent to assess the degree of fading of much exhibited objects and consider whether and when to choose for a sacrifice strategy.     

The Cost-effectiveness of Preventive Conservation Actions

ABSTRACT

Two historic house museums, a municipal art gallery, and a provincial archive have had comprehensive risk and option assessments done by the Canadian Conservation Institute. For each institution, an average of 60 options addressing 40 risks was analyzed in terms of risk reduction, cost, and cost-effectiveness. A meta-analysis found that cost-effectiveness follows a strong economy of scale within each institution. By estimating valuation of each collection, cost-effectiveness was converted into benefit–cost ratio of dollar spent per dollar value saved and was found not to follow an economy of scale between small and large institutions. Optimization software was applied to see if precise maximization of risk reduction gave significantly different recommendations than those in the original reports which relied on the Pareto rule of addressing the largest risks first.     

FROM THE LITERATURE

ABSTRACT

BrowZine is a mobile application and web service that helps users create their own personalized library/collection of journals. This column will showcase some special features of this app and describe its format and capabilities for mobile devices. BrowZine enables users to organize and manage journals and articles that are commonly read in their field and disciplines in order to track and keep abreast of new research.     

CD-ROMs in the Electronic Library

Abstract

With CD-ROMs it is possible to provide more consistent review, evaluation, selection, and reconsideration of a collection than can be achieved in the case of book and journal collections. In addition to developing an electronic resources policy statement, request and review forms, monthly statistical tables, and database-analysis reports, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Library has used faculty surveys to provide data for this part of the collection management process.     

Undergraduate Perceptions of the Reference Collection and the Reference Librarian in an Academic Library

Abstract

Many undergraduate students have no clear idea of the purpose and function of the reference collection and the services offered by the reference librarian. Uncertainty about these resources may cause students to overlook their usefulness, unsatisfactorily complete assignments, and develop a negative attitude concerning libraries. Through a survey, students related their perceptions of the reference collection and reference librarian. The results are intended to give the reference team insight into the students' conceptions and perhaps improve and enhance reference services to undergraduates.