Archive for the ‘About’ Category

GSLIS After Dark Recap

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
GSLIS After Dark Poster

This is the poster that was presented at GSLIS After Dark.

On April 28th, officers of Panopticon attended GSLIS After Dark, the school’s annual alumni event. At this event, we presented a poster presentation on the creation of Panopticon’s new website and the usability testing that we did to refine the final version currently available.  The poster (seen to the left) highlighted some of the key features of the website and showed our findings from our two-participant usability test.  It also showed the changes we made based on these results.  The poster was well received, with several alumni expressing interest in the usability test and the website.

The rest of GSLIS After Dark was also great.  Before dinner, attendees had an opportunity to speak with alumni and students in attendance and to see the other posters being presented.  Then, after dinner, Maura Marx, the evening’s award recipient, gave a very interesting presentation about her career and answered questions.

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A Recap of Our First Meeting

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

Last Monday, Panopticon had its first meeting of the year, where we introduced ourselves and discussed our plans for this school year.  We are hoping to have several events including screening art/art library-related movies, arranging tours of local art libraries and attending local art exhibits and events.  We will also be having another meeting of the membership later this semester to update everyone on our upcoming events.  We are also planning to host a student art show in the tech lab later this semester, so please let us know if you have art you would like to add to the exhibit!

Our faculty advisor, Martha Mahard also introduced herself and told us about the new Cultural Heritage Informatics classes that Simmons is offering starting this semester with LIS  531V – Concepts in Cultural Heritage Informatics.

At this meeting, Jasmine Jones also volunteered to fill the role of Treasurer this year for Panopticon.  She has provided the following brief biography to introduce herself:

“This is my first semester at Simmons, and I am in the Archives/History program.  My interests include museums and art galleries, developed from having worked at an art gallery, in which one of my tasks was managing its digital archive. In the realm of history, I have interest in the cultural movements of Central and Eastern Europe between WWI and WWII.  I spent my summer in Los Angeles working as an editorial assistant on a historical book project about Jewish women in the West, from 1840-1915.”

Finally, we also discussed Panopticon’s new social media offerings.  We have started a new Panopticon Facebook account and a Twitter account (@PanopticonGSLIS) where we will be posting information about upcoming events and other articles and links of interest to members interested in art and art librarianship.  Hopefully this will give our members new ways to follow Panopticon and share information!

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Introductions for a New Year and New Officers

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

With the beginning of the fall semester in sight, the new officers of Panopticon are already in the midst of planning fun events for the coming months and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce all of us and talk about some of our upcoming plans. Of particular importance, we are currently planning to have our first meeting of the year on Monday, September 13th at 5:30 p.m. in the GSLIS student lounge. We will be sending e-mails and posting flyers as reminders, but please save the date because we would love to see everyone there! We are planning library tours and movie events for the coming weeks, but we are always open to new suggestions so feel free to bring your ideas to the meeting as well. We are also still looking for someone to serve as Treasurer for the coming year, so please contact us if you are interested in the position.

I am Carli Spina and I am taking over as Secretary/Blogger, which means that I will be periodically posting information on Panopticon events, jobs that our members might be interested in, professional organizations, new developments in the field or other information that seems interesting and relevant to our members. I will also be working on other web-based projects for the group. I am currently entering my second year at Simmons and spent the summer studying abroad in Florence, Italy in a program that emphasized paper conservation, art history and cultural heritage. I am also currently interning at WGBH and at Temple Israel of Boston’s library.

Emily Glinert is the incoming co-chair, along with Anne Holmer. As co-chairs, they look forward to organizing a variety of events that bring together the arts and librarianship from movie viewings to museum tours. If you have an idea for an event, please feel free to contact any of the officers at any point during the year. Emily is beginning her second year at Simmons, with a focus on special and academic libraries. She spent the summer in Boston taking courses in database management and collection maintenance, which meant dividing her time between writing code and repairing materials at the North Bennett Street School. When not in class, Emily works as a graduate assistant in the Office of the Dean for Student Life on campus.

