News Archive
Winsor Prize-winning article published in LCR 45:4
Pamela Bleisch's Winsor Prize-winning article, "Spoilsmen and Daughters of the Republic: Political Interference in the Texas State Library during the Tenure of Elizabeth Howard West, 1911–1925," was published in the most recent issue of Libraries & the Cultural Record. The essay relates the story of West—the first female head of a public agency in Texas—and her accomplishments as Texas' state archivist from 1911–1915 and as state librarian from 1918–1925, despite the challenge of political interference from the governor's office and the Texas legislature.
The seed for Bleisch's article began in 2006 while she was enrolled in "Library History in the Modern Era," a course taught by Dr. David B. Gracy II, the Governor Bill Daniel Professor in Archival Enterprise, at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Information. She holds a doctorate in classical studies from UCLA and taught classical literature and Roman history for ten years before earning a master's degree in library and information science from Simmons College. Bleisch now resides in San Luis Obispo, California.
Visit the Justin Winsor Prize for Library History Essay webpage for more information about the Winsor Prize and its sponsor, the Library History Round Table. [2/28/11]
LCR book reviews featured in Scarecrow Press promotions
Scarecrow Press promotional materials feature book reviews published in Libraries & the Cultural Record. Bernadette A. Lear's review of The New Woman as Librarian: The Career of Adelaide Hasse (Clare Beck, 2006), published in LCR 42:3, and James V. Carmichael's review of The History of Public Library Access for African Americans in the South; Or, Leaving Behind the Plow (David M. Battles, 2008), published in LCR 45:3, were excerpted in the "Library and Information Science 2011" catalog and on the Scarecrow website (follow these links for The New Woman and Public Library Access excerpts).
Libraries & the Cultural Record is proud to serve its readers as an authoritative voice on current scholarship relating to the broad history of collections of recorded knowledge in libraries, archives, and museums, and to the individuals involved in creating, organizing, preserving or facilitating access to these collections. See our Book Review Guidelines for information about reviewing books for LCR. Also, visit our website for updates as we begin publishing our book reviews online. [2/28/11]
Libraries & the Cultural Record Listed in Social Sciences Citation Index
Libraries & the Cultural Record is pleased to announce its inclusion in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). The journal will be listed starting in 2011 in the "Information Science & Library Science" and the "History of Social Sciences" categories of SSCI.
The Index is a citation database developed by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and a product of Thompson Reuters. It is widely utilized by academics, librarians, students, and others to access expansive collections of research and information and to assess the scholarly impact of published research. Reuters reports that SSCI lists "essential data from 2,474 of the world's leading social sciences journals across 50 disciplines". Inclusion in the index demonstrates the academic standing of a publication and is important for attracting submissions from leading authors.
"This inclusion is recognition of serious efforts made by David Gracy and the editorial team to raise the number and quality of research submissions," said Andrew Dillon, Dean of the School of Information, adding, "Libraries & the Cultural Record has long been recognized within the library community as an important journal, and SSCI inclusion will enhance its standing in the broader information field." [1/4/11]
Journal to Host 2012 Conference on History of Records and Archives
Libraries & the Cultural Record will be the host of the Sixth International Conference on the History of Records and Archives (I-CHORA) in 2012. The broad theme of the conference will be the relationships between archives and the other components of the information domain. The call for papers is expected to be issued this spring. I-CHORA 2010, whose theme is "Records, Archives and Technology: Interdependence over Time," will be held in London
July 1-3. [1/26/10]
L&CR to host Paul Marty presentation
Paul Marty, associate professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University, will speak at the University of Texas at Austin School of Information on April 15. Marty's presentation is held in conjunction with the annual board meeting of Libraries & the Cultural Record. He will examine the historical precedents of the relationship between libraries, archives, and museums within the information domain, focusing on the changing role of the information professional in museums over time. By taking a historical approach to assessing and comparing the nature of information work in cultural heritage organizations and other memory institutions, this study will help shed light on the value of preparing information professionals who can transcend boundaries between libraries, archives, and museums, and identify key research questions that can help guide future inquiry into this topic.
