Inventory of the Ridley R. Kessler Papers, 1971-2003
Collection Number 5132
Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
- Contact Information:
- Manuscripts Department
- CB#3926, Wilson Library
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
- Phone: 919/962-1345
- Fax: 919/962-3594
- Email: mss@email.unc.edu
- URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
- Processed by
- Matthew Turi
- Date Processed
- October 2003
- Encoded by
- Matthew Turi
- Date Encoded
- October 2003
Back to Top
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- Southern Historical Collection
- Creator
- Kessler, Ridley R.
- Title
- Ridley R. Kessler Papers, 1971-2003
- Call Number
- 5132
- Extent
-
- About 3,200 items (9.0 linear feet)
- Abstract
- Ridley R. Kessler, Jr., government documents librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1970-2003, was born in Hendersonville, N.C., in 1941. The collection is chiefly papers relating to the professional activities of Ridley R. Kessler, Jr. Kessler, who was very actively involved in the field of government documents librarianship, served as a member and officer of a number of professional associations, including the American Library Association's Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), the Government Printing Office's Depository Library Council to the Public Printer (DLC), and the Dupont Circle Group (DCG). Kessler also carried out "A Survey of United States Regional Government Depository Libraries," 1987-1989; appeared before a number of congressional subcommittees to testify about services provided by the Government Printing Office's Federal Depository Library Program; and served as liaison from the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) to the Task Force on Restrictions on Access to Government Information. Materials include correspondence, reports, position papers, reorganization proposals, member surveys, bylaws, membership lists, notes, subject files, and other papers. There are also transcripts of the official public meetings of the DLC. A small number of personal papers are also included.
Administrative Information
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], in the Ridley R. Kessler Papers #5132, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Online Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
- American Library Association. Government Documents Round Table.
- Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.
- Depository Library Council to the Public Printer (U.S.).
- Depository libraries--United States.
- Dupont Circle Group.
- Federal Depository Library Program.
- Government information--United States.
- Government publications--United States.
- Kessler, Ridley R.
- Librarians--North Carolina.
- Reference and User Services Association.
- Task Force on Restrictions on Access to Government Information.
- United States. Government Printing Office.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Documents Dept.
Biographical Note
Ridley R. Kessler, Jr., was born in Hendersonville, N.C., in 1941. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Bachelor's degree in 1964, a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1966, and a Master of Science in Library Science in 1970. In 1970, Kessler was hired by the Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as Assistant Documents Librarian. In 1973, he was promoted to Federal Documents Librarian/Regional Depository Librarian for North Carolina, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2003. Additionally, he served as Assistant Head of Reference, 1993-2003.
Kessler was very actively involved in government documents librarianship at the national level and served as a member and/or officer of a number of professional associations, including the American Library Association's Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), the Government Printing Office's Depository Library Council to the Public Printer (DLC), the Dupont Circle Group (DCG), and the Task Force on Restrictions on Access to Government Information.
Back to TopCollection Overview
The collection is chiefly papers relating to the professional activities of Ridley R. Kessler, Jr., government documents librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1970-2003. Kessler, who was very actively involved in the field of government documents librarianship, served as a member and officer of a number of professional associations, including the American Library Association's Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), the Government Printing Office's Depository Library Council to the Public Printer (DLC), and the Dupont Circle Group (DCG) and related bodies and conferences. In addition to his activities with these groups, Kessler also carried out "A Survey of United States Regional Government Depository Libraries," 1987-1989; appeared before a number of congressional subcommittees to testify about services provided by the Government Printing Office's Federal Depository Library Program; and served as liaison from the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) to the Task Force on Restrictions on Access to Government Information. Materials include correspondence, reports, position papers, reorganization proposals, member surveys, bylaws, membership lists, notes, subject files, and other papers. There are also transcripts of the official public meetings of the DLC. A small number of personal papers are also included.