Anne Holmer is the other new co-chair. Anne is entering her second year at GSLIS, and her focus is in archives. Her interests include conservation, museums, and cultural informatics. She spent July in the United Kingdom touring various British libraries, and she is trying to see if she can manage the Florence trip in May while still graduating. She has previous experience in the public library sphere, and at the Arnold Arboretum and the Frances Loeb Library at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. She is currently an intern in the conservation lab at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, and she works at the Boston Architectural College library. She is hoping to add at least one more internship this autumn. And maybe when she graduates in May, this varied path will lead her to an interesting job!

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Panopticon: Meeting Notes, 09/23/09

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Never said I was quick on the draw.
Panopticon Meeting, 09/23/09
#people in attendance: 28, which quite a few people commented was the largest group they had seen attend.

Main Points:
1. Ann Kordas – currently works at the Mary Baker Eddy Library. A graduate of Simmons College with past experience in art libraries.
She is looking for a VOLUNTEER to help 4-6hrs/wk for the fall semester in book conservation. Has approx. 100 books, all in various needs of repair, and unable to do all herself, would like someone to come in to help. While some experience in conservation and bookbinding is recommended, it is not required.
Please contact Ann Kordas, if interested.
email: kardosa@mbelibrary.org
Might be wise to mention you’re with Panopticon.

2. Collaboration with SCCoSA
SCCoSA is trying to put together an “Obsolete Media Collection”, to be used as both a teaching tool and hands-on visual. They’ll need help with outreach, acquiring objects, as well the final display, set to go up in the Spring.
We do have two reps for this project. Contact information will follow.

3. Introductions
Hi!
It’s been mentioned some of you would like to know how to best get in contact with us officers. This blog certainly works. :) Officially, I am in charge of the updating, and comment approving, but the other officers are checking entries periodically as well, and are certainly happy to answer your questions.
We also have a listserve, which I know some of you signed up for at the meeting.
Want a reminded of just who you’re officers are?
Betsy Boyle – Co-Chair
Allison Bjorndahl – Co-Chair
Melissa Hulse – Treasurer
Stefanie Maclin – Blogger/Secretary

Please feel free to ask us any questions. I promise we don’t bite.

4. Upcoming Events
The JP Open Studios are this weekend. There’s a nifty website to be found here.
While not an official Panopticon event, I hope everyone has a chance to check it out. (I actually know some people showing in it, and let me tell you. There’s some fascinating stuff to be seen here.)
Also: Panopticon is planning a 2nd Tech Lab Art Show for the spring semester. Assistance still needed in curating, advertising, set-up and design. Submissions also needed.
Again, contacts have been established. More information will follow as it becomes available.
In November, the Fenway will have THEIR Open Studios, Nov. 14+15, 11-5. Some talk of getting a group together and making it an official sort of event. More information to follow. Please comment if you think you might be interested.

5. Darin Murphy
Currently the librarian at the Museum School (at the MFA), Darin Murphy is also involved with ARLIS&ARLIS/NE, the parent orginization (of a sort) of Panopticon. Currently, he’s the New England chapter president, and made the note that they are looking for volunteers in leadership.
Some other related points he mentioned:
the ARLIS National Conference is in April (4/23-26), and while it is still in the planning stages, it WILL be in Boston this year. There will be workshops, chances to networks, and as students, we get the discounted registration price.
Also as students, membership rates to join ARLIS/NE, which is the New England chapter, is only $8. $8!
The ARLIS Fall Business Meeting will be in October (10/16) in Williamstown, MA, and will be a joint venture with the Visual Resources Association. Again, a great chance to network.

The New York Artists’ Book Fair is coming up! Information can be found here.

6. We also have a tentative date of November 6th for a Career Panel. Those who were around last spring might have come to the one our last year co-chairs organized, and remember what a great thing it was! We’re hoping to have it be a “Grad Students in the Arts”, and are in talks of opening it to students from the MFA Musuem School and Mass Art also.

