When I was chair of the Wittenborn Committee a long time ago, we
notified the authors, publishers, and nominators of the awards some
time before the conference. They were able to make arrangements for the
convocation and exhibits as possible. And there was suspense for the
general audience at the convocation. If the exhibits open before the
convocation (as they do this year), anyone who has been paying
attention at the booths of the award winners might note that a winner
is "announced" there before the public award ceremony. I guess I'd say
that's fine, it's just a bit like "red carpet" speculation, builds
toward the climax.
I'd vote with Bill and Gregg for a bit of frisson at the convocation.
Sherman Clarke
NYU Libraries
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: William Walker <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:51 pm
Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award
> Fellow members, I have to agree with Greg. The announcement AT
> the
> convocation adds a little suspense and draws more attention to the
>
> award and its winner(s). Otherwise, ho-hum, it's just another
> item
> on the net. You should reconsider for next year's award.
>
> Bill
> Walker, Canaan NY
>
> On Mar 13, 2007, at 4:46 PM, Most, Gregory P.J. wrote:
>
> > Colleagues:
> >
> >
> > I am incredibly dismayed and disheartened to hear that the
> > Executive Board (in concert with the chairs of the Awards and
> > Wittenborn committees) has decided that the winner of the George
>
> > Wittenborn Memorial Award will no longer be announced at the
> > Convocation. I find no merit or substance in any of the reasons.
> I
> > never saw an author or publisher caught in an awkward moment at
> the
> > conference. The winning publisher would usually display a copy
> of
> > the winning book on his table in the most prominent spot, and
> > proudly highlight the award-winning book following the
> > announcement. The arrival of author at the convocation was
> usually
> > the clue to the mystery. Since the deliberations for the awards
> are
> > usually made well in advance of the conference, how difficult is
> it
> > to have the review copy brought to the conference and put on
> > display? Not very difficult one would think – and this is my
> > perspective as a former Wittenborn Committee member- one of the
> > more challenging and stimulating committees of the Society
> >
> >
> > This is the sole prestigious award given by the Society that is
> > regularly announced in major art journals and publications and
> is
> > mentioned in the press of other societies. While our other
> awards,
> > like Distinguished Service or Travel, are important to us as a
> > profession, the Wittenborn award has importance and meaning to
> the
> > art world. To casually announce the winner of the Wittenborn
> Award
> > on a discussion list or post to a website robs it of its
> prestige
> > and deflects the honor from its author and publisher.
> >
> >
> > Gregory P. J. Most
> >
> > Chief, Library Image Collections
> >
> > National Gallery of Art
> >
> > Washington, DC
__________________________________________________________________
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]
