NOMINEE
Organization: Brigham Young University
Title: University Archivist
Email: cory_nimer@byu.edu
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (List last three positions and years of service)
University Archivist, Brigham Young University (2015-2016)
Technical Services Archivist/Metadata Specialist, Brigham Young University (2006-2015)
Branch Librarian, Fresno County Public Library (2005-2006)
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS, ACTIVITIES, AND PUBLICATIONS
Professional Organizations: Society of American Archivists (2006-present ), Conference of Inter-Mountain Archivists (2006-present), Utah Library Association (2008-present), Academy of Certified Archivists (2010-present).
Service: ArchivesSpace Technical Advisory Committee (2014-present), SAA Representative to the American Library Association Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access/MARC Advisory Committee (2012-present), SAA Standards Committee (2009- ; co-chair, 2010-2013), Conference of Inter-Mountain Archivists Council (2010-2013; president, 2011-2012), Journal of Western Archives Editorial Board (2010-present).
Publications: “In Search of Primary Source Literacy: Opportunities and Challenges,” RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage 16, no. 1 (2015): 19-34 (with J. Gordon Daines III); “Developing Online Tutorials in Special Collections and Archives: A Case Study,” Journal of Library Innovation 6, no. 1 (2015) (with J. Gordon Daines III); “The Development and Application of U. S. Descriptive Standards for Archives, Historical Manuscripts, and Rare Books,” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 51, no. 5 (2013): 532-549 (with J. Gordon Daines III); “Re-imagining Archival Display: Creating User-Friendly Finding Aids,” Journal of Archival Organization 9, no. 1 (2011): 4-31 (with J. Gordon Daines III); “RDA and Archives,” Journal of Archival Organization 8, no. 3/4 (2010): 227-243.
EDUCATION
Master of Library and Information Science, San José State University, 2005
Master of Arts, History, Sonoma State University, 2001
Bachelor of Arts, History and Anthropology (Portuguese minor), Brigham Young University, 1999
STATEMENT OF VIEWS ON LYRASIS GOALS, PURPOSE AND DIRECTION
As an archivist, as well as an institutional advocate for the use of open source software, I have been quite impressed with LYRASIS’s direction in recent years. Coming from an institution that has been a charter member of ArchivesSpace, it has been encouraging to see the level of support that has been provided to help move the product forward. I believe that non-profit consortia such as LYRASIS can play an important role in sustaining open source development, providing administrative support and infrastructure that enables these projects to be successful for the benefit of organizational members and the wider cultural heritage community as a whole. The recent announcement of intent to merge with DuraSpace demonstrates LYRASIS’s ongoing commitment to libraries, archives, and museums worldwide.
I am also very supportive of LYRASIS’s involvement in reducing barriers to public access to information. The scanning and publication services offered through the Digitization Collaborative provide a wonderful example of the benefits of centralized services to help institutions expand access to published and archival materials. This commitment to enlarging access can also been seen in the LYRASIS’s work on collective licensing of electronic content and support of open access initiatives.
LYRASIS has been a great partner, providing important services to a wide range of institutions. The current strategic objectives have identified a reasonable scope for the organization’s work, allowing LYRASIS to excel. However, as suggested in the 2020 membership survey, emerging trends such supporting access to open datasets and the development of open educational resources also need to be addressed. For my part, I am excited to help further advance the work of this collaborative and the needs of its members in expanding access to technology, training, and information.