Ten Years Later: has Ten Years Later: has the blurring of the the blurring of the roles of cultural roles of cultural institutions helped institutions helped or hurt libraries? or hurt libraries? Eve Gaus, Adjunct Reference and Instruction Librarian, Eve Gaus, Adjunct Reference and Instruction Librarian, Elgin Community College Library, Elgin, IL, USA email: Elgin Community College Library, Elgin, IL, USA email: [email protected][email protected]Marta Deyrup, Associate Professor/University Libraries Marta Deyrup, Associate Professor/University Libraries and Director of Women and Gender Studies, Seton Hall and Director of Women and Gender Studies, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA University, South Orange, NJ, USA email: [email protected]email: [email protected]Terry Weech, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Terry Weech, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA email: [email protected]email: [email protected]Alyssa Briggs, Graduate School of Library and Information Alyssa Briggs, Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, IL, USA email: [email protected]Champaign, IL, USA email: [email protected]
Transcript
Ten Years Later: has the Ten Years Later: has the blurring of the roles of blurring of the roles of
cultural institutions cultural institutions helped or hurt libraries?helped or hurt libraries?
Eve Gaus, Adjunct Reference and Instruction Librarian, Elgin Community Eve Gaus, Adjunct Reference and Instruction Librarian, Elgin Community College Library, Elgin, IL, USA email: [email protected] Library, Elgin, IL, USA email: [email protected]
Marta Deyrup, Associate Professor/University Libraries and Director of Marta Deyrup, Associate Professor/University Libraries and Director of Women and Gender Studies, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA Women and Gender Studies, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA
email: [email protected]: [email protected] Weech, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Terry Weech, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information
Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA email: [email protected]: [email protected]
Alyssa Briggs, Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the Alyssa Briggs, Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA email: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA email:
Digital Revolution changes opportunities of Digital Revolution changes opportunities of for-profit and non-profit organizationsfor-profit and non-profit organizationsLibraries and museums increasingly are Libraries and museums increasingly are seen as dynamic memory or culture seen as dynamic memory or culture heritage institutions rather than static heritage institutions rather than static repositories/ collectionsrepositories/ collections“…“…..the distinctions we have drawn between libraries, the distinctions we have drawn between libraries, museums, and archives, based on the kinds of museums, and archives, based on the kinds of things they collect, are really a matter of conventionthings they collect, are really a matter of convention—conventions that have evolved over time.” —conventions that have evolved over time.” Robert S. Martin, “Intersecting Missions, Converging Practice,” RBM 8, no. 1 (Spring 2007): 81.
Institute of Museum and Library Services: Institute of Museum and Library Services: a Force for Changea Force for Change
IMLS for the past decade has played a crucial IMLS for the past decade has played a crucial role in reshaping the roles of museums and role in reshaping the roles of museums and libraries throughlibraries through--Grant specs that encourage collaboration --Grant specs that encourage collaboration between libraries and museumsbetween libraries and museums--An emphasis on accountability and a vision of --An emphasis on accountability and a vision of libraries and museums as “social enterprises”libraries and museums as “social enterprises”-- -- Decade-long, steady increases in funding to Decade-long, steady increases in funding to libraries through the Library Services and libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTATechnology Act (LSTA) )
History/Background of the IMLSHistory/Background of the IMLS
Formed in 1998 from the merger of the Office of Library Formed in 1998 from the merger of the Office of Library Programs and the Institute of Museum ServicesPrograms and the Institute of Museum Services““Primary source of Federal government funding to Primary source of Federal government funding to libraries and museums” (libraries and museums” (Institute of Museums and Library Services, Institute of Museums and Library Services,
Perspectives on Outcome Based Evaluation for Libraries and Museums, n.d. p.2).Perspectives on Outcome Based Evaluation for Libraries and Museums, n.d. p.2). Statutes establishing the Institute mandate “its funds be Statutes establishing the Institute mandate “its funds be used to foster collaboration between and among used to foster collaboration between and among museums and libraries” museums and libraries” (Martin, 2007, p. 82-83). (Martin, 2007, p. 82-83).
"Until the creation of the Institute of Museum and Library "Until the creation of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, collaboration among and between cultural Services, collaboration among and between cultural heritage institution categories was relatively rare"heritage institution categories was relatively rare" (Allen & (Allen & Bishoff, 2001, p.61).Bishoff, 2001, p.61).
