Well, it seems obvious that this is/was a ploy in an institutional
poker-game. I mean if BHA goes dark the discipline of art history comes to a
grinding halt. This will be true even at the Getty: and what is the point
of a research institute if you can't conduct serious research in the field
you are pledged to support? One could make the argument that BHA is the
single most important contribution that the Getty makes to our cultural
heritage--more important than its laudable collection and conservation
programs.
I do often make the case that the library world needs to take back
responsibility for indexing scholarly content from parasitic enterprises
like Elsevier. BHA was a prime example of a successful endeavor of this
kind, particularly because it involved numerous institutional contributors
across the world. The sort of thing we have witnessed recently, however,
undermines the argument that the academic community is capable of providing
secure and sustainable access to its own research, and this is why I find
the situation especially disappointing.
Lets hope for a happy ending. Art historians tend to be slow to react, but
if water is turned off you can bet the invective will keep us entertained in
the arts sections of the international media for months to come.
Thomas
On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 4:46 PM, Jeffrey Weidman <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:
> Thomas,
>
>
>
> It is ethically, or is it morally, reprehensible. I can understand the
> Getty not being able to continue with BHA (when the French dropped out, that
> pretty much sealed BHA’s fate), but to pull the plug on some 40 years’ worth
> of material is unconscionable!
>
>
>
> Jeffrey
>
>
>
> Jeffrey Weidman, M.A., Ph.D., M.L.S.
> Senior Librarian, Public Services & Collection Development
> Spencer Art Reference Library
> The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
> 4525 Oak Street
> Kansas City, MO 64111
> Tel: 816-751-1215
> FAX: 816-751-0498
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> *From:* ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> *On Behalf Of *Thomas Hill
>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 30, 2010 2:28 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: [ARLIS-L] Any BHA miracles?
>
>
>
> Am I the only person who sees this as a very poor show on the part of the
> Getty?
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 2:15 PM, Anne Haas <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Is today really the last day we will be able to access this? It’s so hard
> to believe someone isn’t making just what is there now available at least
> til the end of the school year...
> Just thought someone out there in ARLIS land might have heard something..
>
> Anne
>
> *Anne B. Haas
> Art Librarian
> Bowdoin College
> 9300 College Station
> Brunswick, Maine 04011
> [log in to unmask]*
>
> __________________________________________________________________ Mail
> submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA
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>
>
>
>
> --
> Thomas E. Hill
> Art Librarian,
> Vassar College
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://artlibrary.vassar.edu
> http://library-cafe.org
> VC Art Library on Facebook:
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> T. Hill Facebook:
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> __________________________________________________________________ Mail
> submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA
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> Archives and subscription maintenance:
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>
--
Thomas E. Hill
Art Librarian,
Vassar College
[log in to unmask]
http://artlibrary.vassar.edu
http://library-cafe.org
VC Art Library on Facebook:
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__________________________________________________________________
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