----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi Genni. I've interpolated in your message some info. based on the Art
Gallery of Ontario's
Research Library.
On Tue, 28 May 1996, Genni Houlihan wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> The Phoenix Art Museum Library is reviewing policies involving
> access to the Library. I am interested in hearing responses
> from other museum libraries about:
>
> Who has access to the library and during what hours?
Museum staff at large and volunteers have access during reg. office hours;
curators (and other programming staff by permission) have after-hours and
weekend access. After-hours access is by ID key cards, and access
transactions are logged by the automated security system.
The public (screened out, diplomatically, are elementary and highschool
kids with projects to do) has special hours three afternoons a week (total
of 12 hrs.); no evening or weekend hours -- they're continually
asked for but we can't afford them. All non-staff use is normally
channelled into these
hours, although we will make exceptional appointments for museum personnel
especially if they're travelling long distances to get to us.
> Are appointments required?
Not any more; we tried this for 3 years with the public because available
seating in the reading room is limited. We eventually dropped
it because it proved to be
too much work, and the public now take their chances in getting a seat.
However, when out-of-town researchers or curators call,
they're encouraged to make an appointment with the Head, Reader Services,
especially if they've never used our resources before.
> Are museum membership or admission fees required?
No, not at this time, although it's a subject that's raised periodically
by the current museum administration and has been tried on by a previous
administration. During an earlier funding crisis, the
Board of Trustees closed the library to public access, then re-opened it
slightly by imposing a steep fee for a "research reader card." The impact
of this was felt most strongly by the local universities, whose students
couldn't afford the fee. After about two years it was abandoned because
it unduly penalized the library's core public constituency, it added
to the nuisance workload of library staff without any real benefits
accrueing, and
because some museum donors objected vehemently to the policy. And the
library of course was eventually re-opened to the public, with no access
fee.
> What is the size of the library staff?
Six fulltime (3 are librarians); minimum of two casual student assistants
during academic year;
about a dozen volunteers.
> Does the library provide reference by telephone, letter, e-mail
> or fax?
Yes to all four, and there's a huge demand. We are introducing a fee
shortly for information
delivered by fax or e-mail, an extension of the fee we've always charged
for photocopies sent by mail or ILL. We are also introducing an ILL fee
for the first time. If you want an outline of our fees, let me
know
directly.
>
> Other library access related information is very welcom as well.
After 90-odd years without one, we found it necessary a couple of years
ago to instal a
collections security system. One of the more important factors leading to
this was museum management's decision to reposition the library as a
public
service, whereas previously it was considered a curatorial and research
support first and public service second. The library's discretion to
screen prospective users was pretty well eliminated by this.
> Thank you in advance for your time.
> Genni Houlihan
> [log in to unmask]
>
Karen McKenzie e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Chief Librarian phone: (416) 979-6660 Ext. 389
Art Gallery of Ontario fax: (416) 979-6602
Toronto, Canada
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