2020/11/13 Minutes

Owned by Lewis Day
Nov 13, 2020


Present: Adrien, Dorothy, Lewis (minutes), Linda , Susan.

Susan Pyzynski

  • The October update of TS work is almost complete; add anything else today.

  • Next week’s collections relocation in Houghton is dependent on negotiating a couple of wrinkles.

  • Lewis will make a small change in the 541 documentation for enhanced clarity.


Linda Isaac

  • Meg is finding interesting record issues with the pamphlet project, and Linda will have OCLC cleanup as a result.

  • Jennifer and Andrea are working on edits for the Authorities wiki.

  • The whole Rare Book Section is working on headings analysis.

  • Metadata Standards Working Group met last week. The OCLC Data Sync continues to be a chief area of concern.


Adrien Hilton

  • Karen Young has reached out for added members for data sync group, and Adrien has suggested Irina.

  • Adrien is working on normalizing the TS Priorities document; she will share the results with Dorothy for editing, and then to the TS section heads before wider sharing. 

  • A proposed statement on harmful language in finding aids has gone to SPARC. It is anticipated the statement will have a page on the HL website, as well as an acknowledgement of the issue on the HL landing page. They hope to complete this work before Winter Recess.

  • Jennifer Pelose and Robin McElheny from the University Archives are interested in writing a grant for searching for harmful language in finding aids (across all repositories); this project is in very early stages. 

  • The SPARC DIBAR group is working on a survey related to other archives’ work on issues of diversity, inclusion, belonging and anti-racism.

  • The Manuscript Section continues data cleanup work; Vicki has added all Vidal collection containers to Archives Space and Alma.

  • Adrien and Linda are working on a set of norms for the departmental learning agenda based on feedback from the recent staff meeting with Audrey Harmon. A draft will be sent out for comment.

  • The November 23 session will be moved to the 30th, given Thanksgiving week absences planned by many staff members.

  • There are several volunteers for the Ambassador program; Adrien mentioned Melanie, and Susan and Lewis added that Lilli and Meg, respectively,  are also interested.


Dorothy Berry

  • Digitization onsite is going well.

  • 18 complete titles went for digitization on Monday; this is a curated group of high-profile materials by and about Black creators.

  • Dorothy has noted a significant number of volumes which indicate donation from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society; this provenance is not in Hollis, and a project to do so might be a good idea.

  • There has been a request by a pair of scholars for digitization of a unique score by an early Afro-Briton composer; the metadata might need checking by a cataloger. 

  • Mary is working on digital object titles

  • Dorothy has spoken with Claire DeMarco regarding application for a single open knowledge grant with three components: harvesting data, handwriting analysis, and providing small stipends for scholars who write interpretive descriptive text for the Curiosity site.


Lewis Day

  • Meg’s work on the pamphlet project is very rewarding, and a nice adjunct to her usual work.

  • Buy2Pay for collections purchases is going well for Lewis and Meg; documentation is complete.

  • Agustin and Porfirio visited Pusey on Thursday afternoon.

  • Lewis is working on copy cataloging a collection of children’s books.

  • Thursday onsite work is going smoothly: acquisitions and accessioning is current, as is dispatch to Books and Manuscripts.

  • Lewis would like to receive Facebook material ideas based in the experience of staff in working with materials. Of particular interest is material with interesting graphic representation and compelling storylines.