Data Drawn from 10 Years ofData Drawn from 10 Years ofIMLS ReportingIMLS Reporting
19981998 Analysis of Library and Museum PartnershipsAnalysis of Library and Museum Partnerships: initial rationale for : initial rationale for library/museum partnershipslibrary/museum partnerships20002000 Perspectives on Outcome Based Evaluation for Libraries and Museums Perspectives on Outcome Based Evaluation for Libraries and Museums : need : need for methods of assessment that resembles those of non-profit agencies for methods of assessment that resembles those of non-profit agencies 2002 2002 True Needs, True Partners: True Needs, True Partners: Findings: “the nation's museums commit more than Findings: “the nation's museums commit more than a billion dollars and…18 million instructional hours every year to K-12…programs” a billion dollars and…18 million instructional hours every year to K-12…programs” 20022002 Status of Technology and Digitization in the Nation's Museums and LibrariesStatus of Technology and Digitization in the Nation's Museums and Libraries Findings: Libraries lead museums in use of technology Findings: Libraries lead museums in use of technology 20032003 Assessment of End-User Needs in IMLS-Funded Digitization Projects. Assessment of End-User Needs in IMLS-Funded Digitization Projects. Findings: moremore need for user-driven projects need for user-driven projects 20042004 Toward Equality of Access: The Role of Public Libraries in Addressing the Toward Equality of Access: The Role of Public Libraries in Addressing the Digital DivideDigital Divide: a study of “the role public libraries have played in helping to narrow the : a study of “the role public libraries have played in helping to narrow the digital divide”digital divide”20052005 Museum Data Collection Report and AnalysisMuseum Data Collection Report and Analysis: addresses “ the need for : addresses “ the need for systematic data collection to inform public policy and…management decision-systematic data collection to inform public policy and…management decision-making”making”20062006 Status of Technology and Digitization in the Nation's Museums and LibrariesStatus of Technology and Digitization in the Nation's Museums and Libraries : : increased use of technology, digitization projects.increased use of technology, digitization projects.20082008 Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital CollectionsFramework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections “identifies “identifies principles of good practice and current” standards in four areas: collections, digital principles of good practice and current” standards in four areas: collections, digital objects, metadata, and digital projectsobjects, metadata, and digital projects20082008 Exhibiting Public ValueExhibiting Public Value: “first major review of museum public finance in the : “first major review of museum public finance in the United States. It explores public support from federal, state, and local government United States. It explores public support from federal, state, and local government sources, focusing particular attention on levels of financial support and types of sources, focusing particular attention on levels of financial support and types of delivery mechanisms for public funding”delivery mechanisms for public funding”
1998-2008: the IMLS Reshapes 1998-2008: the IMLS Reshapes Library/Museum Operations Library/Museum Operations
A focus on:A focus on:
--Increased outreach to underserved --Increased outreach to underserved communities communities
Community OutreachCommunity OutreachFort Worth Public Library – Fort Worth, Fort Worth Public Library – Fort Worth, TX TX Year:Year: 2004 2004Amount:Amount: $233,619 $233,619 Grant:Grant: National Leadership Grants for National Leadership Grants for LibrariesLibraries - Library-Museum Collaboration - Library-Museum CollaborationThe MUSE project, a collaborative effort of The MUSE project, a collaborative effort of the Fort Worth Public Library, the Forth the Fort Worth Public Library, the Forth Worth Public School system, members of Worth Public School system, members of the Tarrant County Storyteller's Guild, and the Tarrant County Storyteller's Guild, and the staff of several major arts organizations the staff of several major arts organizations in Fort Worth (the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth (the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Log Cabin Village, the and Hall of Fame, the Log Cabin Village, the Cattle Raisers Museum, and Imagination Cattle Raisers Museum, and Imagination Celebration) will give local students of all Celebration) will give local students of all ethnic backgrounds an exciting, innovative ethnic backgrounds an exciting, innovative introduction to the richness of local history introduction to the richness of local history by teaching them how to tell their own by teaching them how to tell their own stories about the historical objects and art stories about the historical objects and art locally available. Student participants will locally available. Student participants will learn about history from library research and learn about history from library research and observation of museum artifacts. They will observation of museum artifacts. They will receive schoolroom instruction from receive schoolroom instruction from storytellers-in-residence about how to tell storytellers-in-residence about how to tell stories and will have the opportunity to stories and will have the opportunity to present their stories in a public event at the present their stories in a public event at the close of the school year. close of the school year.
Access to CollectionsAccess to CollectionsFresno Art Museum – Fresno, CA Fresno Art Museum – Fresno, CA Year:Year: 2006 2006Amount:Amount: $149,176 $149,176 Grant:Grant: Museums for AmericaMuseums for America - Serving as - Serving as Centers of Community EngagementCenters of Community EngagementThe project is designed to create a lasting The project is designed to create a lasting relationship between the Fresno Art relationship between the Fresno Art Museum and the Hispanic/Latino Museum and the Hispanic/Latino community in central California. The community in central California. The museum will conduct an outreach campaign museum will conduct an outreach campaign in the major Spanish-language media in the major Spanish-language media outlets; museum signs, brochures, and outlets; museum signs, brochures, and other print material will be translated into other print material will be translated into Spanish; and a Spanish-language Web Spanish; and a Spanish-language Web page will be developed to create a more page will be developed to create a more accessible experience for Spanish-speaking accessible experience for Spanish-speaking guests. The museum will leverage the guests. The museum will leverage the resources of its partners to provide high-resources of its partners to provide high-quality programming, including the quality programming, including the Contemporaneo project, a Latino film Contemporaneo project, a Latino film festival, the Traveling Trunk mobile festival, the Traveling Trunk mobile exhibition of pre-Columbian art, and visiting exhibition of pre-Columbian art, and visiting artists-in-residence. The focus on artists-in-residence. The focus on developing relationships ensures that the developing relationships ensures that the effects of the project will be felt long after effects of the project will be felt long after program funding ends. program funding ends.
