Re: [ARSCLIST] Interesting WSJ Article on when libraries should discard their holdings.

[Don Cox <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 04/12/06, Kiwi O'Connell wrote:
> I would like to put a different slant on this, being a sound
> archivist. I have worked on hundreds of oral histories, many of which
> have a transcription which accompanies them. In my experience, I have
> found that many of the transcriptions do not reflect the intention of
> the spoken word. The transcriber has put a whole new meaning to what
> was meant by the 'talent'.

This has implications for the Quran, the Gospels, and other books
containing records of what some important person is supposed to have
said.

> 
> In cases, such as this, I advise that the researcher/interested party
> read and listen simultaneously. Let them be the judge. For instance, I
> found one nameless interviewer, who also happened to transcribe the
> work, to put in entire sentences, and change around the meaning of
> other sentences, to make themselves appear, perhaps, intelligent. I
> find this unethical, to say the least.
> 
> I think there is a place for both, and that culling collections be
> done with great care. What may not be important now to that library,
> may mean a million dollars to others in the future. I do realize that
> space is a problem for many.
> 

Regards
-- 
Don Cox
doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx