Midwest Organization of Libraries for Latin American Studies (MOLLAS)

Progress Report

March 2004

Introduction

Goals

Educational Opportunities
Future Goals
Appendices

 

Introduction

We are pleased to provide this progress report on the achievements of the Midwest Organization of Libraries for Latin American Studies during its first three years of existence. 

Eleven Latin American Studies bibliographers founded MOLLAS at the University of Kansas in August 2000 to improve communication and initiate projects among their respective institutions.  The group has made significant progress towards goals established at that first meeting, highlighted by the creation of a robust website.  Annual meetings at member institutions have created a productive work environment and collegial atmosphere among the participants.  Locally, each member’s students, faculty, and libraries have benefited directly or indirectly from the group’s accomplishments.

At the inaugural meeting, the group established the following mission statement.   After three years, the statement continues to accurately describe our activities and projects.

The Midwest Organization of Libraries for Latin American Studies (MOLLAS) consists of libraries with Latin American Studies Collections from the Midwest region of the United States. This organization promotes and develops member Latin American Studies resources through cooperative and collaborative projects in the areas of collection development, preservation and access.

MOLLAS members:  Indiana University Bloomington Libraries, Michigan State University Libraries, Ohio University Libraries, Ohio State University Libraries, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Libraries, University of Iowa Libraries, University of Kansas Libraries, University of Michigan Libraries, University of Minnesota Libraries, University Libraries of Notre Dame, and University of Wisconsin - Madison Libraries 

Goals

The following seven goals established at that first meeting have helped focus the organization’s efforts.   We have realized significant progress towards these goals over the past three years. 

1. Create a website that provides members and interested parties with information on MOLLAS administrative structure and projects;

2. Identify and develop strategies on preservation projects;

3. Identify and develop strategies on collection development projects;

4. To collaborate to obtain extra-institutional grant funds, whenever appropriate, to support consortium goals;

5. Share instructional and research aids;

6. Develop needed products and pursue favorable consortium purchasing arrangements;

7. Communicate current Latin American Studies events occurring on member campuses.

Educational Opportunities

An unexpected benefit has been the opportunity to attend demonstrations by expert librarians from the host institutions.  These sessions have often included demonstrations followed by question and answers sessions.   Each has been an ideal opportunity to learn from accomplished librarians, several of whom are leaders in their respective fields.   Thanks to each host for arranging these meetings

 

Kansas (2000) – Met with Brian Beard, Head of Preservation and toured the Spencer Special Collections with its head, Rick Clement.  Discussed regional cooperative organizations with Brad Shaffner, Slavic bibliographer, who has helped establish the Kansas Conference on Slavic Cooperation in 1996.

Indiana (2001) – Toured the Lilly Library and had a presentation on the Mendel Collection of unique and rare Latin American materials.  We visited Jim Canary, Head of Special Collections Conservation at the E. Lingle Craig Preservation Laboratory.

Kansas (2002) – Visited the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and had a presentation by an archivist who focused on Latin American aspects of the collection

Notre Dame (2003) - The group met with Eric Morgan, University, Head of Digital Access and Information Architecture Department at the University of Notre Dame in 2003 to discuss usability studies.

 

Future Goals:

At our 2003 meeting we agreed to the undertaking the two following goals in 2004. 

 

1.    At the August 2003 meeting, members agreed to the following statement: "MOLLAS will keep regional membership guidelines to Mid-western states (as defined in MOLLAS 2001 minutes), but given the strengths of the collections, and the expressed interest at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State, MOLLAS will invite them to join us." Invitations were sent in early February 2004. 

2.    Submit progress report on organization to member libraries.  The report was sent to MOLLAS libraries March 2004.

 

When we meet at the annual SALALM meeting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (June 2004), we will begin a review of the above goals to see if they are still appropriate.

 

Submitted by Scott Van Jacob for MOLLAS

MOLLAS Convener, 2003-2004

University of Notre Dame

March 29, 2004

Appendices

 

MOLLAS Officers:

 

 

Local Meetings (The members also meet at the annual SALALM meeting.):

 

*Minutes for the meetings can be found at http://www.ku.edu/~mollas/mollasmins.html.

 

Website Responsibilities:

Website Maintenance: Jana Krentz

Bibliographic Instruction Guides – Jana Krentz

Business Sources and Newsmagazines – Mary Jo Zeter

Collection development policies, descriptions and strengths – Rafael Tarragó

Microfilm Collections – Nerea Llamas

Newspapers – Scott Van Jacob

Special Collections – Julie Nilson

Videos – Nelly González

 

Comparison of Regional Websites
	MOLLAS	LASER	CALAFIA	LANE
Charge	x	x	x	x
Contacts	x	x	x	x
Bibliographic Instruction Resources	x
CD-Rom Resources	x
Collection descriptions	x			x
E-texts -  Ibero-American Electronic Text Series	x
Links to other regional groups	x	x	x  (incomplete)
Member Video Holdings & Lending Policies	x	x		x
Microfilm	x	x	x	x
Minutes/annual reports	x	x	x	x
Preservation				x
Special Collections	x
Subject Bibliographies	x
Newspapers & News and Business Magazines	x	x		x
Unique Projects, e.g. The Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Project	x		x
Compiled by Scott Van Jacob
July 30, 2003

LASER - Latin American South East Region

CALAFIA - California Cooperative Latin American Collection Development Group LANE - Latin American North East