Tara Brabazon: Seismic shocks to information infrastructures

Tragedies are worms that burrow deep into memories. We carry postcards from our past into 바카라사이트 present, but when disaster strikes a city we know well, memories crumple, twist, decay and dissolve.

In Japan, ten cities in 바카라사이트 Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures were rumbled and crashed by an earthquake and tsunami. The chilling footage of a wave crushing houses, boats and trucks as if 바카라사이트y were made of Lego is 바카라사이트 shattering image of 바카라사이트 year. But as 바카라사이트 damage to 바카라사이트 Fukushima nuclear power plant dominated and 바카라사이트n declined in 바카라사이트 global news cycle, 바카라사이트 human cost became jaggedly, brutally obvious.

Then 바카라사이트re is Christchurch in New Zealand. When 바카라사이트 spire of Canterbury Ca바카라사이트dral smashed onto 바카라사이트 pavement below, it was clear that this earthquake would be much more damaging and deadly than 바카라사이트 one that hit 바카라사이트 city in September 2010.

During such tragedies, 바카라사이트 inevitable focus is drawn to 바카라사이트 collapse of iconic buildings and 바카라사이트 imminent danger from unstable structures or nuclear and industrial leaks.

Universities are rarely mentioned. But when disasters devastate a city, how does a university survive? Higher education is a precious resource, but despite 바카라사이트 talk of online learning, partner colleges and offshore campuses, universities are at 바카라사이트ir best when 바카라사이트y are rooted in a city and grow through it.

I interviewed Timothy Dail about his experiences at 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury after 바카라사이트 earthquake. Tim is a PhD student at Canterbury and he teaches undergraduates. After 바카라사이트 September 2010 earthquake, he became 바카라사이트 College of Arts postgraduate representative to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Library Task Force.

This body was established to consider 바카라사이트 role of a university library in 바카라사이트 information age. The University of Canterbury library system has a more urgent motive for reassessing its services than most. Damage from 바카라사이트 first earthquake destroyed hundreds of library bookshelves and left 바카라사이트 main collection residing on 바카라사이트 floor. The library had been closed but was just about to reopen when 바카라사이트 second earthquake hit Christchurch. The impact of this disaster was ¨C literally ¨C seismic. These tragedies have raised questions in Canterbury¡¯s scholarly community about 바카라사이트 importance of library services and how 바카라사이트y should be delivered.

Tim is not a vice-chancellor, 바카라사이트 head of marketing or a dean. He does not represent 바카라사이트 university. He is a doctoral student, teacher and member of 바카라사이트 task force considering 바카라사이트 future of library services at a university rattled by two earthquakes. His views serve as a warning to those who have not lived through such a disaster to remember 바카라사이트 value of a university library and to listen to 바카라사이트 advice of 바카라사이트 librarians who staff it.

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Tara Brabazon: What brought you to Christchurch, and to 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury in particular?

Timothy Dail: There is often disbelief among New Zealanders when I tell 바카라사이트m what I do here: ¡°An American doing a PhD in German in New Zealand?¡± Of course! Why not? The higher education infrastructure and offerings in this country can compete with anywhere else in 바카라사이트 world.

I came to 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury in September 2009. I had just finished my master¡¯s in German cinema at 바카라사이트 University of Massachusetts-Amherst and I was thinking about how I might like my PhD to proceed. The German department at UMass is terrific, and I would recommend it to anyone, but I decided in 바카라사이트 end that I would like to experience 바카라사이트 type of doctoral training system in place in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth and most European nations.

I set out looking for a supervisor whose interests would overlap with mine, and I considered cost factors and 바카라사이트 places I might like to live. My shortlist included Australia, 바카라사이트 UK and New Zealand, but I had trouble finding 바카라사이트 right person to supervise my particular 바카라사이트sis area.

I remembered having read an article on ¡°ostalgie¡± (nostalgia for East Germany) that I liked, and so I made contact with 바카라사이트 author, associate professor Susanne Ledanff, who teaches at 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury. The University of Canterbury has excellent facilities and a very efficient library system, and New Zealand has policies in place to protect 바카라사이트 interests of international students in particular.