Back to TopOrganization of Collection
-
1. Personal Papers
2. Subject Files
3. American Library Association/Government Documents Round Table
3.1 Organizational Meetings
3.2 Administrative Materials
3.3 Subject Files
4. Depository Library Council to the Public Printer
4.1 Organization Meetings
4.2 Organizational Meeting Transcripts
4.3 Recommendations to the Public Printer
4.4 Administrative Materials
4.5 Subject Files
5. Dupont Circle Group
6. Federal Regional Depository Library Program
6.1 Organizational Materials
6.2 Survey of United States Regional Government Depository Libraries
7. Other Professional Organizations and Service
7.1 Other Professional Organizations
7.2 Congressional Testimony
Back to Top
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Personal Papers, 1973-2003.
About 150 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Personal correspondence, résumés and biographical sketches, draft of an article, an incomplete collection of abstracts of supervised Master's papers, and other papers of Ridley Kessler. Some of the correspondence reflects a mixture of personal and professional concerns.
Folder
1
Résumés and biographical information, 1987-2003
Folder
2-3
Personal correspondence, 1988-2000
Folder
4
Employment, 1973-1994
Folder
5
Awards, 1992
Folder
6
Articles
Folder
7
Master's papers supervised, 1983-1989
Back to Top
2. Subject Files, 1982-2001.
About 75 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Subject files kept by Kessler consisting of a range of materials that may include correspondence, articles, position papers, reports, and handwritten notes.
Folder
8
"Documents Lost: Depository Documents Depositories Did Not Receive, 1982-1986"
Folder
9-10
Task Force on Government Information in Electronic Format, 1986-1988
Folder
11
Government Printing Office finances, 1986-2001
Folder
12
Census, 1990
Folder
13
Merritt Plan, 1992
Back to Top
3. American Library Association (ALA) and its Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), 1971-2000.
About 1,000 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, position papers, reports, handwritten notes, agenda, merger proposals, member surveys, bylaws, subject files, and other papers kept by Kessler while he was a member and officer of GODORT, the American Library Association's Government Documents Round Table.
Back to Top
3.1. Meetings, 1994-2000.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Files containing correspondence, brochures, handouts, reports, position papers, travel materials, handwritten notes, and other materials relating to ALA/GODORT meetings attended by Kessler.
Miami, Fla., 1994
Folder
15
San Antonio, Tex., 1996
Folder
16
New York, N.Y., 1996
Folder
17-18
San Francisco, Calif., 1997
Folder
19
Washington, D.C., 1997
Folder
20
Washington, D.C., 1998
Folder
21
New Orleans, La., 1998
Folder
22-23
New Orleans, La., 1999
Folder
24
Philadelphia, Pa., 1999
Folder
25
San Antonio, Tex., 2000
Back to Top
3.2. Administrative Materials, 1988-1998.
About 150 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, position papers, studies, member surveys, merger proposals, bylaws, and other papers kept by Kessler that are related to the organizational affairs and activities of GODORT. There is an extensive file concerning GODORT's proposed merger with the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA).
Structural reorganization of GODORT, 1992-1994
Folder
27
ALA reorganization, 1994-1995
Folder
28-31
GODORT merger with Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), 1996-1998
Folder
32
GODORT resolutions, 1988-1996
Folder
33
GODORT bylaws, 1998
Folder
34
GODORT Awards, 1993-2003
Back to Top
3.3. Subject Files, 1971-1996.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Subject files related to GODORT activities, concerns, and projects kept by Kessler. These contain a range of materials including correspondence, articles, position papers, reports, and handwritten notes.
Microfiche, 1971-1985
Folder
38
Title 44, United States Code, 1979-1980
Folder
39
Depository Library costs, 1989-1991
Folder
40
Government Information Locator Service (GILS), 1993-1994
Folder
41
Reinventing Government and the Government Printing Office, 1993-1995
Folder
42
National Information Infrastructure Initiative, 1993-1994
Folder
43
"Security of Federal Automated Information Resources," OMB Circular A-130, 1993-1996
Folder
44
Congressional reorganization of the Government Printing Office, 1994
Folder
45-46
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 1994
Folder
47
"New Universe: A Model for Federal Information Access and Dissemination," 1995
Folder
48
Electronic Federal Depository Library Program, 1995-1996
Back to Top
4. Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, 1983-2000.
