Executive Committee Officer Candidates on the 2008 Ballot

Vice-chair

Member-at-large

Deborah J. Leslie

Degrees and Certifications: UCLA, M.L.S., Cataloging & Rare Book Bibliography, 1990; Indiana University, M.A., History & Russian Area Studies, 1983; California State University, Fresno, B.A., History, 1981.

Current Position: Head of Cataloging, Folger Shakespeare Library, 1999-present. Previous Positions: Cataloger, Rare Book Team, Yale University Library, 1995-98; Rare Book Cataloguer and Systems Librarian, Library Company of Philadelphia, 1992-95; Cataloger, University of Oklahoma Library, 1990-92.

ALA Activities: ALCTS: Member, 2003-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Member, 1990-Present; ACRL: Member, 1990-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Chair, Bibliographic Standards Committee, 2001-07; ACRL/RBMS: Publications Committee, 1997-2000; ACRL/RBMS: Nominating Committee, 1998-99; ACRL/RBMS: Thesaurus Editor, Bibliographic Standards Committee, 1995-98; ACRL/RBMS: Secretary, Executive Committee, 1995-97; ACRL/RBMS: Bibliographic Standards Committee, 1993-97.

Offices Held in State & Regional Library and Other Associations: Early English Booktrade Database: Advisor, 2003-05; ARL: Inventory Group member, Task Force on Special Collections, 2002-05; Yale University Library: Chair, Local Headings Task Group, 1997-98; Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries: Leader, Cataloging Discussion Group, 1993-94; Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries: Chair, OPAC Working Group, 1995.

Publications: Co-editor, Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books) (Library of Congress), 2007; Contributor, "Hidden Collections, Scholarly Barriers: Creating Access to Unprocessed Special Collections Materials in AmericaÍs Research Libraries," RBM: a Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage, 2004 fall; "New Trends in Cataloging Rare and Special Materials," Library Trends, 2003 summer.

Links for Further Information: Rare Book School at the University of Virginia: http://www.rarebookschool.org/courses/libraries/l30/; Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books): http://www.rbms.info/committees/bibliographic_standards/dcrm/dcrmtext.html

Accomplishments: Have taught well over a hundred people how to catalog rare books, at Rare Book School at the Univ. of Virginia (1988-); California Rare Book School (2006-2007); New Zealand Rare Book School (2007), and at the HÀgskolen i Oslo, Bibliotek- og informasjonsstudiene (2001), and hope to teach a hundred more. As Bibliographic Standards chair, helped set the foundation for a series of manuals on cataloging rare materials--of which DCRM(B) is the first--based on principles derived from the characteristics of a wide diversity of material types; and ensured a variety of workshops and seminars at preconferences for the education and training of catalogers. Consistently advocate collaboration between catalogers and curators in decisions about bibliographic control, including tutoring curators at my own institution on the basics of standard cataloging--they have even been known to speak MARC on occasion.

Statement:

Guided by 17 years' faithful experience of preconferences and RBMS meetings, I will use committee structures, programs, and my organizational skills, to promote: (1) Outreach to younger populations, using the fascination of original materials as lure. The students we accept as interns or invite to use our collections may never be librarians or academicians, but they will become life-long advocates for libraries and the importance of special collections. (2) Ever-wider access to our collections without compromising artifactual integrity, by encouraging access to digital surrogates. There are many costs associated with such projects, but exponentially higher benefits. (3) Uncovering hidden archives and special collections materials, through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to description and access by analysis of the nature of the collections, the nature of their users, and staffing resources; and to achieve a reasonable balance between the resources devoted to acquiring materials and those devoted to cataloging them.

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Charlotte B. Brown

Degrees and Certifications: The Johns Hopkins University, M.L.A., 1990; University of Rhode Island, M.L.S., 1977; Temple University, B.A. (History), 1976.