DigitizationDigitization
Illinois State Museum Society – Illinois State Museum Society – Springfield, IL Springfield, IL Year:Year: 2007 2007Amount:Amount: $564,651 $564,651 Grant:Grant: National Leadership Grants for National Leadership Grants for MuseumsMuseums - Building Digital Resources - Building Digital ResourcesThe Illinois State Museum Society will The Illinois State Museum Society will create a Web module, the Audio-Video create a Web module, the Audio-Video Barn, featuring digital oral histories of Barn, featuring digital oral histories of people involved in Illinois’s agriculture and people involved in Illinois’s agriculture and rural life. Partnering with the Abraham rural life. Partnering with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the Department Lincoln Presidential Library, the Department of Archives and Special Collections at the of Archives and Special Collections at the University of Illinois, the Regional History University of Illinois, the Regional History Center at Northern Illinois University, and Center at Northern Illinois University, and Randforce Associates, LLC, of the Randforce Associates, LLC, of the University at Buffalo Technology Incubator University at Buffalo Technology Incubator in New York, the museum will combine in New York, the museum will combine archived interviews with new oral histories. archived interviews with new oral histories. Interviews archived at partner institutions Interviews archived at partner institutions will be digitized, and all data will be indexed will be digitized, and all data will be indexed to improve access. The interactive Web to improve access. The interactive Web module will provide Internet visitors with a module will provide Internet visitors with a rich view of Illinois agriculture and enable rich view of Illinois agriculture and enable regional institutions to share their stories regional institutions to share their stories through individual histories. through individual histories.
Lifelong learningLifelong learningOregon Museum of Science and Industry Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – Portland, OR – Portland, OR Year:Year: 2008 2008Amount:Amount: $249,876 $249,876 Grant:Grant: National Leadership Grants for National Leadership Grants for LibrariesLibraries - Library-Museum Collaboration - Library-Museum CollaborationBeyond Fact, a project partnership between Beyond Fact, a project partnership between the Oregon Museum of Science and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Multnomah County Library, will Industry and Multnomah County Library, will create a set of three public programs create a set of three public programs designed to engage adults in discussion-designed to engage adults in discussion-based learning and advance the science based learning and advance the science and information literacy skills that form the and information literacy skills that form the basis for future decision making. The project basis for future decision making. The project is premised on the idea that libraries and is premised on the idea that libraries and science centers are well positioned to act as science centers are well positioned to act as sponsors of public dialogue and deliberation sponsors of public dialogue and deliberation on a range of controversies and questions. on a range of controversies and questions. The programs will include science book The programs will include science book discussion groups meeting in the library discussion groups meeting in the library system’s branches, forum events combining system’s branches, forum events combining informal presentations and discussion, and informal presentations and discussion, and a community-wide reading program a community-wide reading program highlighting an accessible “popular science” highlighting an accessible “popular science” book. book.
New Metadata StandardsNew Metadata Standards
Gerald R. Sherratt Library, Gerald R. Sherratt Library, Southern Utah University – Southern Utah University – Cedar City, UT Cedar City, UT Year:Year: 2000 2000Amount:Amount: $146,012 $146,012 Grant:Grant: National Leadership National Leadership Grants for LibrariesGrants for Libraries - Library- - Library-Museum CollaborationMuseum CollaborationA two-year project entitled “Voices A two-year project entitled “Voices of the Colorado Plateau,” in which of the Colorado Plateau,” in which Southern Utah University will work Southern Utah University will work with seven partner institutions to with seven partner institutions to develop multimedia Web-based develop multimedia Web-based museum exhibits using oral museum exhibits using oral histories and images from the histories and images from the combined collections; the project combined collections; the project will model a collaborative process will model a collaborative process whereby geographically isolated whereby geographically isolated regional libraries and museums regional libraries and museums work together to “tell a greater work together to “tell a greater story.” story.”