About 1,000 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, position papers, reports, handwritten notes, transcripts, agenda, recommendations, membership lists, bylaws, subject files, and other papers kept by Kessler while he was a member of the Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, an appointed advisory body designed to provide policy recommendations concerning the Government Printing Office's Federal Depository Library Program.
Back to Top
4.1. Meetings, 1983-1999.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Files containing correspondence, brochures, handouts, reports, position papers, travel materials, handwritten notes, and other materials relating to Depository Library Council meetings attended by Kessler.
Washington, D.C., 1987
Folder
50
Charleston, S.C., 1988
Folder
51
Arlington, Va., 1988
Folder
52
Pittsburgh, Pa., 1989
Folder
53
Washington, D.C., 1989
Folder
54-55
Scottsdale, Ariz., 1990
Folder
56
Arlington, Va., 1990
Folder
57
Boston, Mass., 1991
Folder
58
Washington, D.C., 1992
Folder
59
Arlington, Va., 1997
Folder
60
Clearwater Beach, Fla., 1997
Folder
61
San Diego, Calif., 1998
Folder
62
Bethesda, Md., 1999
Folder
63
Kansas City, Mo., 1999
Folder
64-65
Miscellaneous meeting materials, 1983-1993
Folder
66
Meeting travel materials, 1988-1990
Back to Top
4.2. Meeting Transcripts, 1987-1990.
7 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Official transcripts of the public meetings of the Depository Library Council.
April 1987
Folder
71-74
Fall Meeting, October 1987
Folder
75-78
Spring Meeting, March 1988
Folder
79-82
October 1988
Folder
83-86
March 1989
Folder
87-90
Fall Meeting, October 1989
Folder
91-94
April 1990
Back to Top
4.3. Recommendations to the Public Printer, 1985-1990.
About 25 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Recommendations made to the Public Printer of the United States by the Depository Library Council.
Depository Library Council recommendations with responses, 1985-1988
Folder
96
Recommendations to the Depository Library Council from the library community, 1987-1988
Folder
97
Requests for recommendations by the Public Printer to the Depository Library Council, 1989
Folder
98-99
Depository Library Council recommendations, 1989-1990
Back to Top
4.4. Administrative Materials, 1987-1991.
About 200 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, membership lists, bylaws, and other papers related to the activities of the Depository Library Council kept by Kessler, who was an appointed member of the Council, 1987-1990, and served as its chair, 1989-1990. There is an extensive file containing correspondence and other materials concerning Robert Houk, Public Printer, 1990-1993.
Bylaws, 1989-1992
Folder
101
Membership lists, 1987-1990
Folder
102-105
Correspondence, 1987-1991
Folder
106-107
Robert Houk, Public Printer, 1989-1991
Folder
108
Business file, 1988-1990
Back to Top
4.5. Subject Files, 1983-2000.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Subject files related to Depository Library Council activities, concerns, and projects kept by Kessler. These files contain a range of materials including correspondence, articles, position papers, reports, and handwritten notes.
Microfiche conversion by the Government Printing Office, 1987-1989
Folder
110
Government CD-ROM projects, 1987-1989
Folder
111
Information Technology Program, 1988
Folder
112
Minimal level cataloging by the Government Printing Office, 1990
Folder
113
Government Printing Office reorganization of the Depository Library System, 1992-1993
Folder
114-115
Ad hoc committee on the Regional Depository Library structure, 1992-1995
Folder
116-118
Draft: "Depository Library Public Service Guidelines for Government Information in Electronic Formats," 1992-1998
