Library and Information Science Commons^™

Officers

The Primary Source

Proposed slate of officers for 2003-2005.

Descent Of The Papersquashers, Russell D. James

The Primary Source

Court records are complex. To understand them, special training is necessary. For archivists the court records we have in our collections are mysteries we crave to unravel, but never have the time to do so. The court records of Mississippi have taken on a new meaning and importance for archivists in the past year.

The Conversion Of The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Records, Anna Schwind, Sarah Rowe-Sims, David Pilcher

The Primary Source

In 2001, after the final court-ordered record release, the Electronic Records (ER) section of the Archives and Library Division of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) assumed responsibility for the electronic version of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission records.' In addition to basic maintenance and preservation responsibilities, ER was assigned the task of converting the proprietary inhouse system to make it web accessible. This was a watershed project representing both closure and new beginnings. Not only would the web-enabled electronic version mark the final stage in access with the promise of global availability via the Internet but it …

Ramblings And Introspection From The Electronic Records Section At Mdah, David Pilcher

The Primary Source

The proliferation of electronic records is causing governments, corporations and organizations around the globe to reassess the way they keep and manage their records. There's no more prominent example of this than our own country's National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and its draft "Proposal for a Redesign of Federal Records Management," issued in July 2002. This proposal was preceded by the "Report on Current Recordkeeping Practices within the Federal Government," produced jointly by NARA and a private contractor in December 2001, and the General Accounting Office's (GAO) report to Congress entitled "Information Management: Challenges in Managing and Preserving Electronic …

"As If Uttered By Our Own Inspired Mouth": Researching The Corpus Juris Civilis, Frederick W. Dingledy

Library Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Notes From The Co-Editors, Junior Tidal, Bronwen Densmore

Urban Library Journal

No abstract provided.

Interdisciplinary Collecting – A Conceptual Outline Of Urban Studies, Linda Wadas

Urban Library Journal

No abstract provided.

Cuny's Lilac As A Model For A Large Urban University Professional Development Organization, Galina Letnikova

Urban Library Journal

No abstract provided.

Serving The Commuter College Student In Urban Academic Libraries, Mariana Regalado, Maura Smale

Urban Library Journal

No abstract provided.

Usability Issues With Oclc Worldcat, Georgia Southern University, Zach S. Henderson Library

Library Publications (1999-2023)

• Usability issues with OCLC WorldCat

Serving The Commuter College Student In Urban Academic Libraries, Mariana Regalado, Maura A. Smale

Publications and Research

Cities often host many colleges and universities; while the commuter student in suburban or rural areas may drive or be driven to school, students at colleges and universities in dense, urban settings rely predominantly on mass transit for their commute to class. The act of commuting to campus has been found by a number of researchers to define and shape the experiences of commuter students in college, though the literature on college students who commute is not extensive. A qualitative study of the academic culture and scholarly habits of undergraduate students at the City University of New York (CUNY) revealed …

The Dory Fleet Of Pacific City: An Annotated Bibliography, Kathleen Spring, Brenda Devore Marshall, Andrea Snyder, Mary Beth Jones, Alicia Schnell, Gabrielle Leif

Dory Project Scholarship and Process Documents

This annotated bibliography has been created as part of the Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City project. Kathleen Spring, Brenda DeVore Marshall, Andrea Snyder, Mary Beth Jones, Alicia Schnell, and Gabrielle Leif have contributed to the document. Many of the articles and other documents were found in personal scrapbooks and files. In many cases, the bibliographic information is incomplete. Research is ongoing, and the bibliography will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Entire Issue Volume 24, Number 1

The Primary Source

Complete issue of Vol. 24, No. 1 of The Primary Source.

Reports

The Primary Source

Reports of recent archival conferences and events.

Preservin' The South

The Primary Source

Updates on research and developments in preservation.

The Genealogists And The Keepers Of The Records: A Fable, Lynne Mueller

The Primary Source

Once upon a time (as all good fables should begin), there was a tribe of people called the Genealogists. They were good people and tried to emulate their ancestors. They pursued many occupations, but all were dedicated to finding out and publishing the Great Deeds of their ancestors. They were happy in their mission (except when they found out bad things about their ancestors). Some were beginners and didn't know what to do, but others, who had been seeking out the Great Deeds of the ancestors for a long time, helped them.