A discussion of hot topics in the history of collections of recorded history will follow Marty's lecture. The presentation will begin at 1:30 p.m. and in the UT Administration Building (UTA), room 1.208. This event is free and open to the public. [3/9/11, time revised 4/7/11]
Deadline Approaches for Winsor Prize Submissions
Manuscripts for the Justin Winsor Prize for Library History Essay must be received by Monday, January 31, 2011. The Winsor Prize, sponsored by the Library History Round Table, is awarded to the author of an outstanding essay embodying original historical research on a significant subject of library history. The award, named in honor of the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer who was also ALA’s first president, consists of a $100 cash award. It includes an invitation to have the winner’s paper considered for publication in Libraries & the Cultural Record. See previous Justin Winsor Prize winners. [11/11/10; Submission deadline updated 1/4/11]
Libraries & the Cultural Record Featured in Top 10 Website List
Libraries & the Cultural Record's website has been honored with inclusion on the Library History Buff's list of "Top 10 Library History Websites." The extensive journal archives housed on the site are credited with providing interesting reading for library history scholars and enthusiasts.
The Top 10 list is compiled by retired librarian Larry Nix, a past contributor to the journal and author of the Library History Buff's Blog. The list also was featured in the November 10, 2010 issue of "American Libraries Direct" in the "Action & Answers" section. "American Libraries Direct" is a weekly newsletter published by American Libraries, the magazine of the American Library Association. [11/11/10]
Libraries & the Cultural Record Welcomes New Managing Editor
Libraries & the Cultural Record is pleased to welcome Heather Graham as its new Managing Editor. Mrs. Graham joined the editorial staff on October 19, 2010.
Mrs. Graham has more than 10 years' experience as a professional editor, writer, and marketing consultant. She has worked with clients from diverse fields, including research, government, law, and education. Prior to joining the journal, Mrs. Graham launched a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based marketing and copywriting firm, providing content and consulting services primarily for small business clients. In 2009, she was awarded a trip to London to explore international expansion for her company as part of British Airways' Face of Opportunity Contest. Mrs. Graham's ongoing contracts include editing the member magazine of The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, also part of The University of Texas system.
Mrs. Graham holds a B.A. in English from Texas A&M University, with an emphasis on technical writing and a history minor. She completed the intensive Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) in New York City, for which she later became an instructor in the marketing section.
Heather Graham may be reached for journal matters at (512) 471-5268 or hgraham@ischool.utexas.edu. [11/10/10]
JANELLE REGINA DUPONT, 1948-2010
AN APPRECIATION
David B. Gracy II
Editor,
Libraries & the Cultural Record
Janelle Regina Dupont, Managing Editor of Libraries & the Cultural Record, died on September 3, 2010.
Janelle knew the editorial business thoroughly. She could spot inconsistencies in expression, numbers, and dates that lay pages apart, and she readily caught and was unerring in cleaning up incongruous changes in expression and ineffective argument. Authors often praised Janelle's skillfulness in polishing their works to a luster.
With her typical zest and attention to organization and detail, Janelle managed the journal so effectively that she not only excelled as Managing Editor, but transformed the job I had projected for myself as Editor such that I could devote more attention to promoting the journal.
In selecting our Graduate Editorial Fellow, to whom she taught the editorial business and whose work she directed, Janelle had an unerring eye for good people. All four whom she hired produced at levels beyond what could be expected, and the loyalty all felt to Janelle confirmed the nature and quality of her instruction. But the greatest testament to Janelle's mentoring is the case of the last Graduate Editorial Fellow she hired. Within the constraint of the few hours a week she is employed on the journal, Amanda Keys has so quickly and effectively stepped into the shoes Janelle prepared her to walk in someday that Amanda has created and fills the role of Acting Managing Editor.
