2024-May-2

Primary Sources (Professional Knowledge Development)

Tracey Snyder & Nina Scholtz

Pre-reading: Chapter 12 in Critical Library Pedagogy Handbook, Vol. 1, edited by Pagowsky and McElroy (https://catalog.library.cornell.edu/catalog/9955928).

• Brief overview of the requested reading
• View/discuss opportunities presented by Sanborn Insurance Maps.
• Archives can represent more complicated access than resources "pre-processed" into databases, and makes access constraints visible.
• Co-exploring allows co-constructing narratives by ceding control to students.
• Surround students with abundant materials and allow/facilitate the students making connections between the materials and research question(s).  Diverse array of outputs, from research papers to 'zines.
• 3 frames of exploration: cataloging/classification, the library, and literary information.
• Examples of working with primary sources:
  • Law: the law itself
  • Music: music scores, hip hop event flyers, hand-written notes on record covers or markers on records, "draft" music scores with composer's notes, crossouts, etc.
  • Primary sources on computers wasn't as successful/cohesive as physical sources.
• How to go from exploratory stage to include in an assignment?
  • Music Dept: queer punk music, 'Zines.  Zine-making, visit RMC, also help students understand organization and creation process.  3 sessions: collaborative session with RMC, how to catalog in-process 'Zine series still being published, and make their own 'Zines.
  • Kheel Center: many materials with missing informations.  Prompt students with "what if..." or "how would you learn more about this time period pictured?" to use secondary sources to support primary source research.
  • What information is missing? Helpful in organizing materials or piecing things together-- students could create their own classification/organization system and compare to how it is actually organized.

• Co-chairs for the upcoming year: Julia Gardner and Chris Miller
• Summer break from meetings-- restart in August or September, with new co-Chairs

• Additional opportunity to fill in availability survey for planning/hosting an event in June or Fall Semester: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7PXvk6LNBttIrie
• Refer back to event brainstorming document: https://cornell.app.box.com/notes/1484879548132
• Decision: June date, Fall Semester, or skip 2024 event
• If June:
  • Location: Mann 160
  • Activity
    • Combine 3 ideas listed in ideas document
  • Food: options will be developed by planners, confirmed with in-person event hosts
  • Survey results → who will help plan, and who will help host

• No June/July meetings, will coordinate for June PD event via email.
• Julia and Chris will communicate re: first meeting for 2024-2025.