New College Independent Alumni/ae Association

I was reading recently about an information management system used by Cornell to integrate knowledge across disciplines, connecting people and ideas among its many colleges, institutes, and research centers. Pondering some possible applications for this system in my own work, I recalled how little attention was paid to library and information services at my alma mater, and the need during its transition to develop the New College library into a bona fide curator of knowledge networks associated with the school.

I suppose it all goes back to the perpetual problem of pretending to be a college, while delivering as few services to faculty and students as possible. Perhaps with the imminent reform of the governance, financial and curricular systems, the trustees can also be forced to treat basic academic needs — like a functioning library system — with the respect they deserve.

Time will tell.

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