ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 530 / C&RL News Science and Technology Section V ice-Chair/Chair-Elect: M a r t in K e s s e l m a n , Information Services Librarian, Library of Science and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855 (224); Lois M. Pausch, Assistant Mathemat­ ics Librarian, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801 (199). Secretary: B e v e r l e e F r e n c h , Head, Science and Engineering Library, University of Califor­ nia, San Diego, L a Jolla, CA 92093 (243); Donald G. Frank, Head, Science-Engineering Library, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 (172). Slavic and East European Section Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: St e p h e n D . C o r r s in , Deputy Associate Librarian for Technical Services, Brooklyn C ollege, Brooklyn, NY 11210 (3 1 ); Viveca Seymour, Serials Cataloger, Stanford Uni­ versity, Stanford, CA 94305 (29). M e m b e r - a t - L a r g e : M a r ie B e d n a r , Head of Bib­ liographic Support Services, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 18602 (20); Rich­ ard L. Kort, Slavic Cataloger, Boston Public L i­ brary, Boston, MA 02117 (11); N atalia B. Be- zugloff, Foreign Literature Departm ent Head, Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland, OH 44114- 1271 (15); David J. Norden, Library D irector, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943 (13); Cecelia L. Shores, Head, Acquisitions Department, Center for Research Libraries, Chi­ cago, IL 60637 (3). University Libraries Section Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: M a x i n e H. R e n e k e r , Associate University Librarian for Public Services, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 (859); Jordan M. Scepanski, Director, University Library and Learning Resources, California State Univer­ sity, Long Beach, CA 90840 (794). Secretary: P a u l a D . W a t s o n , Assistant Director of General Services, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801 (848); Nancy L. Baker, Associate Direc­ tor for Public Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (753). Western European Specialists Section Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: M a r t h a L . B r o g a n , Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Af­ fairs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (114); David J. Cooper, Humanities Bibliog­ rapher, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21 2 1 8 (6 8 ). Secretary: C e r e s B . B i r k h e a d , Assistant Head, Serials Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 (110); Leona L. Wise, German Bibliographer, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182 (62). Member-at-Large: Su s a n n e F . R o b e r t s , Hu­ manities Bibliographer, Yale University, New Ha­ ven, C T 06520 (110); Robert G. Sewell, Coordina­ tor of Collection Management and Development, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3300 (70). Women’s Studies Section Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: Sa r a h M. P r i t c h a r d , General Reading Rooms Division, Library of Con­ gress, Washington, DC 20540 (150); write-in (4). Recorder: D e b B i g g s , Reference/Instruction L i­ brarian, Undergraduate Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1185 (105); Ju ­ dith Hudson, Head, Cataloging Department, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222 (52). M e m b e r - a t - L a r g e : M o l l y M a h o n y , Reference Librarian, Keene State College, Keene, NH 03431 (113); Suzy Margot Slavin, Head, Reference D e­ partment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A1Y1 (39). The International Association for Social Science Informa­ tion Service and Technology (IASSIST) B y D ia n e G e r a c i Social Science Bibliographer State University of New York at Binghamton The International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology (IASSIST) is an organization which brings together administra­ tors, computer programmers, data archivists, li­ brarians, and researchers interested in quantitative analysis. IASSIST members facilitate access to so­ cial science machine-readable data files (MRDFs) as well as promote commitment to the preservation and administration of these resources. IASSIST was formed in 1974 following the cessa­ tion of National Science Foundation funding for the Council of Social Science Data Archives and September 1988 / 531 concomitant with the escalation of quantitative so­ cial science data generated in machine-readable form. IASSIST grew out of the need for intermedi­ aries to increase access and manage this burgeoning arena of social science data available on magnetic tape. W hile data archives have generally developed separately from conventional libraries, there has been a distinct movement in the 1980s towards greater cooperation between data archives, com­ puter centers, and libraries. This is demonstrated by the growing number of “traditional” librarians who are active members of IASSIST, by