The Resident Archivist

Lynn Richardson is the DCL's archivist, or at least the closest thing to an archivist that the library has. She is the head of the North Carolina Collection, and Joanne tells me that she is the only archivist in the world to exclusively collect materials related to Durham. (I have to wonder why the collection is called the "North Carolina Collection" in that case, but some things will remain a mystery, I suppose.)

It seems unusual to me that a public library would have an archivist on staff. I tend to associate the profession with special collections and major universities, but not the local library. Many public libraries will offer rudimentary genealogy instruction, but again it hardly seems worth their while to keep a full-time archivist on staff. Most archival material is kept in university collections or, at a local level, in the city hall or the town records department. Were I trying to consult local primary sources, I would go to these places first, certainly not the library.

Lynn seems to be the exception to the above. A fiercely capable archivist, she fought for her collection when library administration seemed content to cut resources willy-nilly (see previous post). The collection seems to be well-used. Whenever I walk by en route to the copy machine or the break room, there is usually a handful of people, none of whom look particularly "scholarly," studying documents. I wonder if they are conducting family history or if they are searching for something different altogether. I'd be interested to learn how such a unique collection of historical records is used.

I hope to speak with Lynn more about her job later this summer. As I start to lean more toward public librarianship than archives, an archives position that works closely with the public library is probably the sort that I would find the most appealing.

The Grand Tour, Part II

On the way back to the main branch, Joanne and I stopped for lunch at a deli, where we talked libraries some more. (Thanks Joanne for treating, and especially for splurging on a slice of the gooey butter cake. You were right: it was delicious.)

Among the interesting tidbits I learned was that e-books aren't quite as economical as I had previously thought. Apparently the library can only let out an e-book twenty-seven times before they have to purchase a new one. This is the number that the manufacturers settled upon for how many times a hardcover book can be lent out before it has deteriorated to the point where the library needs to purchase a new copy. (Although Joanne and I both agree that, if well-tended, a hardcover can last for significantly longer than that.) On one hand, this makes sense. The e-book manufacturers need to make money somehow, and that's not going to happen if they sell one copy to a library and it lasts indefinitely. On the other hand, this is not logical at all. Why spend money from an already tight budget to replace a perfectly good product? Joanne asked if I had studied the popularity of e-books in relation to their comparatively more expensive cost. I have not, but it would be an interesting trend to chart.

Speaking of the budget, I was treated to the saga of Skip Auld, the former DPL director and a SILS alumnus. Skip was apparently one of those people that you either loved or didn't care for at all, and I suspect that Joanne falls into the latter category. I get the impression that Skip was a bit of a pushover when it came to protecting the library's resources. When the county mentioned budget cuts to him, he agreed straight away and volunteered to cut other resources and services without consulting the appropriate staff members. One of those staff members was Lynn in the NC Collection, although she managed to preserve a fair amount of her material. More about Lynn in the next post though.

In the end, Skip was "let go" by the county. The new director, Tammy, seems to be more well-liked overall by the staff. She's working to get the library's budget back to where it was before the reign of Skip and seems to be doing a good job of it. DPL's current budget is actually quite stable, helped in no small part by the community's support.

The Grand Tour

Today was an enlightening one. As part of my education, Joanne took me with her while she ran some errands at a couple of the other branches of DPL. Outings with her are enjoyable; I get the impression that she knows all there is to know about the history of Durham, down to every last building. It's also an opportunity to pick her brain about whatever library-related questions I might have. More on that later.

The first branch we stopped by was the Stanford L. Warren branch, which is a compact, handsome building not too far away from the main library. Joanne explained that this branch used to be the historical black library of Durham, and that heritage is very evident. Photos from when the library was still segregated line the walls and plaques and portraits near the entrance pay homage to the gentlemen that founded and supported the branch. It's a tiny library--there are only fifteen or so parking spaces--but there's a great sense of pride in the building.

