PRESERVING AND ACCESSING THE HISTORY OF ASIST AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

KATHRYN LA BARRE Special Collections Library – University of MichiganAmerican Society for Information Science and Technology Records, 1925-2001 (bulk dates 1937-2000)

October 2011 > Preparation for 75th anniversary Assess the ASIS records at U. Mich.

Curator: Peggy Daub

Power Collection for the Study of Scholarly Communication and Information Transfer.

Materials from the early days of microfilm and microphotography and early initiatives in scholarly communication. National Microfilm Association Records, ASIS records

Finding aid:

“American Documentation Institute (ADI) founded in March 13, 1937 by Watson Davis and 35 other documentalists to “create an organization devoted to the idea of acquiring and indexing the knowledge of the world. “

“Initially, its primary interest was in microfilm as an aid to learning and the dissemination of learning. Involved in developing microfilm readers, cameras and services, ADI fostered negotiations and research which resulted in the "gentlemen's agreement" covering the duplication of copyrighted materials, the establishment of programs for the storage and reproduction of auxiliary materials in support of journal editors, and the support of international science communications.

January 1, 1968 name change ASIS2000, name change > ASIS&T

Related collections:

Vernon Tate PapersPresident of ADI from 1948 to 1949. Editor of both

the Journal of Documentary Reproduction and American Documentation.

Cloyd Dake Gull Papers. President of ADI in 1960.

16 boxes – no correspondence to finding aid

1988 > 118 boxes deposited. 2004-2005 second deposit of 70 boxes

(name change to ASIST)

Renaming and reorganization of existing collection

New finding aidLittle continuity between deposits

?Provenance?

FINDING AID (2004-2005)185 linear feet in 188 boxesAcquisition: 1988 (additions are anticipated)

Restrictions: Boxes 6-19: The Council Meeting Minutes are closed for 30 years from the date of creation (or with permission)

Boxes 130-145: Financial series closed for 30 years from the date of creation (or with permission)

Box 188: Certain tax documents have been closed for a period of 75 years from the date of creation of the records (access open 2035-2068).

Irene Farkas-Conn: historical and research files. From Documentation to Information Science: The

Beginnings and Early Development of the American Documentation Institute-American Society for Information Science

Science service, Bibliofilm service, ADI articles of incorporation, Auxiliary publication service

December 1968 – SLA, ASIS discuss merger discussions ended by August 1971 [Box 171]

Council minutes 1937-19631964-1985 (from 1981 completeness varies widely)

SIG recordsVariable depth (compliance issue?)

Birdseye view of collection

Garfield Vickery, Brownson

Pauline Cochrane

Winifred Sewell Claire Schultz

Areas of weakness or neglect

From the finding aid:

The American Society for Information Science, as it has been known for the greater part of its history, is non-profit professional association that creates, organizes, disseminates and applies knowledge regarding information and its transfer. The mission of ASIS (now known as ASIS&T or ASIST, the American Society Association?? for Information Science and Technology) is "to advance the information sciences and related applications of information technology by providing focus, opportunity, and support to information professionals and organizations."

Electronic material?

Recommendations for improvement

LOOKING IN:

Open status of collection:

Contemplates additional deposits, association documents, personal papers, presentations, oral histories images

Repository goal: place all materials online.

Little insitutional support for collection/ goals

OPEN QUESTIONS:

What is the society schedule for deposits?HQSIGs

What is the process for archiving electronic material?

Encourage donation of personal papers to fill key gaps?

Carlos CuadraMarcia Bates