Chair’s Column: David Benjamin (February 2012)
Chair’s Column
David Benjamin
Center for Creative Photography
I would like to report that I have hit the ground running as Chair of the Visual Materials Section, but to be honest I pretty much just hit the ground and am still trying to get back up!
Despite the slow start, there are two areas I want to tackle right away. The first is sorting out Visual Materials Section liaisons and Working Groups. At the annual meeting in Chicago, Laurie Baty steered me to back issues of VIEWS where I discovered there have been a plethora of liaisons and working groups associated with the Section over the years. Below are the results of my perusal.
With the help of the Visual Materials Section Steering Committee (VMSSC for short … if that is really any shorter!) I want to look at this list and determine if all these liaisons and working groups are still relevant and what positions need to be filled. After each liaison or working group I have included the name/names of the person/persons currently serving as a liaison or on a particular committee. If you are currently a liaison or on a working group and your name is not listed, please, please do not take this as a slight. Take if for what it is … my lack of experience, or just plain ignorance!
After the VMSSC and I have flushed out this list, I will be making a pitch for volunteers to fill vacant positions. Also, if your name is listed here but not on the VMS Leadership page on the VMS web site (saavms.org), then that means that we are awaiting verification from you for continuing in the position.
Liaisons
Academy of Certified Archivists
American Institute of Conservation (AIC) – Robert Burton
Architectural Records Roundtable
Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA) – Tim Wisniewski
AMIA Cataloging and Documentation
Descriptive Standards Committee
Lilstserv Coordinator – James Eason
SAA Council Liaison – Scott Cline
SAA Standards Committee – Marci Flynn until Fall 2011
SAA Program Committee – Tomaro Taylor (?)
Visual Materials Cataloging and Access Roundtable – Mary Alice Harper
Elections/Nominating Working Group – Stephen Cohen and Stephen Fletcher
Three-Year Plan Working Group – David Benjamin and Brett Carnell
Working Groups established in 3-year plan 2009-2012:
Digital Collecting Working Group
Education and Special Topics Group
Publishing Group
Communications Working Group was established in the Midwinter Meeting 2010 and has morphed into something new and exciting thanks to ever-changing technology. We are seeing more volunteers to serve on this group.
Communications Director – Tim Hawkins
VIEWS Editor – Anne Salsich
Web Master - Lisa Snider
The Advanced Workshops Working Group was incorporated into the Education and Special Topics Working Group in the 2009-2012 3-year plan.
Bibliography and Program Working Groups are currently undetermined.
The second thing I want to look at are VMS events at the Annual Meeting. Brett Carnell, the Visual Materials Section Chair-Elect, and I will look at past Visual Materials Section events that traditionally occurred at the annual meeting and determine how we can incorporate new ways for members of the Section to get to know one another without taking away events that members look forward to every year. This is going to take some time and both Brett and I will be looking to members for input and ideas. I hope to have some concrete ideas in place for the Midwinter Meeting.
Finally, if you have concerns about what is going on with the Section, ideas for how to improve things, or questions please feel free to contact me. As of January 23, 2012 I am at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona. I have said goodbye to cold and hello to hot! My new contact information is a follows:
David Benjamin
Assistant Archivist and Assistant Head of Reference Services
Center for Creative Photography
University of Arizona
1030 N. Olive Road
P.O. Box 210102
Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: 520 621-0500
Email:
benjamind@ccp.library.arizona.edu
David
Section Chair
