From Elisa Lanzi, who asked me to forward to ARLIS-L. Ann ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ann Baird Whiteside Head, Rotch Library of Architecture & Planning MIT Room 7-238 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 617-258-5594 [log in to unmask] http://libraries.mit.edu/ ********************************* President, ARLIS/NA http://www.arlisna.org/ Editor, Cataloging Cultural Objects http://www.vraweb.org/ccoweb/index.html -----Original Message----- From: Elisa Lanzi [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 1:39 PM To: Ann Whiteside Subject: Re: ARLIS-VRA discussion Dear VRA and ARLIS communities, One good thing about this discussion is that it has introduced several thoughtful ideas to pursue for both VRA and ARLIS. In addition, both organizations have venues for following up on ideas put forth on list-serves. As a former VRA president, a professional librarian, and visual resources specialist, I'd like to underline two important points: - If, as some postulate, VRA and/or ARLIS are foundering as organizations, we should not assume that merging the two will "take care of everything." The overall topic of an organization's very existence is embedded in the VRA and ARLIS strategic plans, bylaws, and constitutions. Each organization needs to address the topic of organization sustainability separately. Perhaps, merging would be one of the options, but it would be premature to assume that it is the only one. - Not all VRA members consider ARLIS as their default organization, just as not all ARLIS members consider VRA their default organization. All of us are members of other organizations (nationally and locally), attend other conferences/seminars, etc., and work on collaborative/advisory groups within other organizations. We all agree that most of us are caught up in a rapidly changing professional environment. I have the advantage of working in a collaborative environment at Smith. One thing I've learned: we don't have to be part of the same administrative structure in order to work together (and have success!). I hope that VRA and ARLIS will continue to actively seek more collaborative opportunities (joint conferences, programming, etc.) without letting the politics get in the way. Best regards, Elisa Elisa Lanzi Director, Imaging Center Smith College Dept. of Art Hillyer Hall 22 Elm Street Northampton, MA 01063 VOICE: 413.585.3106 FAX: 413.585.3119 [log in to unmask] Cataloguing Cultural Objects (CCO) Project http://www.vraweb.org/CCOweb/index.html >>> Sherman Clarke <[log in to unmask]> 7/5/2006 7:59 am >>> Jeanne and all, Your message about the different things you get from VRA and ARLIS/NA conferences really resonates with me. There are occasional slots in either conference that don't have anything of particular interest. I probably have a bigger problem with conflicts at ARLIS/NA conferences and the corollary of that is that I can sometimes just go to a VRA session and soak up the information even though it doesn't have much relationship to daily life (or I can just go over to the Visionary Art Museum and enjoy the art). College Art conferences are important for me because I can do more absorbing and not worry about conflicts so much. I have co-chaired a panel and feel that, when I do, it is definitely as a librarian and information professional even if the VRA or ARLIS/NA words don't make it into the program. This thread of messages has been interesting. I have attended both conferences for several years (and ARLIS/NA since the 1970s). It is hard for me to imagine a regular merged conference, or even regular time-share. The conferences have different cultures and I value that difference, though I also recognize that it is a luxury to be able to attend both conferences. By the time summer ALA comes around, I'm usually beat. Happily, but beat. Sherman Clarke - NYU Libraries - [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/join.html Send 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 (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]