A colleague in publishing marveled to me that the quality of Janelle's work in every area of the editorial enterprise exceeded that of every other editor in the colleague's experience. Individuals who excel as editor, manager, historian, and mentor all, and who are warm human beings, as Janelle Regina Dupont, are special beyond measure. [9/22/10]
CALL FOR PAPERS: State Library Agencies
Libraries & the Cultural Record, a peer-reviewed journal of history published by the University of Texas Press, invites submissions for a special issue devoted to exploring historical perspectives on state library agencies in the United States. Contributors are encouraged to consider the topic in diverse ways. Possible themes might include (but are not limited to):
- The history and evolving role of the state library agency as a type, or of a specific state library agency
- Biographical sketches of significant individuals, including former state librarians, staff, and relevant government officials
- The history of state-wide initiatives, such as resource sharing, cooperative online catalogs, or technology training and support
- State library roles in the certification, organization, or professional development of library staff
- State “extension” of library services to rural or underserved communities
- History of the development and/or implementation of federal programs for supporting library services that are administered by state library agencies
- History of interactions between libraries and education, history, museum, or other departments at the state level
- History of efforts at the state level to document or preserve regional and local history, or to organize and enhance access to state government information
- Comparative histories of two or more state libraries
- The history of ALA’s Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and other entities that encourage collaboration between states.
The Fields of the Information Domain: A Symposium Exploring Their Historical Relationships and Research Opportunities
April 23-24, 2010
The Board of Advisory Editors of Libraries & the Cultural Record announces its third annual symposium to identify signal opportunities for research within the journal's realm. The topic is the historical relationships between and among the fields of the information domain.
The symposium is open to the public and will be held in the School of Information, the University of Texas at Austin, 1616 Guadalupe St. There is no charge to attend, but an RSVP is requested.
The symposium schedule is:
Friday, April 23, Conference Room 5.522
1:00-1:15: Welcome, David B. Gracy II, Editor, Libraries & the Cultural Record
1:15-2:45: Barbara Craig, University of Toronto, "The Past May Be the Prologue: History’s Place in the Future of the Information Professions" [paper read by Pat Galloway]
2:45-3:15: Break
3:15-4:45: William Aspray, University of Texas at Austin, "The History of Information Science: Its History, and Its Relations to Other Information Domains"
Saturday, April 24, Conference Room 1.208
9:00-10:30: Francis Miksa, University of Texas at Austin emeritus, history of libraries and librarianship
10:30-11:00: Break
11:00-12:30: Michele Cloonan, Simmons University, history of preservation and conservation
12:30-1:30: lunch on your own
1:30-3:00: audience discussion of signal research opportunities exploring the historical relationships between and among the fields of the information domain.
For further information on the symposium, e-mail Editor David B. Gracy II at: lcr@ischool.utexas.edu. [3/15/10]
Libraries & the Cultural Record ranked in top 20 percent worldwide
Libraries & the Cultural Record has been rated among the top twenty percent of journals in its field by the Australian Research Council in a ranking of scholarly journals worldwide. In the category of library and information studies, 148 journals were ranked on a four-step scale of A+, A, B, and C. Libraries & the Cultural Record received an A rating, one of only 30 in the LIS field receiving either an A or A+ rating. Just six journals (4 percent) received the A+ ranking. Among the 13 archival journals on the list, only two ranked higher than Libraries & the Cultural Record.
Libraries & the Cultural Record is a multi-disciplinary research journal that explores the history of the information domain and especially the broad history of collections of knowledge that form the cultural record. The peer-reviewed quarterly journal is edited in the University of Texas School of Information and is published by University of Texas Press.
According to the Australian Research Council, for journals ranked A, “the majority of papers . . . will be of very high quality. Publishing in an A journal would enhance the author’s standing, showing they have real engagement with the global research community and that they have something to say about problems of some significance.”
