LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

LIBRARY HISTORY GROUP

NEWSLETTER NO. 4

June 1964 34 King Street London, W. C. 2 AGM at the Royal Institution Library

The AGM was followed by an entertaining and interesting talk by the Librarian of the Royal Institution, Mr. Vernon. He told us something of the history of the Royal Institution and its library and produced a number of the library's most interesting volumes, including early printed catalogues. Later there was a valuable opportunity to see round the building, which contains, among other things, exhibits of scientific apparatus used by pioneer scientists such as Faraday.

Committee. Peter Hoare has been co-opted on to the LHG Committee.

The following report was presented to the AGM by the Hon. Secretary.

1. Officers and Committee

Chairman: Professor R. Irwin, B.A., F.L.A. Vice-Chairman: Dr.W.A.Munford, M.B.E.,B.Sc.(Econ.) F.L.A. Hon. Secretary: Miss G. A. Hartnoll, F.L.A. Hon. Treasurer: E.P. Dudley, F.L.A.

Other Members: Miss C. Lutyens, F.L.A. J.G. Ollé, F.L.A. G.K. Scott, F.L.A.

Mr. Ollé is leaving the committee this year and we would like to thank him for his services.

2. Membership

There are 289 members, including 47 overseas members. As before, membership is distinguished by the wide range of librarians represented.

In view of his work on the history of public libraries, Dr. T. Kelly of Liverpool University was invited to become an Honorary Member of the Group.

3. Meetings

23rd January. Chaucer House. A.G.M., followed by a paper on 'Lambeth Palace Library', by Mrs. Ann Saunders.

16th May. University College. Professor R. Irwin on 'The Study and the Sofa'.

10th October. Chaucer House. Dr. T. Kelly on 'Public Libraries in the Middle Ages'.

4. Newsletter

Two issues have been circulated to members of the Group and to interested libraries.

5. Revision of the Annals of the Library Association

A grant of £ 100 was obtained from the Library Association Research Committee for this project, and Mrs. Catherine Dowden, B.A., A.L.A., was chosen to carry out the work. She has now started on this, under the supervision of Dr. Munford.

6. Bibliography on the History of Libraries and Librarianship

A plan for the Bibliography and an outline subject schedule by Mr. Ollé were published in Newsletter No. 2, and comments were invited. In addition, copies of the Newsletter were sent to the Secretaries of 12 Library Association groups and specialist library groups, asking for comments, and the names of any members who might be interested in undertaking part of the preparation of the Bibliography.

Dr. Munford has been acting as co-ordinating editor, but it is apparent that a considerable amount of work will be involved, and the Library Association Research Committee is being approached for a grant for this work.

Hon. Treasurer's report

Copies of the balance sheet may be obtained from the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. E.P. Dudley at the following address:

Department of Librarianship, North Western Polytechnic, Prince of Wales Road, N. W. 5.

A history of Lincoln City Libraries

Mr. Baker, Director of Lincoln City Libraries, has sent the Group a copy of an attractive and interesting booklet entitled "Lincoln City Libraries, 1914-1964", which was produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the library's foundation.

Bibliography of the history of libraries and librarianship in the British Isles

Application has been made to the Research Committee of the L.A., for a grant to cover the work of making a preliminary survey into the size, scope and arrangement of the proposed Bibliography. The Hon. Secretary would be pleased to hear from anyone who might be interested in undertaking the work.

Library history: academic theses

The following lists of theses on library history have been compiled by Professor Irwin. Additions would be very welcome and should be sent to the Hon. Secretary.

ACADEMIC THESES

Higher Degree Theses

Aitken, W.R. A history of public libraries in Scotland. Ph.D. Edinburgh, 1956. Bartle, R.H. A study of private book collecting In England between c. 1200 and the early years of the 16th century, with special reference to the book collecting of ecclesiastical dignitaries. Oxford B.Litt. 1956. Hall, Shirley Sir Edward Hertslet and his work as librarian and keeper of the papers of the Foreign Office from 1857-1896. London M.A. 1958. Hamlyn, H.M. Eighteenth century circulating libraries in England. London M.A. 1948. (The Library, 5th series, vol. 1, 1947. pp. 197-222). Hornsby, Nita A survey of co-operation between the public library and the school in England and Wales. London M.A. 1950. Kennedy, D. The public library in Ireland. M.A., N. U. I. 1952. Munford, W.A. Edward Edwards, 1812-1886, and the early history of municipal public libraries in England. London Ph.D. (Econ.) 1963. Vaughan, J.E. The Hall Manuscript. (Library Of Thomas Hall, (1610-65), master of Kings Norton Grammar School,). Bristol M.A. dissertation. 1960. Watson, A.G. The library of Sir Simonds D'Ewes. Oxford B.Litt. 1961.

Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship, Part II Theses

Anderson, Catherine Medical librarianship,1900-1948: a bibliography. 1949. Benedikz, B. S. Libraries in Iceland: a historical survey. 1959. Frank, Joan A public library service for Greece. 1957 Hoare, Peter A history of Archbishop Tenison's Library. 1963. Lister, Alison J. The history of the classification of medical libraries. 1937. Reiss, G. The libraries in Israel: a survey. 1950. Wheeler, W. G. Libraries in Ireland before 1855: a bibliographical essay. 1957.

Library Association Fellowship Theses

The following are in preparation. Allan, J.M. Hamilton College Library, N. Y., 1812-1962. Ballantyne, G.M. History of the County Library movement in Scotland from its inception to 1960. Cowburn, Lorna M. History and development of the National Library for the Blind. Hooton, J.F. Libraries in Hull in the 19th century. If ill, E.L.V. Libraries of the West Indies: a historical survey. Kite, V.J. Bath Libraries, 1619-1963. Maxim, G.E. Account of Library Publishing in Great Britain, 1600 to present day. Parish, C. An 18th Century proprietary library: annals of the Birmingham Library, 1779-1799. [**Thesis completed and submitted to Board of Advanced Studies.] Platt, Dr. P. History of the library of the University of Birmingham. Subrahmanyan, Mrs. M. Histories of libraries and Library Associations in India.