Interview with Barry Baker, August 18, 2016

Partial Transcript: We're now recording.

Segment Synopsis: Barry Baker, Director of Libraries at University of Central Florida, is introduced. He talks about how he became interested in libraries during his years as an undergraduate at LSU when he was employed as a student worker at the university library.

Keywords: Director of Libraries; Duties; Jenny Beth Clark; Librarians; Librarianship; Library school; Library science; Louisiana State University (LSU); Mentors; Responsibilities; Student jobs; University of Central Florida (UCF)

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College students--Employment.

Partial Transcript: So were you always interested in cataloging work then?

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about the specific areas within the field of library science he was most interested in during graduate school and his early employment. He talks about some of his classes which influenced his interests.

Keywords: Acquisitions; Administration; Anecdotes; Book collections; Cataloging; Classes; Library of Congress; Library school; Louisiana State University (LSU); Macon Junior College; Professors; Reference; Technical services; University of South Carolina (USC)

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; Library science.

Partial Transcript: Can you talk a, a little bit about your career trajectory from, uh, South Carolina, which you just mentioned, uh, to your current position here?

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about working at the University of South Carolina library, and the plans made by director Ken Toombs to renovate the facilities.

Keywords: Architecture; Career path; Construction; Ken Toombs; Louisiana State University (LSU); Remodeling; Renovation; University of South Carolina (USC)

Subjects: Academic libraries.; College buildings.; College facilities.

Partial Transcript: And then from there--were you going to say something?

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about his next job at Appalachian State University after leaving USC, then at the University of Georgia. He talks more about library renovations and other changes he has experienced during his career.

Keywords: Appalachian State University; Association of Research Libraries (ARL); Career path; David Bishop; Kentucky; Library administration; Library systems; Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC); Mainframes; Rare books; University of Central Florida (UCF); University of Georgia; University of South Carolina (USC); Volumes

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College buildings.; College facilities.; Library resources.

Partial Transcript: So you've had a, a long career of, of, um, being in, in libraries in, in the southeast.

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about the feeling of community among libraries and librarians in the southeast. He talks about how he became involved with ASERL and the structure of the organization during its early days. He talks about how the organization began to change and became more focused on projects.

Keywords: Appalachian State University; Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL); Bill Potter; Career path; Changes; Community; Dues; Golf; Meetings; Professional organizations; Professional relationships; Programs; Projects; Social clubs; Southeast; Southeastern Library Network, Inc. (SOLINET, now part of LYRASIS); Structure; Weather

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.

Partial Transcript: So let's, let's talk about that.

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about ASERL's role in the development of SOLINET, some of the people involved, and its purpose.

Keywords: Administration; Association of Research Libraries (ARL); Board of trustees; Executive directors; Founding; Frank Grisham; John Gribbin; Ken Toombs; Membership; Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC); Professional organizations; Ralph Russell; Southeast; Southeastern Library Network, Inc. (SOLINET, now part of LYRASIS)

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.

Partial Transcript: But in, in addition to, to SOLINET can you, you think of any major projects or initiatives that have happened in, in ASERL that you think particularly made a, a huge difference?

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about other ASERL projects during his tenure with the organization including resource sharing programs, addressing copyright issues, and ideas for future innovation.

Keywords: Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL); Bill Summers; Civil War sesquicentennial; Copyright issues; Digitization; Documentation; Founding; History; Innovation; Interlibrary Loan (ILL); John Gribbin; Journals; KUDZU (ASERL Consortium); Membership; National issues; Open Library Environment (OLE Project); Participation; Paul Spence; Programs; Projects; RapidILL; Resource sharing

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.

Partial Transcript: I wanted to pick up on s, on, on something you said a just little, little while ago--

Segment Synopsis: Baker describes the changes he has seen in technology, specifically in the field of automation, throughout his library career. He gives specific examples, including how libraries' use of OCLC has changed since the days of punch cards to the availability of information on the Internet. He tells anecdotes about libraries he has worked for creating their own software and library systems, and discusses some of the issues caused by changes in technology.

Keywords: "Technical Services Quarterly"; Acquisitions; Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL); Automation; Catalogs; Circulation systems; Conversion; Digitization; Formats; Future; Innovation; Integrated library systems (ILS); Ken Toombs; Machine readable records; Meetings; Mini computers; National Union Catalog; Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC); Polaroid camera; Preservation; Punch cards; Response time; Southeastern Library Network, Inc. (SOLINET, now part of LYRASIS); System software; Trends; University of South Carolina (USC)

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.; Technological innovations

Partial Transcript: Well you know so many projects, uh--you know, I'm sure you all have a bunch of them too--

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks more about changes in technology that he has seen throughout his career, focusing on systems for increasing access and helping patrons locate the resources they need.

Keywords: Accessibility; Availability; Born digital; Discovery systems; Metadata; Partnerships; University of Central Florida (UCF)

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.; Technological innovations

Partial Transcript: You know, I've always been--it's always been interesting--

Segment Synopsis: Baker talks about the general lack of awareness of what services and resources libraries provide.

Keywords: Awareness; Books; Branding (marketing); Council of State University Libraries (CSUL); Issues

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.

Partial Transcript: Well, Barry, is there anything else that you would like to mention regarding ASERL, or technology, or, um, academic library management or anything we haven't, haven't really touched on this afternoon?

Segment Synopsis: Baker discusses various types of funding libraries in Florida can receive, and talks about budget issues libraries are currently facing, including the ever-increasing cost of journal subscriptions.

Keywords: Budgets; Challenges; College Center for Library Automation (CCLA); E-resources; Emerging preeminence funding; Faculty; Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA); Integrated library services (ILS); Issues; Journals; Metrics; Money; Performance-based funding; Publishers; State legislature; Textbook affordability; Vendors

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Library resources.; Universities and colleges--Finance

Partial Transcript: I'm trying to think of anything else.

Segment Synopsis: Baker discusses a recent security issue that occurred at his library. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Active shooter training; Cloud computing; Misunderstandings; Muslims; Shooters; Shootings

Subjects: Academic libraries.; Universities and colleges--Safety measures.; Universities and colleges--Security measures