Current Position: UCLA University Archivist, UCLA University Archives, 1992-present. Previous Positions: Assistant Head, Dept. of Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1992-2001; Interim Head, Dept. of Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1999-2000; Interim Head, Dept. of Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1996-97; College Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Franklin & Marshall College, 1983-92; Archivist, University of Maryland-College Park, 1979-83; Curatorial Associate, Rare Books and Special Collections, Countway Medical Library, Harvard University, 1978-79.

ALA Activities: ACRL/RBMS: Member-at-Large, 2005-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Chair, Task Force to Review the "Guidelines on the Selection and Transfer of Materials from General Collections to Special Collections," 2004-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Liaison to ALCTS Preservation & Reformatting Section (PARS), 1994-2005; ALA: member, Committee on Archives, Libraries, and Museums (CALM), 1983-2004; ACRL/RBMS: Editorial Board "RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, & Cultural Heritage," 2000-02; ACRL/RBMS: Chair, Curators-Conservators Discussion Group, 1993-99; ACRL/RBMS: 1998 Preconference Program Committee, 1996-98; ALCTS: Audio Preservation Task Force, Preservation and Reformatting Section (PARS), 1994-98; ALA: ALA co-chair, Committee on Archives, Libraries, and Museums (CALM), 1995-96.

Offices Held in State & Regional Library and Other Associations: Society of American Archivists (SAA): member, 2003 Annual Conference - Local Arrangements Committee, 2001-03; Society of American Archivists (SAA): Chair, Preservation Section, 1993-95; Society of American Archivists (SAA): Executive Board, College & University Archives Section (C&U), 1988-89.

Publications: Gertz, Janet, Charlotte B. Brown, et. al., "Preservation analysis and the brittle book program in college libraries: the identification of research-level collections and their implications," College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 54:3 (May 1993); Brown, Charlotte B. and Brian E. C. Schottlaender, "The Online Archive of California: a consortial approach to encoded archival description," Journal of Internet Cataloging, 4:4/5 (2000); Brown, Charlotte B., "Case Study: user education within the UCLA Department of Special Collections [chapter]," Selling Preservation (Greenwood Press), 1998. Accomplishments: University of California Project Co-Coordinator: in coordination with representatives from the nine University of California campuses and with the UC Berkeley Project Co-Coordinator, developed and implemented the Online Archive of California (OAC), 1996-2000; UCLA Library Co-manager ($220,000 NEH Grant): recon and cataloging of 1,685 manuscript collections, 1997-2000.

Accomplishments: University of California Project Co-Coordinator: in coordination with representatives from the nine University of California campuses and with the UC Berkeley Project Co-Coordinator, developed and implemented the Online Archive of California (OAC), 1996-2000; UCLA Library Co-manager ($220,000 NEH Grant): recon and cataloging of 1,685 manuscript collections, 1997-2000.

Statement:

As an academic archivist with substantial experience in manuscripts curatorship, the establishment and implementation of preservation programs, and in most aspects of public services for special collections materials, I will bring these perspectives to my service as RBMS chair. Additionally, as a long-time member of the Committee on Archives, Libraries, and Museums (CALM - formerly known as the ALA-SAA Joint Committee), I will encourage the section to act upon the many opportunities for collaboration between RBMS and her sister professions. Finally, I am an advocate of RBMS' initiatives to diversify the special collections professions and will continue to promote RBMS' reputation as a welcoming section for new members.

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Mike Kelly

Degrees and Certifications: University of Texas at Austin, M.L.S., 1996; University of Virginia at Charlottesville, M.A., English, 1992; Boston College, B.A., 1991.

Current Position: Curator of Books, Fales Library, New York University, 1998-present.Previous Positions: Humanities Reference Librarian, University of Missouri at Kansas City, 1996-98.

ALA Activities: ACRL/RBMS: Chair, Publications Committee, 2005-07; ACRL/RBMS: Chair, 2004 Preconference Program Planning Committee, 2002-04; ACRL/RBMS: Co-chair, Public Services Discussion Group, 2000-03; ACRL/RBMS: Member, Preconference Scholarship Committee, 2000-02; ACRL/RBMS: Member, Budget and Development Committee, 1997-2001.

