----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Smolian" smolians@xxxxxxxxx
The institution makes an investment in shelving space, heating,
curatorial
services, etc., when it accepts a collection. If building traffic is one
of
its objectives, this being a factor determining budget, then travel to it
is
certainly a legitimate requirement, though it may be expensive and
inconvenient to the pilgrim.
Those archives which are part of university structures have, in addition,
the need to offer research materials for advanced degrees. Obtaining
such
collections is a more scholarly use of its funds than subsidizing sports
and
should result in greater enrolment which again feeds the aquisition pool.
Intellectual fertilizer, if you will.
This, then, boils down to whether the institution maintains a
library in order to survive, or vice versa! It seems logical to
me that the presevation of civilization would require the
maintenance of publicly accessible archives (the fact that I
have a copy of a rare recording is no guarantee that it can
be accessed!).
As a parallel, we can consider the question of whether sports
teams exist to help support the university or vice versa...
...stevenc
http://users.interlinks.net/stevenc/
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