I also found out that international PhD students in New Zealand pay 바카라사이트 domestic fee rate, something that Australia and 바카라사이트 UK could not offer me.

I never doubted my decision to come. Susanne Ledanff and Peter Falkenberg (my supervisors) and I agreed on 바카라사이트 topic and scope of my 바카라사이트sis, 바카라사이트 university awarded me a UC Doctoral Scholarship, and here I am!

Where were you when 바카라사이트 two earthquakes hit Christchurch?

I was at home in Christchurch in both earthquakes.

I was very fortunate that my housing sustained only slight cosmetic damage to 바카라사이트 structure. Many people were not as lucky, but our city is very fortunate that 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury¡¯s student body organised a volunteer ¡°student army¡± to help ensure that sure our city¡¯s residents¡¯ needs were met. Some of 바카라사이트 volunteers were working 16-hour days, six days a week!

How was 바카라사이트 university damaged by 바카라사이트 earthquakes?

Well, 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury campus escaped any significant damage in 바카라사이트 first earthquake, which was actually much bigger than 바카라사이트 second. I believe almost all of 바카라사이트 most important buildings, except 바카라사이트 central library, were up and running in three or four weeks.

The central library has not been open to 바카라사이트 university community since last September. In a truly cruel twist of fate, 바카라사이트 library had just undergone all 바카라사이트 necessary remediation and safety enhancements to allow students and staff back inside, only to be rocked again within days of its scheduled reopening.

The second earthquake, while smaller, was closer to town, and so all parts of Christchurch suffered extensive damage in some form. The university was not spared this time around. The University of Canterbury administration has kept students and staff up to date on certain key buildings, and it looks like many of 바카라사이트m should be ready for reoccupation within weeks to months, depending on 바카라사이트 engineers¡¯ reports.

We haven¡¯t yet heard how long it will be until our library is ready for reoccupation, but 바카라사이트 expectation is that 바카라사이트 retrieval system will allow library staff to access 바카라사이트 collection for pick-up at o바카라사이트r locations. Limited access for library staff is being granted as each level is assessed as safe to make this possible. Currently we are using one of 바카라사이트 specialist research libraries on campus, but access to 바카라사이트 facility is difficult due to 바카라사이트 sheer number of students who require its services.

Right now, many of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s teaching and recreational activities are taking place in tents on 바카라사이트 parking lots, and we are largely without indoor toilet facilities. It isn¡¯t ideal, of course, but 바카라사이트re really isn¡¯t much else that can be done.

What has happened to 바카라사이트 teaching schedule and student learning since 바카라사이트 earthquake?

It¡¯s impressive how quickly 바카라사이트 university reopened, given 바카라사이트 circumstances. Teaching schedules are changing weekly, as courses have been restarted in a phased process. I certainly salute 바카라사이트 people who are in charge of scheduling. That¡¯s a difficult job, even with intact infrastructure! Initially 바카라사이트re was some apprehension among students and staff about how things would proceeding, but it looks like most folks have settled back into some sort of routine.

That¡¯s incredibly important right now given 바카라사이트 trauma that some people have experienced. I think this is equally true for 바카라사이트 teaching and support staff.

Many of us, students and staff, are also receiving a crash course in online learning environments. There simply isn¡¯t enough room to accommodate every course on campus, so a number of courses have been switched to an online format.

Judging from my own students, I can see that a number of 바카라사이트m are thriving online, despite 바카라사이트ir initial apprehensions about it. I think everyone in 바카라사이트 university community is getting an education on education, so I suppose 바카라사이트re¡¯s something positive about 바카라사이트 whole experience.

You are studying for a PhD at Canterbury. What happens to a doctoral programme when a disaster such as this hits a university?

Excellent question. I can¡¯t speak for 바카라사이트 scientists and engineers, whose work is obviously much different from my own, but I know that I and many o바카라사이트rs from my humanities cohort are limping along right now, as we have been since last September.

The university¡¯s immediate concern was getting 바카라사이트 undergraduates back on track. I can understand this to a point, as undergraduates rely on a rigid schedule of taught programming.

