Carolyn Harris

Carolyn Hixson Harris (1948–1994) was a pioneer in the conservation and preservation of library and archival materials. She published extensively throughout her career, especially dealing with mass deacidification of wood-pulp paper.

Education

Harris received a B.A. in Art History in 1969 and a Masters of Library Science in 1970, both from University of Texas at Austin.

Career

Harris began her career as a manuscript cataloger at Columbia University’s Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center from 1973-1980.

From 1981-1987, Harris was the head of Columbia University Libraries’ Preservation Division. After teaching in Columbia University’s preservation and conservation library science program, Harris was named program director in 1990. In 1992 under Harris’ direction, the preservation and conservation programs were moved to the University of Texas at Austin. From 1992-1994, Harris was the Director and a Senior Lecturer of the Preservation and Conservation Studies at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at University of Texas at Austin.

Carolyn Harris published extensively throughout her career and was actively involved in many professional organizations. She was President of the Resources and Technical Services Division of the American Library Association from 1988-1989. Her writings in the field of conservation and preservation won her the Jon Brubaker Award from the Catholic Library Association in 1983 and The Rex Dillow Award in 1990.

Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris Preservation Award

The Banks/Harris award was established to honor Paul N. Banks and Carolyn Harris, early leaders in library preservation. This annual grant of $1500 is offered by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), a division of the American Library Association. It recognizes contributions of a professional preservationist in the field of preservation or conservation for library or archival materials.

Selected bibliography

*Bagnall, R. S., & Harris, C. L. (1987). “Involving scholars in preservation decisions: The case of the classicists.” "Journal of Academic Librarianship", 13(3), 140-146.
*Harris, C. L.(1979). “Mass deacidification: Science to the rescue?” "Library Journal", 104(13), 1423-1427.
*Harris, C. L. (1986). “Preservation of library materials.” "The ALA yearbook of library and information services", 11. Chicago: American Library Association.
*Harris, C. L.(1990). “Education for preservation administration: Part 1 -- the role of the conservation education program of Columbia University's school of library service.” "Conservation Administration News", (42)8-9, 24.
*Harris, C. L.(1990). Education for preservation administration: Part 2 -- the role of the conservation education program of Columbia university's school of library service. "Conservation Administration News", (43)4-5, 29.
*Harris, C. L. (1990). “Library binder's role in preservation education.” "New Library Scene" 9, 8-11.
*Harris, C. L. (1991). “The preservation consideration in electronic security systems.” "Library and Archival Security", 11(1), 35-42.
*Harris, C., Mandel, C., & Wolven, R. (1991). “A cost model for presentation: The Columbia University libraries' approach.” "Library Resources and Technical Services", 35(1), 33-54.
*Harris, C. L.(1991). The preservation consideration in electronic security systems. "Library and Archival Security", 11(1), 35-42.
*Harris, C. L., et al. (1991). “The Columbia University libraries staff development seminar.” "The Journal of Academic Librarianship" 17, 71-3.
*Harris, C. L. (1994). “CAN moving to UT-Austin.” "Conservation Administration News" 56, 1.
*Harris, C. L. (2000). “Selection for preservation.” "Preservation". Chicago: American Library Association.
*Pilette, R., & Harris, C. (1989). It takes two to tango: A conservator's view of curator/conservator relations. "Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship", 4(2), 103-111.

References

*Graham, Peter. [http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/exlibris/1994/02/msg00158.html “Carolyn Harris ALA Memorial Resolution.”] American Library Association, February 1994. Accessed on June 7, 2007.
* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol19/vol19_iss18/record1918.27 “Obituaries: Carolyn Harris, 46.”] Columbia University Record 19(18). February 25, 1994. Accessed on June 7, 2007.
* [http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/abbey/an/an17/an17-7/an17-708.html “Obituary: Carolyn Hixson Harris.”] Abbey Newsletter 17(7). December 1993. Accessed on June 7, 2007.

External links

* [http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/ University of Texas School of Information]
* [http://www.ala.org/ALCTSTemplate.cfm?Section=alcts&CFID=88778772&CFTOKEN=7074073 ALA Association for Library Collections and Technical Services]