Reflections on Organizing the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center Library

Presentation given by Brianna Marshall and Courtney Brombosz at the 2012 Indiana Library Federation conference in Indianapolis, IN.

Transcript

1. CREATING A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY SPACE: Brianna Marshall and Courtney Brombosz Indiana Library Federation Annual Conference November 13, 2012
2. FALL 2011
4. About the TMBCC • Founded by Thubten Jigme Norbu, brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet • Established “to nurture and protect Tibetan Buddhist cultures inside and outside of Tibet and Mongolia and to protect and actualize non-violence, compassion, interfaith tolerance, and transparency” • Annual events include a commemoration of Tibetan Uprising Day, Mongolian Nadam Festival, Tibetan Summer Camp, Mongolian Summer Camp, and Tibetan and Mongolian Art Exhibits • Current Director is Arjia Rinpoche
5. About the TMBCC 108 acres in southeast Bloomington • Kumbum Chamtse Ling Monastery • Cultural Building (including library & gift shop) • Teaching pavilion • 4 retreat cottages • 2 private residences
6. • Weekly meditation and other teachings • Retreats • Visitors exploring • Kids playing basketball • Busy, vibrant community
10. Cultural Building • Open and unlocked during daylight hours • Gift shop staffed by a volunteer (sporadically) • Visitors sometimes staying in rooms upstairs • Various community events held here • Pervasive trust
21. • No discernible organization of the materials beyond basic grouping by format in some areas • No background on library’s purpose, origins, or how the community wanted the space to be used • Culturally & linguistically in over our head • Unfamiliar with titles like Rinpoche, Geshe, etc. • Many titles in languages other than English • Desire to be respectful in the space but unsure how to ensure this
22. • Catalog all materials in an Excel spreadsheet • Create a print listing of all TMBCC materials • Create a booklet of policies for use of materials • Organize materials meaningfully—by subject
23. • Lynn Svensson, our main contact at the TMBCC • Andrea Singer, soon-to-retire Tibetan Studies Librarian • Ralf Shaw, Dean of SLIS
25. WINTER/SPRING 2012
27. Sort books by subject and language • Sayonara Excel spreadsheet! • Seek out help from Tibetan, Mongolian, and Chinese speaking volunteers for assistance with categorizing those collections Foster community engagement with the library • Provide guidelines for use • Hold a “re-opening” of the library for the TMBCC and Bloomington communities
28. FALL 2012
29. • Contact Jim Canary, Head Conservator at IU’s Lilly Library • Contact staff of TMBCC to gauge their thoughts and ideas
30. • September 9, 2012 • Sent request for volunteers • TMBCC listserv • IU Department of Eurasian Studies • 12 respondents!
31. Language • English • Tibetan • Mongolian • Chinese • Others? We’re not sure. Subject • Religion/Spirituality • History/Culture • Language/Education • Miscellaneous • Children’s
42. • Language barrier • Willingness to follow our organizational system • Challenging to help them visualize our plan for the collection
43. Surprises in the collection • More languages than we thought! • Japanese • Sanskrit • German • Dutch • Many amusing books…
49. • What would happen if we weren’t there every week? • How will the library be used, and will the community contribute to its upkeep? • Was our hard work going to be part of a permanent solution for the space, or would it quickly become disorganized after all of our efforts?
50. November 3, 2012 1-1:45: Open house begins 1:45-2: Arjia Rinpoche speaks 2-3: Jim Canary discusses the Tibetan book 3-4: Tea and snacks provided
64. • Represents the sincerity of one’s offering • Sign of recognition of one’s respect for another • Mantras woven into the fabric
67. • The art of papermaking • Outlawed in 1955 • The Conjurer • Indian language adapted to Tibetan language • Indian paper – palm leaf • Tibetan paper – made from root of poisonous Eastern plant (VERY acidic) • Each sheet needs its own mold
74. • Attendees: 20(ish) • Donations: $0 • Technical difficulties: 1
75. FUTURE PLANS
76. • Finishing documentation • Finding a steward for the materials • SLIS student • Tibetan Studies student • TMBCC volunteer