IA SSIST’s involvement in developing cataloging standards for machine-readable data files, and by the num­ ber of librarians who attend the annual Inter- University Consortium for Political and Social Re­ search (ICPSR) representative meetings in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and handle MRDFs on college and university campuses. This year’s annual conference was held on May 2 6 -2 9 , 1988, in Washington, D .C . Again, the con­ ference illustrated the convergent interests of vari­ ous types of institutions who handle social science M RDFs, including traditional archives, colleges and universities, government agencies, and com­ m ercial organizations. Conference participants were drawn from all of these institutions and orga­ nizations. The program featured contributed pa­ pers, round table discussions, and workshops con­ cern ed w ith accessin g , a rch iv in g , and using machine-readable social science data and reflected the diversity arid expertise of its participants. The four-day meeting was opened by IASSIST president Judith Rowe from Princeton University, who presided over the first plenary session, “View from the Statistical Agencies.” Representatives from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Statis­ tics Canada, Statistics Sweden, and the U.S. Bu­ reau of the Census discussed issues of accessibility, dissem ination, and new products relatin g to government-produced data. There were two other plenary sessions: “Professional Standards in the In ­ formation Age,” chaired by Thomas E . Brown, National Archives and Records Administration and incoming IASSIST president, and “Beyond the Social Science D ata Archive,” chaired by Carolyn L. Geda from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. Round table lunches provided the opportunity for informal discussions among conference partici­ pants. Topics included: complex data-sets and soft­ ware to make them friendly, archival appraisal of m achine-readable statistical files, management and publicity archival tools, data management technology, and training needed for data manage­ ment. The concurrent sessions were equally varied and included the following topics: the preservation and use of empirical economic data, educating the data user, spatially referenced data, microcomputer- based data products, democratization of data, con­ sumer expenditure survey, Canadian general social survey, issues in integrating machine-readable rec­ ords into traditional library services, statistical use of administrative records, data archive organiza­ tion, data management technology, storage and I/O technologies, social policy simulation using survey microdata products, online catalogs with records of computer data files, cross-national social surveys, issues in data dissemination, and mapping as a data dissemination technique. Five half-day workshops were also offered: “In ­ terchange Standards,” “Data Products from the Bureau of the Census,” “The D ata Archive on Ado­ lescent Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention,” “Special Aspects of the National Longitudinal Sur­ veys of Youth,” and “Integrating Machine Read­ able Records into Traditional Library Services.” The latter workshop and concurrent session of sim­ ilar title are of particular interest to academic and research libraries and illustrate an emerging dia­ logue between diverse groups within IASSIST on the issues involved in such an integration. Elizabeth Stephenson, University of California at Los Angeles, organized the 3 x/2-hour workshop on “Integrating Machine-Readable Records into Traditional Library Services.” She invited five aca­ demic librarians to conduct the workshop: Sarah Cox-Byrne, Vassar College; JoAnn Dionne, Yale University; Diane Geraci, State University of New York at Binghamton; Carson Holloway, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Jim Jacobs, University of California at San Diego. The work­ shop confirmed the challenge to research libraries serving social scientists of integrating statistical data files into print-oriented collections. Topics covered during the workshop included: history of development of services at various insti­ tutions; staffing and training; financial adminis­ tration; equipment; types of services; organiza­ tional arrangements between libraries, computing centers, and other research facilities; and access to tapes and codebooks. W hile there are inherent dif­ ficulties with handling raw data, from the physical maintenance of the magnetic tapes themselves to providing statistical consultation, workshop par­ ticipants illustrated that there is no one configura­ tion of services and collection m aintenance of MRDFs that predominates in an academic setting. Lively workshop discussions dealt with issues of providing services for M RDFs, developing collec­ tions of data sets and codebooks, broadening ser­ vice points, and integrating M R D F records into on­ line public catalogs. Questions were raised about the impact of government information being dis­ tributed in electronic format to depository libraries and the impact of CD-ROMs. Jaia Barrett, Association of Research Libraries, chaired the concurrent session entitled, “Issues in the Integration of Machine-Readable Records into Traditional L ibrary Services.” Diverse perspec­ tives were presented by Ann Gerken, data archi­ vist, University of California at Berkeley; Karin 532 / C&RL News W ittenborg, collection developm ent lib rarian , University of California at Los Angeles; Donald Treiman, sociologist, University of California at Los Angeles; and Raymond C arpenter, library school faculty. