Theorizing the collection 8
I thought I was done with my little collection of those who are “theorizing the collection,” but I can’t resist another take on it, this one from IBMer James W. Cortada. Dr. Cortada is well known for his historical work on the evolution of computing in American organizations, especially The Digital Hand trilogy, but I didn’t realize that he was actually a bit of a collection theorist until I saw his “Save the Books” in Perspectives, the American Historical Association’s newsletter.
He’s right about the endless weeding of this type of material in most libraries (“obsolete” computer manuals, for instance, are a mainstay of library booksales around the country) but wrong, I think, in thinking that this is a library issue: it’s an archival one, and companies like IBM (who gutted their own corporate libraries over the past decades, as I can attest) need to contribute to this type of collection, both in terms of material and support.
And who better to promote such an effort than Dr. Cortada himself?
Of course you are right on all counts. It matters little to me if a librarian or archivist protects materials that helps us understand the story, just so long as someone is protecting things. It is a constant battle, and I get beat up by librarians while the historians say “right on.” I just wish we could resolve some of these issues; meanwhile the stuff keeps going to the landfill.
Indeed, Dr. Cortada, you are leading by example, both by heading the Charles Babbage Institute, and by donating your own papers for use by other scholars.
I am thrilled to receive a comment from you!