Information Alliance
Counterpart Projects: Anthropology
INFORMATION ALLIANCE ANTHROPOLOGY COUNTERPARTS DISCUSSION NOTES, FALL 1999
Jill Buckland, University of Kentucky
David Carpenter, Vanderbilt University
Paula Covington, Vanderbilt University
Linda Sammataro, University of Tennessee
Anthropology librarians discussed three electronic sources for possible consortial purchase. The expanded RLG/Citadel version of Anthropological Literature (ANL) is the most comprehensive international resource for the fields of anthropology, archaeology, and related interdisciplinary research. Produced by Tozzer Library at Harvard, one of the world's foremost anthropology libraries, this file indexes entries at least two pages long in over 1,000 journals and monographic series. These include articles, reports, commentaries, review essays, and obituaries.
This file covers articles published from the late 19th century to the present, including the complete contents of Anthropological Literature: An Index to Periodical Articles and Essays (published in book form since 1979). Librarians consider this a high priority index. Because UT subscribes to the RLG Avery Index, it may be possible to use that account for placing an order. Linda S. will work with UT's Electronic Services Coordinator Gayle Baker to obtain current consortial pricing information.
Anthropology faculty at all three institutions value the HRAF collections of Ethnography and Archaeology. UT and UK already subscribe to the Web-based HRAF Collection of Ethnography. Vanderbilt's Department of Anthropology is quite interested in purchasing access also. David contacted HRAF following the November 19 Information Alliance discussion and learned that Vanderbilt is welcome to subscribe at a consortial rate that would slightly reduce the overall cost for all three participants. Details will be resolved early in 2000.
Linda S. contacted HRAF about existing content and future plans for adding to the Archaeology Collection. She also made inquiries about interlibrary loan access to HRAF paper files, and the relationship to the paper files and microfiche. The librarians will propose that their libraries subscribe to Archaeology if funds can be found.
Librarians shared demographic data about their faculty and students, as well as information about their respective collections. Vanderbilt tends to emphasize cultural anthropology, and has a strong Latin and Middle American concentration with emphasis on Guatemala, Yucatan, Oaxaca, El Salvador, Brazil, Inca and Maya civilizations, Bolivia and Peru. Vanderbilt participates in the ARL/AAU Latin American program, contributing strengths in Guatemala and Middle America. The general collection contains world coverage, although there's no interest in the Arctic, nor much in Southeast Asia. There is some interest in Africa, and the collection of 20th century serials is strong.
Kentucky and Tennessee both have active research programs in medical anthropology. In addition, Kentucky has a strong African (Sub-Saharan and East Africa--Zambia, Kenya) collection. Reference librarians frequently answer questions from undergraduates about cultural anthropology. There may be overlap with Vanderbilt in holdings related to Central America and Mexico. There is considerable overlap between anthropology and history. Judy Fugate at Kentucky is the history librarian responsible for collecting Latin American materials.
Although Tennessee tends to focus on physical anthropology and archaeology, there are many cross-disciplinary uses of the collection, particularly in art, Cherokees, and Appalachian studies. Faculty members are conducting research in such diverse areas as genetics, primatology, epidemiology, cultural heritage tourism, and caves. One faculty member is an expert on dental and forensic anthropology as well as Afro-American biohistory. Archaeology of the Southeast is an important component of the collection, and there is interest in Mesoamerican studies. The Forensic Anthropology Center, which maintains the National Forensic Anthropology Data Bank, is internationally known. There are also several archaeological, osteological and data collections in the Frank H. McClung Museum.
Librarians identified several issues related to serials access that should be resolved if reduced overlap in journal holdings is pursued. Faculty and graduate students need fast access to articles. The ILL workload and resulting turnaround time have inhibited faculty support for canceling local subscriptions. The capability for IRIS users to request articles would be an important improvement. Lending journal volumes would result in reduced local access for 2-3 weeks.
Librarians plan to share lists of journals and budget information to continue discussion about
ways to expand the collections through collaboration.