ACQNET v10n013 (June 11, 2000) URL = http://www.infomotions.com/serials/serials/acqnet/acqnet-v10n013.txt ISSN:1057-5308 ************** ACQNET, Vol. 10., No. 13, June 11, 2000 ======================================= (1) FROM: E. Cook, Editor, ACQNET SUBJECT: Tribute to Meta Nissley: Special ACQNET issue (50 lines) (2) FROM: J. Ogburn SUBJECT: An Obituary (26 lines) (3) FROM: J. Barker SUBJECT: RE: Meta (22 lines) (4) FROM: J. Rankin SUBJECT: RE: Meta Nissley (18 lines) (1)----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 11 June 2000 From: Eleanor Cook (Appalachian State U.) Subject: Special issue devoted to Meta Nissley This issue is devoted to the memory of Meta Nissley. Some of the following tributes and others will also be published in the upcoming June 2000 issue of Meta was an original member of the ACQNET Editorial Board. One of her first reactions to the name "ACQNET" according to the archives, is that she thought it sounded like old hair spray! She was faithful board member and thoughtful contributor. Here is an excerpt from something she said on March 9, 1993, in ACQNET Vol. 3, no.23: [[Subject: Being a librarian I, too, am feeling very pushed at the moment. Usually my desk doesn't seem to be any clearer on Friday than it was on Monday. I am trying to work "smarter not harder" but that also takes a lot of energy in planning ahead. ... I am quite often conflicted in choosing to spend extra hours in the evening or on Saturdays (most often to think without interruption) or to walk away from the office without taking anything home with me and devote my complete attention to my family. Right now my family usually wins. However frustrating it is when slogging through whining, pettiness, bureaucracy and drudgery keep in mind that each of you is capable of managing successfully whatever you choose to (or have dumped on you). Occasionally you may have the luxury of seeing seeds you've sown sprout and flower, but on a day-to-day basis it can, at times, be pretty unrewarding. I do not receive any extra compensation for being a department head. I am not eligible for additional travel money. I have many more headaches because of personnel problems, state regulations and vagaries than do my "colleagues" who do not have managerial responsibilities assigned to them. Many of them put in less than 40 hours a week. When I am reviewed for promotion, I must solicit input from those I supervise as well as faculty colleagues. In other words, I have to show additional evidence that I am doing a good job as opposed to someone whose assignment includes 12 hours on the reference desk, with maybe a few office hours. Rewards on for my "work" really are few and far between. I guess it's the Zen of being an acquisitions (etc.) manager that keeps me going.]] This is so true for so many of us. Having captured some of Meta's actual words, and having her colleagues who knew her well reflect on her many fine qualities, is not enough but it's all we can do. Meta was a dedicated acquisitions professional who was ahead of her time in many ways. And as her own words tell us, she deeply cared for her work, her life, and her family. Losing Meta to cancer is hard and we will miss her. (2)------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 11:21:41 -0700 From: Joyce Ogburn (Univ. of WA) Subject: Obituary - Meta Nissley Meta Nissley, a valued colleague and friend, passed away on May 15, 2000. She was born in Long Beach, California and lived in Chico, California with her husband and son on their farm. Meta had a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in library science. She was a librarian for over 25 years, serving most recently as the head of acquisitions and collection management at Cal State Chico. Meta was a pioneer in understanding the licensing of CD-ROMs and other electronic formats. She wrote many articles on information and library science, and served actively on professional committees and several editorial boards. Meta was also an advisor to many librarians who sought her out for her balanced perspective, sense of justice, principles and courage. Meta will long be remembered and treasured by the numerous people whose lives she enriched. Joyce L. Ogburn Associate Director of Libraries Resources and Collection Management Services University of Washington Box 352900 Seattle WA 98195-2900 phone: 206-685-2889; fax: 206-685-8727 jlogburn@u.washington.edu (3)------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 14:32:21 -0700 (PDT) From: Joe Barker (Univ. of CA-Berkeley) Subject: Meta Meta Nissley had unforgettably brilliant eyes. And her smile blossomed joy in synch with them. Talking or listening to Meta was a light show. She and I go back to the days before ACQNET, back before the first Feather River Conference (which she was one of the inspirations behind). Without her enthusiasm, many important things we enjoy would never have come to fruition. In recent years, our communications centered around her cancer. Sometimes coping with unknowables, sometimes celebrating the joy she found in traveling with her husband Bob, or having the strength simply to take a walk on their farmland. I am greatly relieved to know she died in her wonderful husband's arms. She was worried in our last communication a few weeks ago about it being too soon to leave her 9-year-old son Max. In her same thought about leaving, Meta also said that spiritual and philosophical things gave her something to hold onto. In some way, she may not have left. I can still feel the love those eyes and smile could radiate! Joe Barker, UC Berkeley (4)---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 15:15:58 -0700 From: Juliann Rankin (Cal. State Univ.-Chico) Subject: About Meta Here is what I can contribute: Meta Nissley and I worked side by side from 1986, when she first became Head of Acquisitions at California State University, Chico, until she retired in 1998 as Librarian Emeritus. We were often travel companions and roommates at various conferences. Meta was an outstanding librarian and a valued colleague. She had a very inquisitive and bright mind. We shared our professional lives as well as our personal lives. We laughed and cried together, shared our dreams and fears, our successes and failures, and our love of nature, reading, travel, and family. Meta was my dear friend, brave and courageous throughout her illness. I will try not to miss her too much. Juliann Rankin ****** END OF FILE ****** ACQNET, Vol.10, No.13 ****** END OF FILE ******