The "Re-" In Reprocessing, Melissa L. Finley

The Primary Source

Who knew a simple prefix could make such a difference? When I initially accepted a position at Clemson University to reprocess the James F. Byrnes papers, I thought, "process ... reprocess ... what's the difference, really?" The collection consists of about a hundred and thirty cubic feet of manuscript material, and I thought I would be doing the same old arranging I had been trained to do, just on a much larger scale. However, after a closer examination of the collection, apprehension and even dread slowly began to set in. This was much more than just a simple arrangement project.

Record Keeper Or Historian? No, Cantadora!, Russell D. James

The Primary Source

Twentieth century professionals argued over whether their particular field of study was a science or an art. Modernists preferred science, romanticists and post-modernists fancied art. Archivists, arguably one of the most noble old professions, have had the same debate. As a philosopher-at-heart, I have always seen myself as an artist who unfortunately must be scientific. This approach to life has helped me in my journey toward my archival career.

Experiences Of A New University Archivist In The Mississippi Delta, Meredith Johnston

The Primary Source

This article is a brief account of my first two years as University Archivist at Delta State University. While I talk much about my experiences in the Mississippi Delta, I believe each new archivist who relocates for a job can relate to the tasks of adjusting to a new living and working environment. This is meant to be a brief, light-hearted article that hopefully provides some practical information for those just beginning their career in the archival profession.

Mentoring Tips For The New Archivist: A True Story, Craig Piper

The Primary Source

Our archival adventure begins as our hero, me, finds himself in need of a job between semesters during the summer of 1992 when I worked in Mississippi State University's Special Collections and University Archives. I went on to Vicksburg and Shiloh National Military Parks and worked on their archives from 1997-1999, and then honed my archival skills at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History from 1999-2000. I am now back at State and work in the library's Congressional and Political Research Center.

To Temp Or Not To Temp: An Informal Opinion On Temporary Jobs, Melissa L. Finley

The Primary Source

Temporary or grant-funded positions are becoming an increasingly common and effective means of obtaining practical work experience for beginning archivists and librarians. For those new professionals considering limited-term jobs, there are several issues to explore before accepting such a position. Interestingly enough, most of the issues addressed below can be viewed as advantages or disadvantages, depending on perspective and approach. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this informal "case study" are based on my experiences in a temporary position and are intended solely as such.

Entire Issue Volume 23, Number 2

The Primary Source

Complete issue of Vol. 23, No. 2 of The Primary Source.

Accessions: 2000-2001

The Primary Source

New accessions during the years 2000-2001.

Book Reviews

The Primary Source

Review of Obituaries in American Culture by Janice Hume (University Press of Mississippi, 2000).

Preservin' The South

The Primary Source

Updates on research and developments in preservation.

Spotlight On Mississippi Archives

The Primary Source

Spotlight on the Jackson County Archives in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Alabama Department Of Archives And History: Celebrating A Centennial, Tracey Berezansky

The Primary Source

When the Society of American Archivists comes to Birmingham in 2002, the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) will be 101 years old. It is the first Archives established as an official agency of state government, preceding the establishment of the National Archives and the SAA by over thirty years. In November of 1940, Archivist of the United States R.D.W. Connor stated in his speech for the dedication of the new Alabama Archives building that the "establishment of this department in 1901 has been called 'a new venture in political science' in the United States." The department's enabling legislation …

Public Records: The Natchez Experience, Mimi Miller

The Primary Source

The public records story in Natchez is not unlike the public records story in many county seats in Mississippi. The plot revolves around the recurring themes of too little room, too little interest, and too little money.

Harrison County: A Status Report, Tim Barnard

The Primary Source

Harrison County, Mississippi has seen two major growth spurts in recent years, one in the 1970's after Hurricane Camille and another in the 1990's with the arrival of the casino industry. Both times this meant an increase in government services and the resulting records. The need for an organized method of maintaining those records was reaching a critical point.

Local Government Records In Mississippi: A Status Report, Bill Hanna

The Primary Source

There have been significant gains made in the management and preservation of records of local governments since the implementation of the Local Government Records Law in 1996. Although the progress achieved has not been realized in all local governments, there are concentrated efforts underway in at least one-quarter of the state's eighty-two counties to establish a clear records management and 5 archives function within county government. The same type of effort is found in the larger municipalities within the state.