NEWS FROM DALLAS/FT. WORTH VISUAL RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS
The Dallas Museum of Art was the site of the first organized meeting of the Dallas/Fort Worth area visual resources professionals. The meeting, organized by Rita Lasater, was attended by visual resource curators and managers from area universities and museums. Represented were the DMA, the Kimbell Art Museum, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, and the University of North Texas.
Detailed information about professional organizations, ARLIS and VRA, began the conference. Jacqui Allen, Head of Libraries at the DMA and Vice President/President Elect of ARLIS/TX informed the group of the upcoming ARLIS/TX meeting in Ft. Worth, and invited all to attend. Eileen Coffman, Director of Visual Resources at SMU's Lady Tennyson d'Eyncourt Slide Library, presented the opportunity for the group to consider organizing a VRA chapter for the state or area.
The morning session ended with a tour of the DMA's Visual Resource Library, lead by Rita Lasater, Manager. A brief Q/A period followed focusing on the VRL's unique situation of administering the Museum's photographic archives, of being the primary source of all images regarding the DMA, and providing public access, as well.
The afternoon session began with each participant presenting a brief overview of his/her visual resource facility. Completed surveys, filled out by participants prior to the meeting, were provided as reference about each collection.
A discussion session included issues such as: the changing role of the "slide librarian," collection automation, digital imaging projects, copyright concerns, and educational imaging efforts such as AMICO and Image Directory. The meeting ended with a commitment to meet again in six months. Until then the participants agreed to function as a support group for each other and to seek out others in the visual resources profession who are in the area.
Rita Lasater