7. A few other ideas to keep in mind:
Tour of the BPL Digital Imagaing Library – anyone interested?
End of the semester craft night.

Details on both to come.

And that’s it! Have any questions? Leave a comment! Heck, leave a comment anyway. Tell me (us) what you’d like to see. What sort of events would you like to see what happen?

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Meeting Reminder!

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Also remember! Our first meeting is this Wednesday, Sept 23rd, 530pm. We’ll be meeting in the GSLIS lounge. There will be snacks. Hope to see you all there!

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An Introduction

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Hi!

Welcome to a new year at Panopticon!  From what I understand, this is the first year the club’s had a “full-time” person in charge of the Blog.  Hopefully, you’ve already seen my maiden post about Thomas Jefferson and the Library of Congress, but I thought I’d take another moment to a) mention who the chairs are for this year, and b) say a little what I hope to do with this blog over the next several months.

First, the Chairs:

Co-Chairs: Betsy Boyle and Allison Bjorndahl

Treasuer: Melissa Hulse

Technology/Blog Chair: Stefanie Maclin

We’re planning a great year ahead for you, so I hope we see everyone there! (Incidently, if any of you want to post a comment or a little blurb on who you are, maybe…?)

Now, about this Blog:

Quite obviously, tradition will be continued.  Upcoming events and meetings, job postings, tidbits about the club itself will still be posted.  But so will new content.  Articles like the Library of Congress one, in which we can see on a larger scale how archives and art libraries, and libraries in general, play a role in the greater world.  I follow many magazines and periodicals which cover these things, you’ll be seeing many favorites, old and new.  (And of course! if anyone has any articles they want to share, send them along!  This blog shall be interactive, yo.)

I’d also like to post happenings in Boston.  For example, are you familiar with the fantastic vintage maps collections currently owned by the Boston Public Library?  Or about the sordid history of a cursed statue currently living in Fanueil Hall’s basement?  Or how about any collection of rare books that Simmons owns?  Every week, I’ll be posting a new link or story or tidbit about exciting events, collections, and art that can be found right here around Boston.

And, of course, art.  Art with words, art without words.  Art as part of collections, and art which needs nothing else to stand with.  Art which makes you think, and art which makes you feel.

And finally, a blog is only as good as its readers.  So, as you all stumble upon this little corner of the internet universe, I hope you leave your mark.  Leave a comment, start a discussion.  Let us at Panopticon know what you think and want to see.  It’s my hope that you’ll make this your space as well.

We’ll see you all on the flipside!  Welcome.

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Panopticon ‘08-‘09

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Hi all.

This is your bright-eyed new Panopticon chair, Sarah Burke. By way of quick introduction, I have a background in medieval studies and an MA in medieval art. Because of my interest in medieval manuscripts I’ve come to appreciate books as made and experienced objects, eg. book art and the history of book-making. I also like to think about how other things are made: glass, wood, ivory, etc. So I know some things about art but am probably not as well-versed in contemporary art or art documentation as many of you are. I hope we can learn some things from one another.

We’ll have a few official club meetings in the fall to meet one another and discuss projects. In the meantime, I’d like to use this blog space to share ideas about the organization and also to share information with one another about arts-related events and articles of interest. If you’d like to share details about a gallery show or a film festival or a great new article about digital images (or a job!), please consider emailing me (burke9@simmons.edu) so that I can post them here.

In the meantime, Susan Skoog and I will be meeting in the next few days to discuss displaying art made by GSLIS students in the technology lab. If you are interested in helping us out, let me know. Also, if you are a photographer/knitter/painter/etc. please get in touch. This would be a good opportunity to show your work in a friendly environment.