Folder
119-120
Guidelines for the Federal Depository Library Program, 1994-1995
Folder
121
Federal Depository Library manual, 1996
Folder
122
Miscellaneous materials, 1983-2000
Back to Top
5. Dupont Circle Group, 1992-1996.
About 300 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, reports, policy statements, handwritten notes, and other materials kept by Kessler relating to his participation in the Dupont Circle Group (DCG) and related bodies and conferences. The DCG was an informal group of government depository librarians that met at the Washington, D.C., offices of the American Library Association in 1993 to discuss issues and problems associated with the Federal Depository Library Program. The issues addressed by the DCG grew out of the work of the Government Printing Office Focus Group and were further discussed by the DCG and GODORT's Ad Hoc Committee on Restructuring the Federal Documents Library Program at the Chicago Conference on the Future of Federal Government Information. In 1995, the Coalition of Many Associations (COMA) revised the Chicago conference's report in light of subsequent legislation and technical innovations.
Folder
123-125
Government Printing Office Focus Group, 1992-1993
Folder
126-129
Dupont Circle Group, 1993-1996
Folder
130-132
Chicago Conference on the Future of Federal Government Information, 1993
Folder
133
Coalition of Many Associations, 1995
Back to Top
6. Federal Regional Depository Library Program, 1981-2003.
About 300 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, meeting agenda, and other materials, including survey forms, data spread sheets, and a final report related to a survey of Regional Depository Libraries that are related to Kessler's professional service activities with the Federal Depository Library Program.
Back to Top
6.1. Organizational Materials, 1981-2003.
About 75 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, agenda, and other materials related to meetings and other activities of Regional Depository Librarians.
Meeting, 1988
Folder
135
Meeting, 1997
Folder
136
Miscellaneous materials, 1981-2003
Back to Top
6.2. A Survey of United States Regional Government Depository Libraries, 1987-1989.
About 200 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Correspondence, completed survey forms, data sheets, and a final report and presentation related to a general survey of 52 Regional Government Depository Libraries that Kessler carried out at the behest of a number of Regional Depository librarians.
Correspondence, 1987-1989
Folder
138
Original survey questions and proposed questions
Folder
139
Survey results
Folder
140
Questionnaire raw data
Folder
141
Survey report, 1989
Folder
142
Survey presentation, 1989
Folder
143-148
Returned survey forms
Back to Top
7. Other Professional Organizations and Service Activities, 1986-2002.
About 200 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Chiefly correspondence, reports, position papers, prepared remarks, and transcripts of congressional testimony that are related to Kessler's professional activities.
Back to Top
7.1. Other Professional Organizations, 1986-2002.
About 100 items.
Arrangement: by type.
Chiefly correspondence with some reports, position papers, and presentations. Materials from the Task Force on Restrictions on Access to Government Information include reports and position papers issued by the library community in reaction to restrictions that the George W. Bush administration placed on government information. Kessler participated in the Task Force's work as the liaison from the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).
North Carolina Library Association, 1986-1992
Folder
150
NCDOCs listserv, 1995
Folder
151
Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)/Management and Operation of User Services Section (MOUSS) presentation, 1999
Folder
152
Librarians' Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Folder
153-154
Task Force on Restrictions on Access to Government Information, 2002
Back to Top
7.2. Congressional Testimony, 1991-2000.
About 100 items.
Arrangement: by type .
Correspondence, drafts of prepared texts, transcripts of congressional testimony, and other materials related to Kessler's three appearances before congressional subcommittees. He appeared on behalf of several national library associations, including the American Library Association, the American Association of Law Libraries, the Association of Research Libraries, the Medical Library Association, and the Special Library Association. His testimony focused on services provided by the Government Printing Office's Federal Depository Library Program. Correspondence is primarily between Kessler and the American Library Association about the specific content of his testimony and travel arrangements.
Joint Committee on Printing, 1991
Folder
158
House Subcommittee on the FY 2000 Appropriations for the Government Printing Office, 1999
Folder
159
House Subcommittee on the FY 2001 Appropriations for the Government Printing Office, 2000
Back to Top