----- Original Message ----- From: Marilyn Nasserden <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 6:47 PM Subject: Re: Vertical Files > > Hi Rebecca, > We have over 9,000 artist files with at least half on Canadian artists > and some galleries here at the University of Library Library. All visual > arts media are included e.g. painting, sculpture, printmaking, graphic > arts, illustration, crafts, ceramics, design, architecture, etc. The > files contain clippings from newspapers, artists' c.v.'s, gallery > handouts, exhibition notices, postcards, small exhibition catalogues, > and other ephemera. Our files take up 16 overly-full filing cabinets > (the 3 drawer vertical variety). > > We have student assistants who process the items for the files while > they man the circulation desk for our mediated audio music collection > (among other duties). The students probably take about 10 hours a week > processing these items which may sound like a lot of time (it is) > however if the thin exhibition catalogues and such were LC catalogued, > much more time would be involved in making these items accessible. A > senior library assistant marks which items to clip for the files from > local arts and entertainment newspapers or sections of newspapers which > are not indexed in our online newspaper indexes - usually also on her > desk shifts. I pass along any gallery notices or other materials that > come my way. As noted, most of the items we put into our files are free > however a small percentage are small exhibition catalogues that we > received on our Canadian art approval plan with Coutts; these items > usually only cost about $5 per item. > > Our use is split between external requests from across Canada and the US > who have identified us from Artists in Canada, and our local university > community of students and faculty. I would say that we average about 5 > uses per week normally with additional larger waves when whole classes > of Canadian art students descend on us. I believe that if we had the > files on our online catalogue, which is a current goal of mine, the use > would rise tremendously. The people who have used our files are always > thrilled as most often this is the only place that they found this sort > of information or the answer to their question. I believe that it is > important that local information be preserved for the future. For > instance, in the last year, the emeritus art librarian here wrote a book > on Alberta Artists and used our files, as well as many other sources, > extensively. > > We are open 9-4:30 M-F from mid-April to the end of August and during > intersessions. During Fall and Winter terms, we are open to 6 p.m. > M-Thurs, to 4:30 on Fridays, and 12-4 on Saturdays. > > Hope the above information helps your situation. Feel free to get back > to me if you have any questions. > > Regards, > Marilyn > -- > Marilyn Nasserden > Fine Arts (Art and Music) and Environmental Design Librarian > University of Calgary Library > > > Forwarded From: Rebecca Steel <[log in to unmask]> > > > > > I would like to collect basic info on other institution's usage of Vertical > > Files (number of files or drawers, types of files, value as research > > resource to staff & patrons, opinions on relative costs of acquisition, > > processing, space compared to books), as our Library is having to defend > > the > > existence of our Vertical Files to our board. The files focus on local & > > regional artists, artists in permanent collection or exhibitions & > > Subject/Picture Files. Despite the substantial usage by the > > institution's > > faculty & students, curators & museum educators & members & general > > public, I > > am once again defending the existence of such a resource, the space > > devoted > > to the files & the time involved in processing & filing, etc. Any and > > all > > comments would be greatly appreciated. > > > > > > We also find ourselves defending our Library's existence altogether in > > terms as numbers of patrons actually visiting the facility, do not > > compare to > > say a branch of the public library. Any figures on number of patrons vs. > > hours of service would be appreciated. The size of the collection & > > whether > > the Library serves a school or museum or both & numbers of full > > time/part > > time staff would be appreciated as well. (we average 32 hours/week open > > to > > general public with weekend & evening hours in addition to daily hours > > of > > Tue.-Sat. 10-), We have a book collection of near 11,000 books & a > > similar > > number of slides, have one full time Librarian & part time staff (2 > > currently) to cover weekend & evening hours. > > > > > > Thank you for your assistance, should you have the time. > > > Sincerely, > > > Rebecca D. Steel, Librarian > > > Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Library > > > 314 South Park Street > > > Kalamazoo, MI 49007-5102 > > > (616) 349-7775, x3165 > > > FAX: (616) 349-9313 > > > [log in to unmask] > > > http://www.kiarts.org > > > > > > __________________________________________________________________ > > > Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] > > > Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) > > > to [log in to unmask] > > > ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: > > > http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html > > > Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: > > [log in to unmask] > > > > > > > -- > > __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]