‘til soon – Sarah

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Invitation to participate

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

Greetings,

Given that Panopticon is an open and collaborative group I would like to invite you to send me anything relevant that you would like to announce through the blog.
We also have a wiki, which is completely collaborative, and you can post material there directly. The wiki address is http://gslis.simmons.edu/mw/panopticon. It is brand new, an empty canvas if you will, and has no structure or content at this moment. If you are unfamiliar with how to edit wikis, the tech lab is holding a Wiki workshop on Tuesday, March 27; 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Please contribute as much as you can.
We are trying to share information concerning anything to do with visual aspects of libraries and librarianship. Our scope is broad and includes Architecture, Archives, Art, Cataloging, Data Standards, Digital Services, Humanities, Moving Images, Museums, Photography, Scientific Images, Special Libraries, Technology, and Visual Resources. Please read the minutes from the first meeting to find out more about the scope of the interest group.

I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Darin
darin.murphy@simmons.edu.

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Notes from first meeting

Friday, March 16th, 2007

The meeting on March 13, 2007 was a great success. I would like to thank everyone for their interest, with special thanks to Rachel Resnik, Public Relations Officer for the New England Chapter of the Art Librarians Society of North America (ARLIS/NE); Anne Reid, Administrative Manager for the Dean’s Office for their help in initiating the forming of the interest group; and GSLIS professor, Martha Mahard, who has graciously volunteered to be our faculty advisor. To date, approximately two dozen students have expressed interest in participating.

Scope:
The group is meant to serve GSLIS students interested in working with images in libraries. This includes, but is not limited to, the following subject concentrations: Architecture, Archives, Art, Cataloging, Data Standards, Digital Services, Humanities, Moving Images, Museums, Photography, Scientific Images, Special Libraries, Technology, and Visual Resources.
Emphasis will be placed on bringing together relevant professional development organizations, in particular the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA), the Visual Resources Association (VRA), the Society of American Archivists (SAA), and the Special Libraries Association (SLA).

Membership is open to the entire GSLIS community. We hope that this group will appeal to active participants in other student organizations (ALA, ASIS&T, LISSA, LISSA-West, PLG, SCoSAA, SIR, SLA, etc) who are willing to share their special interests.

Communication:
Virtual communication will be our primarily activity. Currently a blog, wiki, and list-serve are being set up for the group. The primary aim is to share information concerning image management in libraries. This includes, but is not limited to:
Job announcements; postings for relevant events (conferences, workshops, and training sessions); discussions of data & content standards; and resource sharing of library tools, websites, news items, copyright issues, technological developments, and visual literacy.

There is certainly strong interest in other events as well. Suggestions included: speakers, library tours, presentations based on conference attendance, and gallery/open studio events. (There was interest in attending the SoWa First Friday open studios in the South End). If a group meeting is needed then one can easily be arranged.

We would also like to involve participants from GSLIS – West. The group could also be instrumental in informing new students about specific course mapping for art/image careers. Additionally, it could provide a place to discuss internship and job opportunities and experiences.

Another goal is for Simmons/GSLIS to participate in the new Art Library Students & New ARLIS* Professionals site, http://www.arlisnap.org/.

What’s next:
Be on the lookout for emails announcing list-serve. Hopefully everything will be in place by next week. The first meeting attendees decided on an appropriate name; the group is to be called Panopticon, which alludes to total visual awareness of one’s surroundings. (OED- A place where all is on display; a public exhibition hall or showroom.)

Important note: This is an interest group and not a student organization. This means that we have no formal budget and events requiring funds would need to be sponsored by a willing student group. Luckily, there are many student groups willing to do that. If, in the future, the interest group would like to develop into a student group we would need to write a constitution and submit a formal request for a budget. (One of the major drawbacks of doing that would be smaller budgets for every GSLIS student organization because it is a shared financial pool. But we can worry about that in the future).

I’m quite sure that I did not include everything discussed at Tuesday’s meeting. It was a very dynamic and lively discussion and not everything made it into my notes, my apologies for that.

Thank you all for your interest. The overall response has been very positive. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns at darin.murphy@simmons.edu. Please include “panopticon” or “panop” in the subject line.

Best regards,

Darin Murphy

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