Offices Held in State & Regional Library and Other Associations:Bibliographical Society of America: Member, 2007 Conference Planning Committee, 2006-07.

Publications: "Foreword," Circles and Circulations in the Revolutionary Atlantic World (New York University), 2004.

Links for Further Information:(pending launch) http://blogs.nyu.edu/blogs/tmk1/linesfromthelibrary/

Accomplishments: Within RBMS, the two accomplishments of which I am most proud are the recent publication of a new print edition of YOUR OLD BOOKS and the 2004 Preconference. YOB was the work of many, many hands and I am proud to have ushered the project through the final hurdles and into the hands of eager readers. The annual Preconference also depends on many hands, and I am greatly pleased with the results of the hard work of everyone involved in the 2004 Preconference at Yale University. In the spring of 2007 I worked with the BSA Conference Planning Committee to bring the Victorian Bestseller conference to New York city. In addition to the conference planning, I also curated an exhibition of Victorian fiction in the Fales Library to coincide with this gathering of book people.

Statement:

My two greatest concerns are the future of digitization of special collections materials and the use of special collections materials in education. Because I work in a University setting, I am specifically concerned with incorporating special collections materials into the undergraduate curriculum, but this concern extends to educating the general public as well as those involved in academia. New technologies have created new demands and new uses for the cultural artifacts in our care, but it is imperative that we have a strong voice in the projects that rely on our materials. Concerns with these new technologies are closely tied to my concerns about what might best be described as outreach and education. While digital images on the web will never substitute for actual cultural materials, there are many opportunities to draw attention to materials that might have been less visible in the past.

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Fernando J. Pena

Degrees and Certifications: Rutgers University, MLS, 2001; Harvard University, M.A. (Near Eastern Langs. & Civs.), 1998; Graduate Theological Union, M.A. (Biblical Studies), 1993; Stanford University, B.A. (Linguistics), 1985.

Current Position: Librarian, Grolier Club, 2001-present.

ALA Activities: ACRL/RBMS: Co-Chair, Diversity Committee, 2007-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Member, Budget & Development, 2007-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Member, Scholarships, 2004-Present; ACRL/RBMS: Member, Diversity Committee, 2002-07; ACRL/RBMS: Member, Membership & Professional Development, 2001-06.

Offices Held in State & Regional Library and Other Associations: American Printing History Association: Treasurer, New York Chapter, 2007-Present; Center for Book Arts (New York, NY): Member, Board, 2006-Present.

Publications: Author/Curator, Grolier Club Exhibition of Private Library Catalogues (Association Internationale de Bibliophilie), 2007; Co-Author, Lasting Impressions: The Grolier Club Library (Grolier Club), 2004; Contributor, Encyclopedia of New Jersey (Rutgers University Press), 2004.

Accomplishments: During my seven years of involvement in RBMS, I have been active in committees and initiatives focused on membership, diversity and recruitment. While serving in the Membership & Professional Development Committee, I helped start the section's successful mentoring program, which is now in its fourth year. I joined the RBMS Diversity Committee during its inception in 2003 and took a leading role in implementing the Diversity Action Plan, including making presentations on special collections librarianship to students in colleges with large underrepresented populations. Since 2004, I've also led the section's Scholarships Committee to provide financial assistance to first-time preconference attendees, many of whom have gone on to become active members of RBMS.

Statement:

Members-at-large serve as Executive Committee liaisons to the section's numerous committees and discussion groups, including several in which I have been active over the last few years. As a member-at-large, I hope to bring my varied experience to bear on the challenges that RBMS will continue to face in the new century: the "graying" of our profession and our section; the relative ethnic and geographic homogeneity of RBMS, which is increasingly out of synch with the diverse constituents that we serve; and the constant need to welcome new members into our ranks and to prepare them to assume positions of leadership.

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