2019/05/03 Minutes

Owned by Lewis Day
Last updated: May 03, 2019

Section Heads Meeting • May 3, 2019

Attending: Dorothy, Lewis (minutes), Linda, Susan

Absent: Adrien

Technical Services Department meeting, Thursday, May 9: Agenda

  1. Renovation update - Susan
  2. NETSL Update - Ryan
  3. Diversity and Inclusion Working Group: Six projects - Lewis
    (1) Artwork, Signage, and Design in Public Spaces
    (2) Exhibition Policies and Guidelines
    (3) Collection Development Policy
    (4) Staff Training
    TS-led initiatives:
    (5) Representation on the Website - Dorothy
    Most of the collections currently highlighted on the website are European and Anglo-American, and almost entirely feature the experience of wealthy, white figures, generally men. Update the website with collection pages representing historically marginalized communities. Evaluate current collection page topics to determine whether or not there are other perspectives that could be added to them.
    Timetable: Fall, 2019
    (6) Descriptive Guidelines for Archival Processing and Book Cataloging – Linda, Adrien
    In order to more consistently use preferred language and properly contextualize material related to people, or representations of people, from historically marginalized groups, develop descriptive guidelines for the manuscripts section and rare book section. Both teams should devote time to researching current best practices and theory, work to determine the best approach for Houghton, and then document and implement the approach.
    Timeline: Fall 2019-Spring 2020.
  4. NACO – Linda
  5. 520 field update – Linda
  6. Libraries = Strong Communities, featuring Robin DiAngelo (May 15) update - Lewis

Settling-in in our new Pusey space
• Norms
• Signage
• Events
• Any relevant articles on open-space office adjustment?
• TS Section Heads continue discussing space
• Open House?

Performance Management
(1) Susan, Linda, Adrien to meet regarding process for professional positions
(2) Section Heads: completed self-assessments to Susan by May 31
(3) Staff members: completed process by June 14

2019 Linked Data4 (LD4) Conference at Harvard Medical School, May 10-11: Dorothy and Linda attending.

Andrea has become NACO independent

Spotlight at Harvard Training: Dorothy has completed. She will liaise with those setting up Spotlight Collections (CURIOSity Digital Collections) at Houghton; she will be a cosigner for submitted project requests.

Digital Projects Submissions: Dorothy is reviewing submissions (along with Ramon, Dale, Magee, and Maggie Hale). The pool of requesters was not as large as she would have liked.

Dorothy will be attending a residency (May 10-12) at the Colby College Museum of Art around the Theaster Gates installation, “Facsimile Cabinet of Women Origin Stories,” featuring materials from the archives of the Johnson Publishing Co.

TS Temps: Allie Steed and Michael Pasternak complete their work on May 10, having processed the Fearing Collection, relocated the BAL Room collection, the Theatre Reading Room collection, the Houghton Reading Room collection, as well as several other projects.