ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico
Chapter Annual Conference
Business Meeting
December 3, 2008

I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you all here, now, in Guadalajara. I hope you all have found the experience enjoyable and productive.

This year, my second and final year as President, I have people to thank. Certainly the executive Committee, Mark, Catherine, Craig, Carla and Elizabeth. I also need to thank Karen Sigler and Tara Spies. Karen has been an enthusiastic and supportive colleague. Without that enthusiasm and support, believe me, I wouldn’t be here today.

And this year, Tara took over the responsibilities of the art subject librarian at Texas State, which has been a huge help, and will be even more so by next year.

Carla, I just have to tell you, you made this event, the way Gwen did last year in Dallas. Which is to say, FANTASTIC. It was Carla’s connections and persistence that got us Clemente Orozco. This is something you can cherish as a unique event in the history of ARLIS/NA Texas-Mexico chapter conferences. YOU can say, you toured the greatest murals of one of the greatest Mexican muralists, with the grandson of that muralist. Carla pushed me as much as she pushed him, and along with the tour, one result will be an interview with Mr. Orozco for the Medium. Carla also investigated our joining with the Central Plains chapter of ARLIS/NA. Regretfully it didn’t happen, but not because Carla wasn’t willing, able, and on top of it from the very first inquiry. Regretfully, they could not make it happen for the coming year, but I hope that we continue to work and meet cooperatively with other chapters around the Americas.

This year, several of us were in Denver. Gwen and I roomed together, and one of the best things I came away with was getting to know her better. We found out we had a lot in common, and owing her so much already, I just want to let her to know, whatever you need Gwen, if you ever need anything, count on me.

It was an interesting experience, WAY colder than I thought it was going to be. I made a presentation, which any of you who were there know, was an unmitigated disaster. Later that evening at the wonderful Denver Art Museum, Jonathan Franklin and I backed into each other, as we were avoiding being seen by the rest of the attendees. We commiserated about being unable to read our notes because of the lack of lighting on the podium and also the missing keys on Steven Patrick’s laptop… never mind its other little quirks. Still, we ended up laughing about it, and the website was a success. It has been used and useful I have been able to recommend lots of the sites for all three countries to patrons and colleagues. I noticed it was gone the other day, but hopefully will be back.

Speaking of disasters, I really wanted to put a focus on what happened to our colleagues in Houston and surrounding areas, after Hurricane Ike. Personally I have been trying to get a disaster plan written (via committee) for several years now. You just never think that it is going to happen to you. Later on in this meeting, under new business, I would like those of you who were affected, to help us learn, as a group, from what you have been through. As Catherine put it to me, “the not so obvious elements of disaster recovery” and how we, as art libraries can help each other when these things happen. We have to gain some insight from bad things happening, or truly we will be diminished.

As a group, maybe we can help put those insights together and produce something for art libraries to share. For me, this is what these last two years have been about. The ability to share information, resources, ideas and knowledge in an profession and discipline that I know you all love and appreciate as much as I do. So thanks for all the insight, the fun, the art and the collegiality…

-Submitted by Selene Hinojosa