The Archives and Libraries Section of the American Folklore Society
was
first established as the Archiving Section at the annual
meeting of
the Society in 1978 in Salt Lake City, Utah. In response to
an interest
in a focus on folklore in libraries as well as in archives,
it became
the Archives and Libraries Section in 1997.
The Section's mission is to promote the exchange of
information on
all types of archival methodology relating to folklore,
folklife,
and other ethnographic collections. In addition, the Section
aims to
share information and to help develop standards relevant to
library
collections and activities in folklore. The Section has
maintained
a particular interest in the developing technological
systems that
can advance the work of archivists and librarians working
with folklore
materials, and improve collections management in the field.
The Section adopted the original version of this statement of goals in 1994, and modified it in 2001 to include reference to library issues:
- To promote awareness of preservation issues of both
historic
and modern ethnographic collections and act in support of
archival
care of documentary media. Because of the potential loss
of historic
collections in fragile formats (wax cylinders, acetate
recordings,
nitrate film) and the changing technological media and
fragile nature
of modern formats (magnetic media, DAT) the skill of
archivists
and archival repositories must be encouraged, developed,
and recognized
if documentary collections are to be preserved for future
use.
- To promote the treatment of multi-format ethnographic
collections
as whole created works including all media and preserving
the collectors'
intent. In order to make librarians and historical
archivists our
collaborators, we must promote an understanding among
those professionals
of ethnographic collections as multi-format created works.
- To explore and develop technological methods of
providing access
to folklife materials using state of the art methods and
technologies,
such as CD ROM, MARC databases, and World Wide Web. While
the development
of standard methods of access may help the field, efforts
towards
the development of standards should not stand in the way
of exploration.
- To promote collections management in fieldwork planning
and practice
to ensure better documentation of collected materials. To
educate
students and collectors concerning methods of preserving
and managing
data, including the use of technology (computer databases,
CDR etc.)
- To encourage student use of archives and special
library collections
in ethnographic research and to facilitate the
introduction of students
in ethnographic disciplines to archival practice and
library science.
- To reach out to archivists and librarians in related
fields.
The concerns of folklife archivists and librarians are
shared by
archivists and librarians in related disciplines such as
ethnomusicology,
anthropology, oral history, and sociolinguistics.
Establishing connections
with these archivists and librarians will help us in
mutual efforts
to develop our practice.
- To encourage granting agencies to require planning for
collections
management and funding for the care of collected
materials. Educate
researchers about opportunities to apply for funding for
collections
management.
- To encourage folklorists in the academy to accept an
arranged,
housed, accessible collection as a created work, providing
credit
towards tenure.
- To support the creation of archives in public or
private arts
and cultural programs that collect data.
- To review and analyze the current state of
bibliographic control
in folklore and ethnomusicology, relating to cataloging
and reference
tools in all media, ongoing indexing projects such as the
Journal of American Folklore Index,
the International Folklore Bibliography, and the MLA
Folklore Bibliography.
The Section has a LISTSERV for discussions of
archival and
library issues relating to folklore.
The Section awards two prizes on an every-other-year basis:
the
Brenda McCallum Prize (even years) for a work
that contributes to the goal of improving archival care and
access
to folklore collections, and the Polly Grimshaw Prize
(odd years) for the support of folklore or ethnomusicology projects with a
significant connection to libraries and/or archives.
Reports
Minutes
The convener for the Section is Terri M. Jordan of the University of Oklahoma. Dues are $10.
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