From there, we went to the Southwest branch, about which Joanne was quite enthusiastic. It's easy to see why. While not quite as classically handsome as the Warren branch, this library is obviously an essential part of the community, rivaling even the impressive main branch in terms of circulation. Southwest has a large circulation, a bright, airy children's room, ample office space, and little niceties such as a community garden outdoors and little book recommendation cards of the sort that you might find in a bookstore. (If you like so-and-so, then we recommend checking out so-and-so.) These touches make the library a more welcoming place, and I received the impression that Joanne hopes that the main library will include some of these features when the building is renovated in a few years' time. It's interesting to see the very different cultures and atmosphere present at branches which are only a few miles from one another.

The Library as a Space

Today one of my tasks was to take down and box up a small exhibit of Civil War photographs and items. This entailed venturing down to the second floor, an area of the library that I've not yet had occasion to visit. My jaunt down to the the exhibition nook prompted thoughts on the physical space within and around the library and how that space is used.

Naturally, the vast majority of a library is, not too surprisingly, devoted to library stuff: books, shelves, desks. The main branch of DPL is quite extraordinary in that it has a number of other little areas throughout the building that are used for so many different purposes. There is a sizable auditorium, an archive, and the aforementioned "exhibition room," which is really just a nook in which pictures and art can be hung. There is even what you might call a garden. While on the second floor, I stumbled across an alcove filled with real dirt and containing a riot of green plants and ferns. It's literally right next to one of the shelving units and, so far as I can tell, serves no real purpose except that it looks nice and is a welcome shot of color and life.

With so many facilities contained under one roof, each representing a different way in which the building is used, is it really appropriate to refer to the Durham library as simply a library? Because it's also a theater, or maybe a town hall. And a museum. And a records office. And even a community garden.

As Bones would say "I'm a librarian Jim, not an architect," but it seems to me that many public libraries are utilizing their space for purposes other than simply checking out books. The Chapel Hill Public Library had lovely walking trails surrounding it, and while I've not been on them since the building re-opened, I can imagine that they look all the better for having undergone renovation. The Chatham Community Library, where I volunteer every other Friday, has a nice picnic area. The main branch of DPL is a little imposing, but for the most part, each of these buildings is warm and inviting. I can't recall having seen a truly ugly public library. Perhaps it is because people tend to associate libraries with such warm, positive feelings that the buildings, both within and without, almost instinctively reflect this sense of welcome.

Today I'm going to stray from the topic of libraries to discuss the city of Durham. We make much of the fact that UNC is located only eight miles down the road from Durham/Duke, but how often do Chapel Hill-ians really take the opportunity to explore their sister city? I only have one Facebook contact who is a Duke alum, and that's only because we went to the same high school in Georgia. I can probably count the number of times I have visited Duke on both hands, and the majority of those times were to visit the gardens.

So what keeps us away from Durham? Is it something to do with the fact that the city has always had a perhaps unfair reputation for high crime levels? There was a controversial article in the DTH this past spring that essentially stated that Durhamites were responsible for various crimes committed in and around Chapel Hill. And it is true that parts of downtown Durham can be less than savory. As part of staff development day at the main library branch, staff members took part in a shooter simulation drill. I can't be positive, but I am fairly certain that this is not something that occurs at other public libraries. My roommate, who works circulation at the Southwest branch, confirmed that yes, this would not have happened elsewhere.

I didn't know much about Durham prior to starting the internship. However, a stint at the Herald-Sun following my junior year had opened my eyes to some of the interesting places and people that the city had to offer, and my work at the library has confirmed my opinion that Durham is, in fact, a pretty neat place. The library is running a series of events called "Bullish on Durham," and each one explores a different point of interest: DPAC, Central Park, etc. It's a great way to see what Durham has to offer as an up-and-coming Southern city. Many of the library's summer humanities events reveal Durham's rich cultural history as well. One series will detail Durham's history during the Civil Rights era, and an event later this month on Jews and Durham explores an aspect of the city's history that perhaps is not explored quite as often. Plus, it's difficult to not love a city that hosts an annual Beaver Queen Pageant.