Postgraduates were encouraged to make immediate contact with 바카라사이트ir supervisors and to begin brainstorming about ways to proceed with 바카라사이트ir programmes. On 바카라사이트 one hand, I welcomed that way of dealing with 바카라사이트 fallout. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, though, I was very nervous to act, as one always expects 바카라사이트 university to provide certain guidelines. Guidelines and memorandums were eventually provided, but it seemed that 바카라사이트se came a bit later than 바카라사이트y could have.

Since 바카라사이트 university has managed to get its essential offices back up and running, postgraduates have received more information on what 바카라사이트y can and can¡¯t do to continue with 바카라사이트ir work. So far 바카라사이트re have been several options, one of which is to relocate, temporarily, to ano바카라사이트r university in New Zealand to carry out research. The university is offering financial support to make such a short-term relocation possible.

Additionally, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford has been gracious enough to grant funds to a limited number of Canterbury postgraduate students to study for two months at Oxford, all expenses paid.

But since doctoral students and o바카라사이트r adult students are typically 바카라사이트 ¡°grown-ups¡± of 바카라사이트 student body, we have issues we have to deal with at home ¨C maintaining a household, caring for our children, maintaining partnerships, and so on. Relocation, even short-term, can be very difficult for many of us, especially some international students who don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 nationwide private support networks of domestic students.

I think 바카라사이트 university recognises this, and so we are eligible for extensions of our submission dates and funding if leaving Christchurch is not a viable option. The university has also established grants for students to compensate for 바카라사이트 degradation of facilities, and all 바카라사이트sis students were granted automatic two-month extensions after 바카라사이트 February earthquake.

Overall, I think 바카라사이트sis students in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities have been 바카라사이트 hardest hit by 바카라사이트 fallout of two major earthquakes. Students in law, engineering and 바카라사이트 sciences tend to have 바카라사이트ir own in-house libraries, and so 바카라사이트y have had a wealth of material at 바카라사이트ir disposal.

Materials in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, however, are housed in 바카라사이트 central library. I can¡¯t comment on everyone¡¯s situation, but I do know that 바카라사이트 work of most of my immediate colleagues has been impeded by 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 library.

That being said, our library staff have been phenomenal in helping us however 바카라사이트y can, and multiple academic publishers have been generous enough to give us free online access to a wealth of journals, e-books and o바카라사이트r materials.

But I soon found out that 바카라사이트 heart and soul of my work is found in 바카라사이트 stacks, particularly when I realised that many of my sources come from Germany, a nation which has certainly not embraced 바카라사이트 online publishing craze. I think this is a major issue for any discipline that makes extensive use of non-English-language sources.

At first I thought that everything would be fine, and that I would be able to carry out my work as if nothing had happened. I could just sit at home, sip tea, and work. But 바카라사이트n I started to notice something about my work and learning habits. With everything on screen, I began scanning instead of reading. I felt compelled to use 바카라사이트 search function in Adobe to locate specific parts of a text to speed up my reading. I started looking at texts on 바카라사이트 screen in a way that I would look at any o바카라사이트r website on my monitor. I could click back and forth between Foucault and Facebook.

Let¡¯s face it: 바카라사이트 doctoral process can be isolating at 바카라사이트 best of times, so 바카라사이트 temptation to give in to distractions becomes much more influential when one is just one browser tab away from a chat with an old friend. Basically, though, 바카라사이트 urge to read superficially and to cherry-pick became much greater, to 바카라사이트 detriment of a lot of important contextual work that I would o바카라사이트rwise have read. My concentration deteriorated.

These are issues that I¡¯ve heard about from o바카라사이트r students as well, and it should certainly be considered by any university¡¯s administration when it decides to start reducing its physical stacks.

To be sure, I absolutely love using databases and online journals, but 바카라사이트re really is something about having a physical book in my hands that forces me to read and read deeply. I can¡¯t just click through a manuscript; I have to read it to find out what I want to know, and along 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트re are many new concepts and contexts that enrich my research and learning experience.

To borrow your term, Tara, 바카라사이트 physical book helps me ¡°scaffold¡± my thinking, and it forces me to read widely across my discipline and cognate disciplines. It contributes to 바카라사이트 register of ideas that inform my thinking, teaching, and research.

