Access: the OCLC and Google way (Part I)

OCLC just signed an agreement with Google that will allow the two organizations to exchange data with one another. The result is that OCLC's WorldCat will now provide links to the digitized books in Google Books. In return, Google Books will provide a "find this book in a library" link, which takes researchers to a corresponding match in WorldCat.

In the past, WorldCat was mostly used by librarians and scholars. WorldCat has become a little more popular over the years with the general public, but this new relationship with Google will surely drive unprecedented traffic to WorldCat.

The relationship between OCLC and Google has one very important ramification for the AAC Library, which is that a near-direct link will be established between Google Books and the Library.

Beginning June 2, each newly cataloged book in the Library's catalog will have a link to its respective match in Google Books. More on that later.

-Gary Landeck

Challenges, Challenges...

We've just applied for the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant. If we're successful in winning the grant, the Library will receive nearly $350,000, which would be spread over a five-year period.

Outcomes would include highly developed collection management, preservation of fragile materials, digitization and automation of library services, improved programming and outreach, increased fundraising capabilities, eligibility for other grants, and the establishment of a general library endowment of nearly $600,000 by the fifth year. It is the kind of progress and growth cultural institutions relative to ours dream of.

We've already raised $130K of the $1.3M we need to raise over the next five years to meet the grant challenge. These are exciting times for the Library and we want you to be a part of it. You can help us meet the NEH challenge by going to the link we've created on the blog sidebar, or go directly to the AAC's donation page. Please indicate that your donation be applied toward the Library NEH Challenge Grant.

-Gary Landeck

Oral History Project

Earlier this year, we launched a project to record the oral histories of prominent AAC members. With the help of Cyns Nelson, owner of Voices Preserved, we were able to record eight oral histories during the Annual Dinner in February. Among the recordings we collected were those of Jed Williamson, Gail Bates, Jim McCarthy, Bob Craig, and Ted Vaill.

Nelson helped us develop the processes for securing written consent, recording, transcription, and archiving. The next step is to catalog and make the recordings available on the web.

James Mills of Specialty News was also present during the making of those first eight recordings. Mills edited Dee Molenaar's recollections of the near disaster on K2 in 1953, which resulted in what is arguably the most important event in mountaineering history: The Belay. You can find that podcast here.

As we're building the Library's own collection of oral histories, we find important recordings on the web. One example is AAC Honorary Member George Lowe recounting his formative climbing years and ascents in Alaska (notably on Mount Foraker's Infinite Spur). We've added a sidebar on this blog to collect applicable recordings as we find them. In the coming months, OCLC will help us catalog the Library's own collection oral histories and those on the blog sidebar.

-Gary Landeck

American Institute for Conservators (AIC) Angels Project

AIC group photo
Originally uploaded by American Alpine Club Library

On April 25th, the AAC was visited by 15 conservators from the American Institute for Conservators (AIC). Every year, the AIC sponsors an Angels Project, and this year volunteers came from across the country to help us care for our collections.

You can see more photographs of this event on our Flickr page.

The BWAMM Blog also has an excellent group of photographs!

These highly-skilled and enthusiastic folks got us started on 4 very important projects:

Book Cradle Construction Team:
Katherine Kelly, Collections Care Conservator at Iowa State University, Susan Lunas, a book conservator in Eugene, Oregon, and Andrea Knowlton, Assistant Conservator for Special Collections, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

These three women constructed a variety of book cradles for use in our display cases and in the rare books reading room, so that books can be protected while being viewed.

Frame Unfitting Team:
Alicia Bjornson, Resource Interpretive Specialist for The Hancock House in NJ State Parks, Jamye Jamison, Book and Paper Conservator, Zukor Conservation, San Francisco, CA, Elizabeth Williams, Preservation Specialist, The Hollinger Corporation, Nora Lockshin, Paper Conservator, Smithsonian Center for Archives Conservation, Washington, DC, Jenn Cruikshank, Conservator, Maryland State Archives, and Helen Alten, Northern States Conservation Center

This team removed artwork from damaging or inappropriate frames, examined their condition, and made recommendations about care. They removed two items from damaging backing materials.

Colorado Peak Register Team:
Vicki Lee, Senior Conservator, Maryland State Archives, Karen Jones, Collections Conservator, Jefferson County Public Libraries, CO, Greg Bailey, Conservation Technician, University of Connecticut Libraries, Laura Bedford, Conservation Student, University of Texas Kilgarlin Center, and Bev Perkins, Objects Conservator, CA and WY.

This team uncrumpled several hundred peak registers and placed them in archival-quality housings, making them much more accessible.

Assessment of Objects/Artifacts Collections Team:
Bev Perkins, Helen Alten and MJ Davis, Conservator, WASHI, Vermont

This team examined and made recommendations about the best way to store and exhibit materials such as tents, ice axes and snowboots.

All of our work was generously supported by the following vendors, who donated supplies above and beyond what was requested:

Archival Products
The Hollinger Corporation
Metal Edge, Inc.
Talas
University Products

And I can't forget to thank Gary Landeck, Library Director, Chris Case, BWAMM Creative Coordinator, Carla Preston, CMC Events Manager, and the AAC and CMC staff members who contributed food to our potluck lunch - it was delicious!

We got an enormous amount done, and we've still got quite a lot to do! Volunteers are still needed to continue the peak register project. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us at library@americanalpineclub.org!