Publication Date

4-13-2016

Comments

An abstract of this interview is available below. A transcript is linked above and to the right. An essay summarizing themes that emerged from interviews conducted about Myers in 2016 is available: Portrait of a Collector: Reflections on an Influential Bibliophile.

This interview subject is affiliated with IWU and/or President Myers in the following ways: Carleton College Librarian, 1972-1997.

Abstract

Metz was a building consultant and was invited to evaluate the IWU library at Myers' request based on Metz's work building Carleton's library. He recalls that Myers and Dean Hurwitz had come from institutions with significantly different libraries. He believes faculty were worried about Myers' presidency because he brought in the U-Haul collection. He recalls the visit being different from other experiences because the librarians were acting more as teaching faculty than as "career librarians." Metz speaks of the difficulties librarians in many institutions experience with faculty wanting grad school research-type collections and of the unsuitability of that material in an undergraduate collection. He believes Myers thought more like a collector than from the standpoint of focused collection development needs. Metz knew one Carleton faculty member who served as interim president who was a book lover and who also intervened with donors as Myers did.

Streaming Media

Duration

00:41:34

Keywords

library design, U-Haul collection, bows, coins, library building, personal characteristics, collector, Portrait of a Collector, Librarian

Disciplines

United States History

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