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Interesting points were raised during this session on the user’s perspective of how data archives are different from traditional libraries. The fact was stressed that using MRDFs requires a great deal of interaction with the user, often including technical assistance. Archives not only assist with finding the appropriate data sets but serve as repositories for researchers who w ant someone else to m anage their files and documentation. Access to data sets at the variable level—that is, beyond broad subject, title, and principle investigator level—was also dis­ cussed. O ther remarks focused on the high degree of technical and statistical knowledge required to provide full service to MRDFs which may inhibit library involvement. Librarians need to under­ stand codebooks and how they are used, how the data can be accessed and manipulated, and how data files relate to print sources. In the same vein, the lack of training provided in library school pro­ grams for dealing with machine-readable files was mentioned. Formal library training in this area is still unavailable although some organization and information skills are generally transferable. The question of w hat kinds and levels of service librari­ ans can provide was raised. A nother perspective suggested th a t libraries must not segregate inform ation by form at. L i­ braries cannot expect patrons to know they are looking for information in machine-readable form . At the same time, there must be recognition that raw data is handled less easily. Issues of building collections of MRDFs within libraries and the req­ uisite training to provide responsible service were considered. The IASSIST conference provided a forum for individuals responsible for acquisition, adm inistra­ tion, and reference services associated with social science machine-readable data files. MRDFs are a valuable and often underutilized inform ation source for researchers and students in the social sci­ ences. The role of MRDFs in research libraries con­ tinues to be provocative. ■ ■ ★ ★ ★ News from the Field Acquisitions • The Brown University Library, Providence, has obtained the archival records of the Gorham Division of Textron, Inc., in accordance with a “milestone agreement” reached between the two organizations. Gorham, founded in Providence by Jabez G orham in 1831, was the predom inant American m anufacturer of silver in the 19th and 20th centuries, and it contains in its archives the history of an im portant area of American art. Mea­ suring over 1,000 linear feet, the collection features many thousands of drawings and photographs of Gorham products. Care was taken by the company to preserve corporate, personnel, costing, sales, and advertising records, as well as blueprints, plas­ ter casts, and copper printing plates. Textron, which acquired Gorham in 1967, is headquartered in Providence. • G eorge W a sh in g to n U niv ersity L ib ra ry , W ashington, D .C ., has purchased 500 Yiddish books from the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. Funding for the collec­ tion came through a grant from the National En­ dowment for the Humanities. The collection in­ cludes reference works, fiction, poetry, history. biography, ethnography, holocaust studies, the arts, and social and political theory. Also included is a Yiddish translation of the Hebrew Bible, as well as works by Sholom Aleichem and Sholom Asch. The books were acquired for use by faculty and stu­ dents in the University’s undergraduate program in Judaic studies. • The Library of Congress has been given by the N ational B roadcasting C om pany a m icroform copy of one million descriptive cards constituting the NBC Television Program Analysis File. The gift provides a catalog guide to NBC programming from 1939 to 1985, including 18,000 NBC p ro ­ grams previously given to the Library in 1986. The file contains more than 632,000 cards with detailed information on each broadcast, including air date and time, story line, and credits. • The New York State Library, Albany, has re­ ceived the papers of Rousseau Flower, an inverte­ brate paleontologist whose special research into Devonian and Ordovician geology and paleontol­ ogy at the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Min­ eral Resources was nationally recognized. There are 22 boxes of correspondence as well as student notebooks from his years at Cornell University.