Stephen Chapman is Appointed Preservation Librarian for Digital Projects
In response to growing interest within the Harvard libraries in converting information resources to electronic form, the University Library Preservation Center has made an initial three-year commitment to help the libraries plan and implement imaging projects.
On January 6, Stephen Chapman, joined the University Library staff as Preservation Librarian for Digital Projects. Mr. Chapman will coordinate digital reformatting initiatives designed to preserve, protect, and improve access to collections, ranging from printed texts to unique visual resources in special collections.
In addition to managing and evaluating digital projects in collaboration with Harvard librarians, curators, archivists, and technical staff, he will respond to requests for advice and will help develop specifications, guidelines, contract arrangements, and other documentation critical to the emergence of the Harvard Digital Library. He will also serve as liaison in the partnering of HCL Imaging Services, HCL Automation Services, HUL’s Office for Information Services, and staff in the Preservation Center to address the broad range of technical issues involved in creating and delivering electronic resources.
Mr. Chapman comes to Harvard from Cornell University, where he contributed to the groundbreaking work underway in the Department of Preservation and Conservation to design, implement, and evaluate digital conversion projects and to establish guidelines for best practice. He is co-author with Anne Kenney of Digital Imaging for Libraries and Archives (Ithaca: Cornell University Library, 1996). This widely acclaimed manual was created to support the many workshops that have been offered by the Department of Preservation and Conservation to staff at Cornell and libraries and archives throughout North America and abroad. Mr. Chapman’s latest publication, also co-authored with Anne Kenney, is an article titles "Digital Conversion of Research Library Materials: A Case for Full-Information Capture," in D-Lib Magazine, October 1996.
Jan Merrill-Oldham, Malloy-Rabinowitz Preservation Librarian, remarked, "Steve is widely admired for his contributions to Cornell’s pioneering efforts and for his outstanding teaching skills. We are delighted that he has joined us."
Barbara Graham, Associate Director in the University Library for Administration and Programs, said, "Harvard librarians have expressed their interest in the effective and judicious us of electronic forms to preserve and provide access to many of their retrospective collections. Steve’s appointment is a significant step in advancing the Preservation Center’s efforts to accomplish these important twin goals. His experience in the field will enhance the work underway in HUL."
Sidney Verba, Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Director of the University Library, commented, "The Harvard Library is lucky to have found a person so well versed in what will be a growing activity in the Library. We are happy to have him on board."
Mr. Chapman is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Task Force on Statistics for Preservation Digitizing (chaired by Ms. Merrill-Oldham). He received the B.A. in History from George Washington University, M.A. in English from Boston University, and M.L.S. from the State University of New York (SUNY)/Albany. At SUNY he was supported by a Title II-B fellowship in preservation administration.