The Australian Research Council, a government agency, worked for two years to complete the job of ranking 20,712 unique peer-reviewed journals published worldwide. The database of rankings is available at: http://www.arc.gov.au/era/era_journal_list.htm. [3/1/10]
Libraries & the Cultural Record now available in JSTOR's digital archives
Libraries & the Cultural Record is at your electronic fingertips in JSTOR, the online, full-text archives of leading academic journals. Cited by JSTOR as a key publication in the disciplines of library and information science, bibliography, and history, Libraries & the Cultural Record can be found in the Arts & Sciences VI Collection, accessed by more than 1,500 institutions. All back issues of L&CR under its three titles are now available online for the first time. [2/15/10]
John Cole, Center for the Book, celebrated in festschrift issue
John Y. Cole, founding director of the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress, is honored in the current issue of Libraries & the Cultural Record. Cole has played a significant role in sponsoring conferences, symposia, lectures, and publications related to book history and library history and is known internationally as the foremost expert on the history of the Library of Congress. The issue’s articles relate to four broad themes that characterize Cole’s career and scholarly interests: the history and historiography of the Library of Congress, the history of The Center for the Book, the history of reading and publishing, and international perspectives on library history. The festschrift was born out of the 2007 Library History Round Table (LHRT) Research Forum dedicated to Cole on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Center for the Book. [2/2/10]
Archivist Barbara Craig to Address Journal Board April 23
Archivist Barbara Craig, professor of the University of Toronto Faculty of Information, will speak at the annual research symposium of the Libraries & the Cultural Record editorial advisory board April 23. The theme of the symposium will be the historical relationships between and among components of the information domain--archives, libraries, preservation and conservation, information science, and history museums. Dr. Craig was asked to speak and lead a discussion because of her contribution to the understanding of the historical development of archival enterprise and her interest in the broader issues of documentation and cultural memory. The symposium, to be held on the University of Texas at Austin campus from 1-4 p.m., is open to the public. [1/26/10]
Library History Seminar Proposals Due January 31
The deadline for submitting proposals for papers or sessions for Library History Seminar XII is January 31. The theme for the seminar, to be held September 10-12, 2010, in Madison, Wisc., is "Libraries in the History of Print Culture." Submission information is on the conference website. [12/17/09]
Deadline Approaches for Winsor Prize Submissions
Manuscripts for the Justin Winsor Prize for Library History Essay must be received by Friday, January 15, 2010. The Winsor Prize, sponsored by the Library History Round Table, is awarded to the author of an outstanding essay embodying original historical research on a significant subject of library history. The award, named in honor of the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer who was also ALA’s first president, consists of a $500 cash award. It includes an invitation to have the winner’s paper considered for publication in Libraries & the Cultural Record. See previous Justin Winsor Prize winners. [11/17/09]
Journal Selected for JSTOR Collection
Libraries & the Cultural Record has been selected for inclusion in JSTOR, the online, full-text archives of leading academic journals. Digitization of all back issues of L&CR and its predecessors, Libraries & Culture and the Journal of Library History, is scheduled for completion in mid-2010. L&CR was cited as a key publication in the disciplines of library and information science, bibliography, and history. According to JSTOR, L&CR was included for its "unique historical perspective," "rigorous review process," "encouragement of interdisciplinary work," and international subject matter. The journal will be added to the Arts & Sciences VI Collection, accessed by more than 1,500 institutions. [10/15/09]
Issues Highlight Women in History of Information Sciences
A forthcoming issue of Libraries & the Cultural Record, 45:2 (May 2010), will be the second of two issues devoted to profiles of women
in the history of the information sciences. Women from the fields of librarianship, information science, and archival enterprise are featured in the two issues. The first issue, 44:2, covered the period approximately from 1900 to 1950; the second will cover 1950 to the present. Issue editors are Trudi Bellardo Hahn and Diane Barlow, professor and associate dean of the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland. [10/1/09]
Board Member is Author of Book on French Revolution Fugitives
