Hello, ALABI gang! We are working on improving our Special Collections Web site, and I wondered if you had sites that you would recommend? Are there sites you don’t like? Why not? All suggestions are welcome.
The annual meeting of the Association of Librarians and Archivists at Baptist Institutions will be held on June 3-4, 2009 at the Southern Baptist Convention Building in downtown Nashville. The staff of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives will host the meeting.
The preliminary agenda for the meeting and the registration form are now available on the ALABI Meeting page.
The Association has reserved rooms in the nearby Holiday Inn Express on Broadway. Attendees can make reservations by calling the toll free reservation number 888-465-4329. Be sure to mention that you attending a meeting sponsored by the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives. The room rate for the meeting is $102. Parking is available at the hotel or in the SBC Building. Information on the hotel can be found at http://www.hiexndt.com/.
The minutes and treasurer’s report for the 2008 meeting are also posted on the ALABI Meetings page.
Ouachita Baptist University (www.obu.edu) seeks an archivist to manage collection acquisition, processing, preservation, and research services in the Library’s Special Collections Department (www.obu.edu/library/specialcoll.htm), which houses historical records of the University, the Clark County Historical Association, and the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, including major senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial collections as well as regional manuscript materials, oral histories, and photographs. Other duties include presentations, participation in professional associations, administration of local historical association’s publications program, authoring web page content, supervising student workers and staff, and developing displays and exhibits. Salary and faculty rank for this tenure-track position commensurate with experience and education; generous benefits include TIAA/CREF. The successful candidate will possess an appropriate graduate degree in library/information science, public history, history, or related field; ability to work independently and collaboratively; good communications, interpersonal, and organizational skills; and sympathy with the University’s Christian mission. The ideal candidate will have at least three years’ experience in archival administration; knowledge of Arkansas history is an advantage. Nestled in the scenic Ouachita Mountain foothills, OBU is adjacent to Lake DeGray and the Ouachita River yet only 30 miles from Hot Springs National Park and an hour from Little Rock. A pro-diversity employer, OBU solicits an application letter addressing qualifications and interest, names and telephone numbers of three references, and vita sent to Ray Granade, Ph.D., Director of Library Services, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, AR 71998. Application review begins immediately and continues until position is filled.
Hi, ALABI friends! Jason asked if I would contribute to the ALABI blog, and I just wanted to try a quick test post and introduce myself to those of you who may not know me. My name is Laura Botts, and I’m the Head of Special Collections at the Jack Tarver Library, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia. Our collections include both university archives and the holdings of the Georgia Baptist History Depository. Mercer University’s Atlanta campus is pleased to be the new home of the American Baptist Historical Society, and updates on their move are available on their website.
I hope we can use our blog to stay in touch more frequently this year. If you have topics to suggest, please let me know. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you at our annual meeting later in the year. Happy 2009!
For a couple of years, speculation has been rampant about the future of Google’s plans for it’s Google Books service. Due to Google’s involvement in litigation over the issue of copyright infringement, all bets have been off as to how the service would actually develop to ensure that authors and publishers get compensated for their work. Today, the New York Times reported that the lawsuits concerning Google have now been settled. The article includes some vague details about a service that Google intends to offer to libraries, that should be of particular interest to the members of ALABI.
At the recent meeting in Macon, ALABI members were presented with the proposed changes to the constitution. Those changes are now available for download at the links below. The members of ALABI will vote concerning the changes at the 2009 meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
Some of you may be interested to read Robert Darnton’s thoughts on libraries from the latest New York Review of Books. Dr. Darnton is Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Director of the University Library at Harvard.
Also, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, blogged about Dr. Darnton’s article today.
Laura Botts of Mercer University asked that we remind everyone that the Georgia Baptist Historical Society and the Special Collections of Mercer University have books available for purchase. More information can be obtained at the links below.
The Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives is accepting applications for the position of Librarian. The Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, is a center for the study of Baptist history and life. Please see the attached announcement below for more information.
All of the members of ALABI are undoubtedly familiar with Kathy Sylvest. Over the years, she has been a friend to many of us, and she played an integral part in the development of both SBLA and ALABI. Taffey Hall of SBHLA asked that we post the following notice of Kathy’s retirement.
Kathy Sylvest retired at the end of April as Librarian for the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives. SBHLA staff honored her with a reception on Tuesday, April 29 in the Parlor of the Southern Baptist Convention Building. Kathy has worked with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and the SBHLA. She had a fall at home in late February and spent several weeks in the hospital and rehab. The SBHLA staff wishes Kathy well in this new chapter of her life.
If anyone would like to drop Kathy a line, please email Bill Sumners to obtain her contact information.