End of the semester-

Working on the Stipe Collection turned out to be so much more than just cataloging. Because it is a unique collection of books, travel brochures, clippings, personal correspondence and other miscellaneous items held in filing drawers, it had to be treated almost as if it was a manuscript collection rather than an addition to the library. There are papers that are stapled or paper clipped together that already show rust damage. The metallic holders need to be removed as carefully as possible, and replaced with plastic clips.
However, it is also unique because it will be used by students, and not held in a closed stack environment, and could be weeded.
Looking back over the semester, I would have to say that the greatest learning experience was not the actual cataloging per se, but rather learning how to take charge of a collection in order to organize it. My greatest weakness was that I did not recognize the need for a collection development policy to be put in place as soon as possible. Once I had parameters in place for weeding, the collection began to “come together” more easily.
There is still much work to be done on the collection; I intend to spend as much time on it as possible as a volunteer over the next semester and throughout the holiday break.

December 4th, 2009

Jennifer and I met yesterday at noon to label. All the the forum journals are now on the shelves, and she labeled all of the items from the Stipe Drawer, and books that were donated. I forgot that the other practicum student's books that she cataloged for the IARC were on the cart beside the desk, but it worked out well, because Jennifer can label them in the office, and then I can carry over the completed books next week.

Also, really great news. I don't feel so pressed for time now with this collection. I wrote to Dr. Bird earlier to ask if I could continue working on the collection, and she gave me permission. However, I also asked Mary Jane if I could just work as a volunteer in IARC next semester and finish what I stared. Now I plan on working in IARC over the break (no students!), and throughout the rest of the school year.

November 20th, 2009

Took the day off from other classes just to work on my weeding. It's not easy, because I have to spend much time determining if what I am holding is either historically interesting to students, or has anything written by Dr. Stipe. I am playing it safe, and just getting rid of items that are obvious: the old land deeds from the sixties for instance.

November 25th, 2009

Spent Tuesday and Wednesday until 5:00 working. Wednesday I spent as much time on the computer as possible. I need to meet with Jennifer to get items labeled and ready to go in the drawers. Also, there is a donation of books that are going to the shelves in IARC that Mary Jane has asked me to catalog. I found the records in WorldCat instead of carrying them over to Jackson in the rain. Mary Jane asked me on the 19th if I had noticed how rainy the weather had gotten now that we had to carry so much stuff back and forth (with her foot broken)-- yes, I have! It's been ridiculous.

December 3rd, 2009

Jennifer Ormsby and I are meeting after an appointment at noon to label.

August 26, 2009

Mary Jane and I walked over to the IARC to look at the Stipe Collection in the IARC. The papers are held in three filing cabinet drawers, and are in no particular order.

The Stipe collection and papers that were donated consist of mail, personal papers, writing, some students thesis and dissertations and old books. The whole collection is in three large filing cabinet drawers, in no particular order.

The first week, I pulled large books out that looked like they would be easy to copy catalog. There were also old magazines that needed to be put into chronological order.

September 3rd, 2009

This was a difficult week to work, as there were more students using the library. I was not able to use the computer in that building as often as I needed to, and there was not much space to work.

Items cataloged include:

Report to the President and Congress of the United States (published annually)- This information was sent to Katherine Nunnally because they are serials.

Staff meeting today in Mary Jane Conger's office

September 11th, 2009

I am working every Tuesday and Thursday in the IARC. I am still getting used to the collection; it will get much easier when I find out what I am allowed to weed. Pulling large volumes to catalog. I have started putting items that I think should be weeded into files.

The hardest part is sitting on the floor and working. The computer that I can use in the IARC is a large Mac, so I go from getting off the floor to working on the computer. It's not very convenient!

September 18th, 2009

Items that were pulled to be cataloged include:

Designing open space subdivisions : a practical step-by-step approach

The national historic preservation program today

Ten courthouses in North Carolina : a part of the "adjudication facilities study of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners

8th General Assembly and International Symposium : old cultures in new worlds : Washington, District of Columbia, October 10-15, 1987

Wilmington, North Carolina, historic area, a part of the future land-use plan

Many of Dr. Stipes books are in good enough shape to be included in the regular collection for the students to use. Mary Jane determined that I could choose which items may go on the shelves and which ones need to remain in the drawer.