Bette W. Oliver, a member of the editorial advisory board of Libraries & the Cultural Record, is the author of the recently published book Orphans on the Earth: Girondin Fugitives from the Terror, 1793-1794. It is the first book on the harrowing experiences of the moderate Girondin deputies who fled Paris and were pursued by the Jacobins. According to one historian, the book "lays bare the tragic human cost of the French Revolution." Oliver, who lives in Austin, is an independent scholar of late eighteenth-century French history. She holds a Ph.D. in modern European history from the University of Texas at Austin. Orphans on the Earth is available through the publisher, Lexington Books, and on Amazon.com. [9/21/09]
Managing Editor to Present at History Conference
L&CR Managing Editor Janelle Dupont will be a co-presenter at the fall meeting of the East Texas Historical Association in Nacogdoches September 25. The session, "Promoting Texas Women's History," will spotlight a new website developed by the Ruthe Winegarten Memorial Foundation for Texas Women's History, womenintexashistory.org. As a foundation board member, Dupont was involved in developing the site, which is designed to aid teachers, students, and researchers in exploring topics in Texas women's history. [9/12/09]
Editor Honored for Service to Archival Profession
L&CR Editor David B. Gracy II recently received the Council Exemplary Service Award of the Society of American Archivists. He was honored for his long career as an archivist, educator, author, editor, and association leader and as a "tireless and enthusiastic advocate and ambassador" for the importance of archives and the work of archivists. The award was presented at SAA's annual meeting held in Austin August 11-16. [8/18/09]
LHRT Research Forum July 12 on Children and Young Adults
The history of librarianship for children and young adults was explored Sunday, July 12, in Chicago at the annual Research Forum of the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association. Panelists were Jennifer Burek-Pierce, University of Iowa, "When the Reign of Children Began: Games, Toys, and Activities for Young People in Libraries, 1876-1920; Kate McDowell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "Children's Voices in Librarians' Words: Children as Readers in Libraries from 1890 to 1930"; Ellen Pozzi, Rutgers University, "An Early Model of Youth Services Cooperation Betwen Public Libraries and Schools (Newark Public Library)"; and Cindy Welch, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, "Are you a YA Librarian?...The Young Adult Alternative Newsletter, 1973-1979." Christine Jenkins, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, served as commentator. The forum was co-sponsored by the Association of Library Services to Children and the Young Adult Library Services Association. [7/13/09]
Literature Survey To Appear in Issue 44:4
Issue 44:4 of Libraries & the Cultural Record (November 2009) will feature the latest in the journal's series of bibliographic essays on library history. The essay will cover two years of library history publications, 2006 through 2007. (A review of literature from 2003-2005 appears in Issue 43:4). The essays are written by Edward A. Goedeken, humanities bibliographer and professor of library science at Iowa State University. [4/1/09]
Journal Publishes I-CHORA Papers
Libraries & the Cultural Record 44:1 features selected papers from the Third International Conference of the History of Records and Archives (I-CHORA), held in Boston in September 2007. Papers presented at I-CHORA 3, whose theme was "Personal Papers and History," addressed the history of personal records and record keeping practices. Special issue editors are Barbara Craig of the University of Toronto, Philip B. Eppard of the University at Albany SUNY, Brenda Lawson of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and Heather MacNeil of the University of British Columbia. [3/1/09]
ALA Honors Miksa's Work in Cataloging and Classification
Francis Miksa, a longtime member of the advisory board of Libraries & the Cultural Record, is the recipient of the 2009 Margaret Mann Citation, awarded by the ALA Association for Library Collections & Technical Services Cataloging and Classification Section for outstanding professional achievement in cataloging or classification. He was honored for his "notable publications" and his "outstanding contribution in the area of teaching cataloging and classification." Miksa is emeritus professor in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin and book review editor of L&CR. [1/30/09]
Deadline for I-CHORA 5 Papers is April 30
The deadline for submitting a proposal to the Fifth International Conference on the History of Records and Archives (ICHORA 5) is April 30. The theme of the conference, to be held in London July 1-3, 2010, is "Records, Archives, and Technology: Interdependence Over Time." Details can be found on the conference's Call for Papers webpage. [1/5/09]
