Channeling Janus: Past, Present, and Future in the RBMS Membership Survey

In 2015, the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) surveyed its membership for the first time in 18 years.1 At roughly the span of a generation, 18 years is a long time in the rapidly changing world of libraries. Consider, for example, that in 1997 J.K. Rowling had just released the first Harry Potter novel, Google was a year away from being founded, and fewer than half of the respondents to the first RBMS Membership Survey had access to e-mail and the Internet at home. New landscapes call for new data, and the 2015 RBMS Membership Survey answers that call. Its findings contribute to our understanding of the past, present, and future of special collections professionals

Identity and User Preference in the Presentation and Content of Digital Archives: A Study of the Plumas County Museum’s Haun Collection

This thesis explores user preference in the presentation and content of online archives in small, local institutions. To obtain data for this study, a collection from the Plumas County Museum in northern California was digitized, and three versions were presented on a custom-built test website: 1) a straightforward reproduction of documents in the collection; 2) a pairing of reproductions and typed transcripts; and 3) a selective, interpretive reproduction with supporting secondary material. Users with a variety of research backgrounds viewed the website and provided feedback through an anonymous, online survey. Google Analytics was also used to measure site traffic. During the five-week testing period, 25 complete surveys, five partial surveys, and traffic information from 183 unique users were gathered. Survey findings indicate that 46 percent of users found version 3—the highly processed, highly contextualized presentation—most useful. When controlling for research experience, scholarly and professional users preferred the straightforward reproduction (version 1), while students and teachers preferred an enhanced presentation (versions 2 and 3). Avocational researchers did not show a clear preference. Site traffic showed a heavy concentration of users (68%) from California, as well as users from 15 other states. These findings suggest that while local archives may be most relevant within their geographical range, digitization of collections can extend an archives’ usership more broadl

Archeological and Geoarcheological Survey of State Highway 35 between Angleton and Old Ocean, Brazoria County, Texas

During March through July 2003, The Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted a cultural resources survey, including geoarcheological studies, along portions of State Highway 35 from Angleton to Old Ocean in Brazoria County, Texas. This survey was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 3091 and was performed for the Texas Department of Transportation, Environmental Affairs Division. During the early phases of the survey, a Historic Context for the project was developed by Hardy-Heck-Moore, Inc. of Austin, Texas. This Historic Context was used to guide the latter phases of the survey, and is reproduced in this document. The project area consisted of a 15-mile-long discontinuous portion of the highway, with variable widths and eight separate detention ponds, varying in area from 2–12 acres each. Nearly 600 auger borings, here substituted for shovel tests, and 176 backhoe trenches were excavated, encountering no significant cultural deposits or features. The artifacts uncovered during these investigations were of recent origin and, therefore, none were collected for analysis and curation. With the exception of testing at site 41BO184, this project completes the cultural resources inventory of the State Highway 35 corridor between Angleton and Old Ocean

Racial Realism or Foolish Optimism: An African American Muslim Woman in the Field

This essay discusses a number of identity issues related to what people of color experience in American society, with a particular focus on Derrick Bell's concept of racial realism. The essay looks at Bell's theory as it informs the author's identity as an African American Muslim woman and her work as an archivist and librarian at an academic institution. Although this concept could be considered very pessimistic, the paper discusses how Bell's work actually permits people of color the freedom to work from a platform of self-empowerment

National Register Eligibility Testing of Site 41BO184, Brazoria County, Texas

Site 41BO184 is located within the right-of-way for the proposed expansion of State Highway 35 at the Oyster Creek crossing in southern Brazoria County. It was originally recorded as a multicomponent site in 1994 and was the subject of three distinct and limited archeological investigations by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) staff. In 2003, TxDOT contracted with the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio to test the National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark eligibility of the site. Systematic mechanical auger borings, ten hand-excavated 1-x-1-meter test units, and Gradall scrapings helped identify a very sparse Late Prehistoric, possibly Rockport, component at the site. Although it is possible that at least some of the prehistoric artifacts come from the shell-paved driveway that cross-cut the site, it is also possible that some of the prehistoric artifacts represent in situ finds. The historic component, rich in temporally diagnostic ceramic fragments, dates to the mid-nineteenth century. The lack of intact features, the small size of the artifact assemblage, and the reduced size of the available materials, severely limits the research potential of the site. Therefore, it is recommended that site 41BO184 is not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places nor does it warrant designation as a State Archeological Landmark

Leaving librarianship: a study of the determinants and consequences of occupational turnover

The purpose of this study was to better understand occupational turnover among librarians and archivists by examining the careers of individuals who have left or intend to leave the profession, in order to identify the factors associated with turnover, and to discover the career outcomes of those who leave. The dissertation analyzes a subset of the data collected in 2007 by the Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science 1 (WILIS 1) project, a study of the career patterns of the graduates of five LIS master's programs in North Carolina from 1964-2007. The framework of the life course perspective was used in the analysis of quantitative and textual survey responses to facilitate a more nuanced interpretation of careers and the process of turnover in the context of personal relationships and timing over the life course. Themes related to career patterns, work values, work mismatches, turnover, and outcomes of career transitions were identified. Occupational turnover rates for this sample are low. Only 13% have left the profession, and only 2% indicate that they will leave the field within three years for reasons other than retirement. Good work relationships and opportunities for career development and advancement are important to job satisfaction, and most respondents are satisfied with their LIS work and career. Those who intend to leave or have already left cite low salaries, overwork, bureaucratic or poor management, a lack of opportunities for advancement, and the unavailability of flexible scheduling or part time work as influences on their turnover decisions. Geographical mismatches or conflicting work and family responsibilities also play a role in turnover decisions. Of those who have left library and archival work, their career outcomes are typically positive, and 91% are satisfied with their current employment. Binary logistic regression analyses with nested models confirm that the hypothesized predictors that emerged from the survey data and career narratives - job satisfaction, availability of career development opportunities, relationships with co-workers, and salary influence organizational turnover intention. Job and career satisfaction as well as the intent to leave the organization predict occupational turnover

Decolonizing Archival Methodology: Combating hegemony and moving towards a collaborative archival environment

The foundation of archival methodology is influenced by colonialism and imperialism. This paternalistic system has created a hegemonic environment that has directly influenced archivists working with Indigenous materials. While positive steps have been made, such as the enactment of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (1990) and the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials (2006), severe limitations exist due to a difference in worldview and cultural beliefs. In order to reverse the effects of hegemony and decolonize archival methodology, an exerted effort must be made to increase collaboration between archives and Indigenous communities. Furthermore, higher education must attract Indigenous students to information science programs in order to create a more diverse workforce. However, in order to enact lasting change in methodology, the archival profession must receive an injection of activist principles. These principles will help advance decolonizing initiatives and ensure the end of paternalism and colonialism in archival science