History
• Established in 1977 in two converted classrooms in the Ohio State’s Journalism building
• Founding gift was the Milton Caniff Collection: 526 boxes of correspondence and more than 12,000 art originals
More History
• Collections of original art and manuscripts built primarily through gifts-in-kind
• Now the largest and most comprehensive academic research facility documenting printed cartoon art
Facts
• Recently re-named for Billy Ireland, the cartoonist for the Columbus Dispatch from 1898 until his death in 1935
• Ireland was an influential mentor to Milton Caniff, the cartoonist whose collection started the library more than 30 years ago.
More Facts
• Lucy Caswell, a former journalism librarian at Ohio State, was asked to organize the Caniff collection in 1977 and has been the curator ever since
• Caswell is one of four permanent staff members of the comics library and museum
Old Digs• Currently located in the basement of the
Wexner Center for the Arts
• Now has 6,808 square feet for collection
• Has a lone entrance in the middle of a long, narrow pedestrian alley between Mershon and the Wexner Center
• Staff members joke that the alley's sole garbage can doubles as an unofficial marker to the entrance
New Digs• New location will be the renovated Sullivan Hall,
an historic building located at a main gateway to the university’s campus
• Will now have 40,000 square feet for collection
• Will have three museum quality galleries
• estimated to cost $20.6 million
• will be completed in 2013
Collection Development Policy
• The collection has been built primarily through donations from generous cartoonists, collectors, and fans.
• The vast majority of holdings of original cartoon art has been acquired as gifts-in-kind, and this is expected to continue.
• Full Collection Development Policy
Loan Policy• The Ohio State University Libraries
materials will be available for loan to other institutions for the purpose of exhibition provided that such a loan would not represent an unacceptable risk, would neither impede research at the Ohio State University Libraries nor interfere with proposed projects sponsored by the Libraries.
• No loans will be made to individuals.
• Full Exhibition Loan Policy
Other ServicesResearch Services & Fees:
• Fifteen minutes of research service will be provided without charge to off-site patrons.
• Persons and businesses who need additional research service will be billed at the following rate:
* Personal/Non-Profit: $25 per hour
* Corporate/Profit: $100 per hour
• Full Research and Reproduction Policy
• Policies Governing Use of Materials
Recent Acquisitions Exhibit
The exhibit features select materials added to the collection during the past five years.
It is on view from April 26 - August 20, 2010
This exhibit was curated by the Head Curator, Lucy Caswell.
Patron/User Expectations
• Patrons have varying levels of expertise in using a special collection
• Some holdings are stored off-site and stacks are closed so advance appointments are strongly recommended
• Some patrons have been disappointed that there is no casual browsing of the holdings
Patron/staff interaction
• The library staff works to accommodate patron requests within the limitations possible
• This interaction will continue when the library moves to its new facility
Staffing information• Four full-time staff of the library
• 12-15 part-time student employees specifically assigned to the library
• Some staff is shared with other units of the University Libraries such as:− Library development−Acquisitions−Administrative services
More Staffing information• A 16-hours per week cataloger is shared
and is supervised by the Head, Special Collections Cataloging
• Staff do not belong to a union
• Currently all staff are experienced and work independently as a team
• Volunteers and interns are utilized selectively
Qualifications and Requirements
• The 2 curatorial positions require an MLS or MA in museum studies
• Associate Curator positions have faculty status and the tenure initiating unit is the Ohio State University Libraries
• Annual written reviews are required
Salaries and Status
• Salaries are paid by the University Libraries
• The Libraries are a unit of The Ohio State University, just like the English Department, Science Department, etc.
Marketing/Advertising
• University Libraries share administrative services such as marketing
• The Cartoon Library also has access to the larger university marketing resources, which are fee based
Web Site Links
• HOME
• Art Database
• Cartoon Image Database• Finding Aids for Selected Collections
• Digital Albums
• Digital Exhibits
• Teaching Aids
Resources:
Ohio State Buckeye Blog. 2009. "Ohio State names Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum in honor of $7 million gift." http://www.aroundtheoval.com/?p=11 (accessed June 30, 2010).
Sheban, Jeffrey. 2009. "Library at OSU due for upgrade." Columbus Dispatch. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/09/17/1A_IRELAND_LIBRARY.ART_ART_09-17-09_D1_2RF3BD8.html?sid=101 (accessed June 30, 2010).
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "About Us." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/about-us (accessed June 30, 2010).
Resources:
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Collection Development Policy." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/billy-ireland-cartoon-library-museum-collection-development-policy (accessed June 30, 2010).
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "Exhibition Loan Policy." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/exhibition-loan-policy (accessed June 30, 2010).
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "FAQ." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/faq (accessed June 30, 2010).
Resources:The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.
"Research & Reproduction." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/research-reproduction (accessed June 30, 2010).
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "Support Us." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/support-us (accessed June 30, 2010).
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "Visit Us." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=content/visit-us (accessed June 30, 2010).
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. "What's New? A Sampler of Recent Acquisitions ." http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=exhibits/whats-new-sampler-recent-acquisitions (accessed June 30, 2010).
Video available online at:
OSUExperts. 2009, "Cartoon Library and Museum." YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZRYpVZJCck&feature=player_embedded (accessed July 15, 2010).
OR
Potrzebie. 2010. "Death of Newspapers #11: The Vault of Caswell." http://potrzebie.blogspot.com/2010/01/death-of-newspapers-11-vault-of-caswell.html (accessed July 15, 2010).