smithsonian fieldwork presentation

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John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology Smithsonian Institution Libraries Summer Fieldwork 2005 in completion of the degree Master of Information Science University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

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Page 1: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

John Wesley Powell Library of Anthropology

Smithsonian Institution Libraries

Summer Fieldwork 2005

in completion of the degreeMaster of Information ScienceUniversity of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

Page 2: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

The Anthropology LibraryTucked away on the 6th floor of the

National Museum of Natural History, the John Wesley Powell Library of

Anthropology is one of twenty Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

Mission: To support the research, publication, exhibitions, and public programming of the

department and other museums and offices within the Smithsonian.

Page 3: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

The Anthropology Library Collection

• Named after John Wesley Powell, the Bureau of the American Indian (BAE) founder and first director, who is also famous for his early exploration of the Colorado River region.

• The collection largely reflects the merger between the BAE and the divisional collections of the Anthropology Department in 1965.

• Approximately 80,000 print volumes, including over 400 serial titles, numerous microforms, smaller collections of CD-ROMs, audio cassettes, and slides as well as electronic links toother information sources.

• The library includes research material from the four sub-disciplines that traditionally define American anthropology—physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology and linguistics— as well as some related disciplines, such as folklore, biomedicine, forensic science and a number of area studies.

Maggie DittemoreBranch Librarian

Page 4: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Smithsonian Institution Libraries Newsletter

Page 5: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Fieldwork Experience

• Resolved “In-Transit” ItemsWe had a list of items marked “in-transit” in the computer system, some since 1995. By manipulating our Horizon Integrated Library System (SirsiDynix), shelf checking, and collaborating with other libraries, Carmen and I found the majority of these items.

• Answered Reference QuestionsUsed available resources to ascertain necessary information for patrons. Most involved searching anthropology-specific, historical newspaper, or original Smithsonian created databases.

• Collaborated on Salvage Priorities ListJim and I considered the uniqueness, inherent worth, and usefulness of items in the collection to compile a prioritized list of items to save/salvage in case of emergency/damage.

• Reviewed Website MaterialsReviewed general design and organization of website for submission to webmaster. Created original documents for website as well as proofread and re-organized existing ones (introductions, pathfinders, etc.).

Carmen EyzaguirreLibrary Technician

Jim HaugReference Librarian

Page 6: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Fieldwork ExperienceProject: Guide to Finding Resources

Page 7: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Project: Sale &Barter Books ListMost of the Smithsonian

Institution Libraries have not had any acquisitions budget

in over 3 years.To get the resources we need,

we pulled the duplicate and unnecessary items in the

collection to barter or sell.

We needed a list of these materials in order to inform, market and create revenue. I downloaded a 30 day trial of EndNoteSoftware. Connecting to the Library of Congress Online catalog, I directly imported bibliographic information for each item and manipulated bibliographic output to create an easy to read list of books for barter and sale.

Fieldwork Experience

Page 8: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Fieldwork ExperienceProject: Salvage Priorities List

Page 9: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Project: “Kennewick Man”The BackgroundThe “Kennewick Man” or “Ancient One” is a 9,000 year old skeleton found in Kennewick, Washington in 1996.

The skeleton was seized by the Army Corps of Engineers, who announced they would immediately repatriate to American Indians.

Eight Scientists sued the American government and associated tribes, winning the right to study the bones before repatriation in 2002.

Tom McClelland

(right) shows the skull casting of

Kennewick Man used to recreate

the facial features.

Doug Owsley (below) – department head of Physical Anthropology -

was a key scientist on the case.

Fieldwork Experience

Page 10: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Project: “Kennewick Man” Resources

Lauren Sieg (right)- Repatriation Specialist at the National Park Service - volunteered to find and compile materials surrounding the “Kennewick Man” case for patrons.

The physical materials and bibliographic information required organization.

Using EndNote Software and binders, I organized the materials and monographs chronologically by natural groupings: Law & Policy, Popular Media and Scholarly Resources. The bibliography would be published on the website; the organized materials available in the Anthropology Library for patrons.

Fieldwork Experience

Page 11: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

Politics in the City

A Scandal!(right, below) Negative media outbreak inspired an

emergency meeting of the Anthropology Department with the Director of the Natural History Museum

A Controversy!Senate hearing on controversial, proposed amendment to the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

A Bureaucratic Event!(left) Lines. More lines. And badge administrators who take generous lunches and go home at 4:30 (never, ever 4:31).

Page 12: Smithsonian Fieldwork Presentation

A Beautiful Summer in Washington DC

. . . Thank You!