It has been suggested in some quarters that if we are running out of space to store our collections until Hamilton is rebuilt, perhaps we don't need to acquire replacements for all of the documents destroyed in the flood. The questioners make a couple of assumptions: first, that even though we needed the documents before the flood, somehow the flood has changed our requirements; and second, that there are electronic versions available and for some reason we are insisting upon keeping printed copies instead of relying upon the electronic versions. I have said many times that most of the documents in our collection are not available electronically and won't be for some years, but apparently no one believes me.

 

As a regional federal depository library, we are required to maintain a comprehensive collection of federal documents. If we are not going to be allowed to replace substantial parts of our collection, I question how we can continue to fulfill our mission as  a regional depository.

 

About 20 librarians, staff members, and volunteers converged on Dole Cannery on March 31 to attack a mountain of over 900 Belfor boxes. Armed with box cutters, these individuals opened each box and sorted them, in the process uncovering many forgotten gems. Included in the pile of treasures were about 20 boxes of material for University Archives, 300 boxes to stay at Dole, 500 boxes to be shelved at Sinclair Library, and a few boxes of dirty books that smelled like the basement, if you can remember that. Many thanks to all who braved a torrential downpour to get there: Jodie Mattos, Paul Wermager, Kris Anderson, Eileen Herring, Tess Sotelo, Megan Teruya, Joe Murphy, Gregg Geary, Jim Cartwright. Also joining us were Andrew Madey and Mark Kawamoto, two high school students performing community service.