New Yorkery

Here is an interesting (and long) article about Austin’s Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center from the New Yorker. Fun to read for Austinites and library-school types that have been behind the scenes at the HRC. Presumably also fun for fans of Don DeLillo.

There is a nice description of how archives are organized and used, and what sorts of things might turn up in them, although the author gives the impression that patrons are able to just browse the stacks and peak into the boxes. I’m still irritated with the HRC and other fancy collections making the purchase of archives for high-dollar amounts instead of the donation of materials the norm, but hey, this is Texas.