L&CR Contributors Present at ASIS&T Session
Contributors to two forthcoming special issues of Libraries & the Cultural Record presented their research on women pioneers in the information sciences at the annual meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) October 29 in Columbus, Ohio. The session spotlighted the lives and contributions of five of the twelve women who will be featured in articles in L&CR 44:2 (May 2009) and 45:2 (May 2010). Presentations focused on: Suzanne Briet, documentation and reference service innovator in France; Henrietta Avram, networking pioneer at the Library of Congress and developer of MARC; Winifred Sewell, pioneering medical librarian and educator in medical informatics; and Martha E. Williams, pioneer researcher, editor, educator, entrepreneur, and professional leader. Presenters were Michael Buckland, Joan Lussky, Malissa Ruffner, Emily Glenn, Linda C. Smith, and Carol Tenopir. Trudi Bellardo Hahn and Diane Barlow, L&CR special issue editors, were session moderators. [10/30/08]
January 15 is new deadline for Winsor Prize
The new deadline for submitting articles to be considered for the Justin Winsor Prize is January 15, 2009. The deadline, one month earlier than in previous years, was set at the June meeting of the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association, which sponsors the annual award. The Winsor prize is awarded to the author of an outstanding essay embodying original historical research on a significant subject of library history. The author receives $500 and publication of the essay in Libraries & the Cultural Record. The earlier deadline allows the winning article to be published in the journal in the same calendar as the award. See previous Justin Winsor Prize winners. [8/19/08]
Board Identifies Broad Topics for Future Issues
Governments’ involvement in both funding and using information, relationships between library and museum history, and the intellectual basis of the information age are some of the topics the advisory board of Libraries & the Cultural Record has identified as areas of possible exploration for researchers. At its annual meeting March 28, 2008, board members pointed out several untapped areas of library, archival, museum, and information science history in a discussion led by Robert V. Williams, distinguished professor emeritus of the School of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina. Other topics named were the schemes of information organization over time, comparative librarianship, changes in the way people have used information, and the impact of information on cultural history. [4/2/08]
Work of Board Member Michael Winship Spotlighted
The work of bibliographer and book historian Michael Winship, a member of the editorial advisory board of L&CR, is featured on the University of Texas website. [12/3/07]
Journal to Publish I-CHORA Proceedings
Libraries & the Cultural Record will publish papers from the Third International Conference of the History of Records and Archives (I-CHORA), held in Boston in September 2007. A selection of conference papers, which addressed the history of personal records and record keeping practices, will appear in L&CR 44:1 in February 2009. Special issue editors are Barbara Craig of the University of Toronto, Philip B. Eppard of the University at Albany SUNY, Brenda Lawson of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and Heather MacNeil of the University of British Columbia. [11/13/07]
New Book on French Revolution by Advisory Editor Bette Oliver
Bette W. Oliver, a member of the editorial advisory board of Libraries & the Cultural Record, is the author of a new book, From Royal to National: The Louvre Museum and the Bibliotheque Nationale. The book recounts how, as a result of the French Revolution, institutions previously under the crown's jurisdiction were made into public symbols of nationalism. From Royal to National, published in December 2006, reveals the challenges scholars and specialists faced in safeguarding valuable artworks and literature, and creating the Louvre and the Bibliothèque Nationale. The book is available through the publisher, Lexington Books, and on Amazon.com. Oliver is an independent scholar who lives in Austin, Texas. She holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas at Austin. [1/22/07]
Library of Congress book honors Don Davis
A book honoring Donald G. Davis, the longtime editor of Libraries & Culture, has been published by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. Libraries & Culture: Historical Essays Honoring the Legacy of Donald G. Davis, Jr. is a collection of essays first published as a special festschrift issue of Libraries & Culture (40:3) in summer 2005. Davis, emeritus professor in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, and a distinguished library history scholar, was editor of Libraries & Culture (now Libraries & the Cultural Record) for 29 years. The book, published in September 2006, is available from Oak Knoll Press. [9/27/06]