A robust technological A robust technological infrastructureinfrastructure
University of Illinois – Champaign, University of Illinois – Champaign, IL IL Year:Year: 2007 2007Amount:Amount: $225,747 $225,747 Grant:Grant: National Leadership Grants for National Leadership Grants for LibrariesLibraries - The UIUC Library will - The UIUC Library will develop and test prototype library develop and test prototype library portals designed to enhance resource portals designed to enhance resource integration in academic libraries. The integration in academic libraries. The project will develop portal mechanisms project will develop portal mechanisms that better integrate a library’s multiple that better integrate a library’s multiple search and discovery tools and search and discovery tools and provide enhanced access to provide enhanced access to distributed primary and secondary distributed primary and secondary information. Utilizing transaction log information. Utilizing transaction log analysis, focus groups, and individual analysis, focus groups, and individual interviews, the research team will interviews, the research team will investigate the utility of search investigate the utility of search assistance techniques. The portal assistance techniques. The portal mechanisms developed in this project mechanisms developed in this project will be useful to the development of will be useful to the development of next-generation resource discover and next-generation resource discover and metasearch systemsmetasearch systems
Unresolved Differences: Who is allowed Unresolved Differences: Who is allowed access to information? Who does the access to information? Who does the
interpreting?interpreting?
Museums do not share in the library tradition of free and Museums do not share in the library tradition of free and open access to a broad span of information open access to a broad span of information In U.S. Libraries provide access to primary clientele In U.S. Libraries provide access to primary clientele without fees.without fees.Museums usually charge admission.Museums usually charge admission.Libraries are generally tax-supportedLibraries are generally tax-supportedMuseums are traditionally supported by private Museums are traditionally supported by private endowments and grantsendowments and grantsLibraries make most of their collections available in open Libraries make most of their collections available in open shelvingshelvingMuseums often make only a small portion of their Museums often make only a small portion of their collections available at any one time, with most of collections available at any one time, with most of collection in storage.collection in storage.
Unresolved Differences: Who is allowed Unresolved Differences: Who is allowed access to information? Who does the access to information? Who does the
interpreting?interpreting?
Museums focus on interpretation of an objectMuseums focus on interpretation of an objectLibraries focus on identification and maintain avoid Libraries focus on identification and maintain avoid interpretationinterpretationLibraries and museums do not share the same metadata Libraries and museums do not share the same metadata standards and thus incompatibility between library and standards and thus incompatibility between library and museum data is a common problem. museum data is a common problem. In fact, museum curatorial staff may view metadata In fact, museum curatorial staff may view metadata assigned to objects as proprietary and their own assigned to objects as proprietary and their own intellectual property – making them the gate keepers to intellectual property – making them the gate keepers to the collection.the collection.
The Results of a Decade of The Results of a Decade of FundingFunding
Ten years ago, IMLS brought together libraries and museums in an innovative collaborative effort, which joined the critical education component and digitalization work of these two cultural heritage institutions which often had very different service and collection missions.
Projects such as the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting illustrate that libraries and museums can successfully work together to bridge their different approaches to metadata
The Results of a Decade of The Results of a Decade of FundingFunding
In the current economic crisis, partnerships between libraries and museums might be seen as increasingly important.
But there is also a danger that the advancements made the last ten years in collaborations between libraries and museums may be open to reconsideration.
The Results of a Decade of The Results of a Decade of FundingFunding
Many libraries branches are reducing staff and hours of service and some are closing.
The question that may be asked in many local communities, is “what priority should be given to cooperation with museums when primary service missions of providing wide ranging information, education and entertainment resources is not shared by the museum
The Results of a Decade of The Results of a Decade of FundingFunding
The economic crisis in the U.S. has affected all types of libraries. Both Public and Academic Libraries have closed branches.
While resource sharing and programming partnerships can be seen as important in challenging economic times, there is often a tendency for organizations to return to their fundamental missions during difficult times.
The Results of a Decade of The Results of a Decade of FundingFunding
Will the economic crises reverse the level of collaboration that has developed in the past ten year?
The answer may in part be determined by the extent to which museums and libraries and support each other in their micro goals and objectives under the umbrella of their macro missions.
The Results of a Decade of The Results of a Decade of FundingFunding
Ironically, as more of the collections of museums are digitalized, they may find themselves more comfortable with the library mission of open access to resources
And as libraries obtain extended access to museum resources, librarians may become more comfortable with providing interpretations of content.
ConclusionsConclusions
Clearly benefits have resulted from library and museum collaborations
But challenges remain as each of the institutions struggle with their own economic shortfalls.
Will libraries and museums eventually merge into a single “Cultural Heritage” organization?
Not likely – Given the strong and unique missions each institution has.
ConclusionsConclusions
Will they continue to collaborate if external funds are not available to provide incentives?
The answer to this question may vary considerably with individual institutions. Some may find ways to continue collaboration, others may not.
ConclusionsConclusions
In any case, the possibilities of collaboration will remain as a result of the ten years of IMLS support in the U.S. for library and museum collaboration.
Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!