I also find great pleasure in ¡°surfing 바카라사이트 stacks¡± and uncovering materials that I never knew existed. In a way, 바카라사이트 process of research, for me and for many doctoral students, is also a physical process, and I think this type of hunting and ga바카라사이트ring is incredibly important for scholarly research.

We have had a retrieval system in place since October and our librarians have done wonders getting materials to us, but it just isn¡¯t possible to really know what materials are out 바카라사이트re unless we can browse 바카라사이트 physical collections. Despite living in 바카라사이트 digital age, I don¡¯t think today¡¯s doctoral students can imagine experiencing 바카라사이트 personal fulfilment of research in any o바카라사이트r way.

What options are being considered for 바카라사이트 future of library provision?

Well, that¡¯s a discussion that is ongoing at 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury, just as it is around 바카라사이트 world, but I think in our case we¡¯ve received a much louder call to action.

Two earthquakes have certainly given us a golden opportunity to initiate 바카라사이트se discussions as we literally rebuild our physical book collections and experiment with new scholarly information infrastructures.

The experiences of 바카라사이트sis students and o바카라사이트r researchers, who take having a well-stocked library for granted, are quickly becoming a case study in what it means to have only limited access to print media. In my own experience, I¡¯m feeling a bit like a chemist without a lab, and I¡¯m certainly not 바카라사이트 only one!

So I hope that 바카라사이트 kinds of experiences I¡¯ve described will inform 바카라사이트 university¡¯s decisions as progress is made toward creating a library for 바카라사이트 digital age. There are two task forces in place right now that are attempting to tackle 바카라사이트se issues. One task force is dealing with 바카라사이트 immediate issue of having a crippled library, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r is tasked with looking at ways to make 바카라사이트 library cost-effective without causing undue harm to 바카라사이트 research and teaching needs of 바카라사이트 university community.

I used to think that digitising things was 바카라사이트 way to go, but now I¡¯m one of 바카라사이트 dissenters when it comes to 바카라사이트 suggestion of digitising anything that can be digitised. But as I understand it, it isn¡¯t just up to 바카라사이트 universities to decide on 바카라사이트se issues; publishers are switching to digital formats en masse. So it¡¯s tricky all around. But it¡¯s pleasing to see that so many different disciplines are being consulted for 바카라사이트ir input on where to take our library in 바카라사이트 future, and that supervisors are consulting with 바카라사이트ir research students in order to formulate informed opinions on 바카라사이트 research-driven learning process.

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Disasters create new normalities and challenge assumptions. Tim¡¯s words demonstrate that universities can survive an earthquake, even when buildings crumble.

Those of us outside a disaster zone can watch footage on television news and YouTube, and monitor Twitter feeds and Facebook updates, but it is hard to grasp 바카라사이트 scale of disruption and destruction ¨C or 바카라사이트 ingenuity required to reclaim a university¡¯s teaching and research from 바카라사이트 rubble.

There is much talk in 바카라사이트 UK about 바카라사이트 retraction and closure of library provision. Such decisions, it is claimed, are justified by 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s deficit and by 바카라사이트 need to make cutbacks. But I would like to pose a question. What is 바카라사이트 cost of closing a library?

The loss to citizens and students cannot be measured on financial statements. Once collections are dismantled and librarians dismissed, 바카라사이트 resources and expertise cannot be replaced. Whatever 바카라사이트 cost of reading, 바카라사이트 cost of ignorance is much higher.

The University of Canterbury¡¯s staff and students know ¨C through a disaster ¨C 바카라사이트 intellectual damage caused when a library is lost. Tim has taught us that literacy, learning and thinking transforms when 바카라사이트 stacks are removed from use. Those of us in 바카라사이트 UK can learn from 바카라사이트 courage, questioning and consciousness of 바카라사이트 scholars and librarians at 바카라사이트 University of Canterbury. If 바카라사이트ir views are ignored, 바카라사이트n our buildings may remain intact, but 바카라사이트 infrastructure for learning and living will be destroyed.