Library and Information History Newsletter
The Official Newsletter of the Library and Information History Group, a Special Interest Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Series 4, no. 1, Spring 2004
Editor's Introduction Never ask a Committee!
As you can see from the cover and the front page of this issue we have changed the name of the publication to Library and Information History Newsletter in line with the change of name of the CILIP Group. Being a democratic sort of guy I asked the Group Committee how I should continue with the numbering of the periodical, given this change of name, and in stereotypical committee decision-making fashion I received almost as many different solutions as I received e-mail answers! So, I have taken it upon myself, i.e. blame me and not the Committee, to begin a new series, series 4, with the new name, whilst also noting that the new title officially continues the old Library History Newsletter. I hope the new Newsletter will be as generally well-received as before, and do not forget that if you have any items that you feel would fit into the various categories I regularly adopt, then PLEASE let me have them. I am particularly desirous of receiving more reports from relevant conferences, seminars, courses, even exhibitions that members have attended, no matter how brief.
Dr Chris Baggs, Department of Information and Library Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth Chris Baggs
Go to top
Library History Group matters
1. The James G Ollé Scholarship 2003/4 The Library and Information History Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals funds an annual scholarship of £500 to improve the level of activity in library history. The scholarship is named after the late James G. Ollé, an active teacher and writer in library history. The scholarship has the full support of his daughters.
Prospective candidates for the scholarship should be students (undergraduate or postgraduate) who are undertaking a discrete piece of advanced work. They must be members of the LIHG.
The winner of the James G. Ollé Scholarship is expected to present the findings of the work in the public domain: this might take the form of an article published in an academic periodical or a lecture to a recognized gathering.
Grants of up to £500 will be made on the decision of the LIHG. Committee. Expressions of interest or applications which should include a C.V., a statement of plans, a draft budget and the names and addresses of two referees should be sent to the LIHG Awards Manager by 31 January 2004. Dr Dorothy Clayton Awards Manager, Library and Information History Group, John Rylands University Library of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PP Tel: 0161 275 3757 Dorothy Clayton
[My apologies for the tardiness of this announcement, but I am sure the Awards Manager will accept applications for a little while yet. Ed.]
Go to top
2. Date of Next Meetings The next Committee meeting and the annual open meeting for all members will be held on 24th March 2004 at CILIP HQ in London, at 12 noon and 2.30 respectively. (See item 9 below)
Go to top
3. Summary of Executive Meeting, 20/11/2003 1. Apologies for absence were received from Chris Baggs, Dorothea Miehe, Geoffrey Forster and Toni Bunch.
2. Minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 3rd July 2003 at UMIST Manchester were approved. The following matters arose for discussion:
J.G. Ollé Award. No award has been made this year. AHRB Project on Public Library buildings. A researcher has been appointed, and the project will start in Jan. 2004. Munford Memorial Lecture. The Group would like a multi-disciplinary lecture with an historical focus dedicated to the memory of Dr Munford, but there had been some confusion in the discussion of this matter with CILIP. Conferences. Leeds. Libraries and the Working Classes. Dates were confirmed as 16-18 June 2004, and a call for papers had gone out. It is anticipated that a Committee meeting and Group AGM might be held at the conference. Anglo-German Conference. It is hoped to hold the event on the theme 'Libraries and Innovation' in Sep/Oct 2005 at the British Library Conference Centre or the German Institute. Buildings Report. It is anticipated that a database of library architecture would be created. New leaflet. The Group leaflet has been revised and is currently being printed. CILIP Gazette. The new CILIP publication will be a good opportunity to publicise the Group's activities. News Service. CILIP offers daily and weekly news bulletins free of charge to its members. Members may sign up via the website. 3. Fundamental Review of CILIP is currently being undertaken. Although mainly finance driven, it is also seen as an attempt to refocus the aims of the organisation,
4. Group Accounts. A deficit of approximately £800 was expected at the end of the year, although there may be some outstanding income still to come.
5. Awards (i) Library History Essay Award. The award has been won by David Allan for his essay 'Provincial readers and book culture in the Scottish Enlightenment: the Perth Library, 1784-c.1800 published in the The Library. (ii) Ollé Award. There had been no submissions for this award.
6. Edzell Library. The Edzell Library is a late 19th century publicly available library housed in a listed building. It contains 5000 volumes, printed catalogues, rules and regulations, and a Cotgreave Indicator. The library itself still functions as a part-time branch library, under the care of John Doherty, Angus County Libraries, and it is possible that it may be the subject of research by students at Robert Gordon University.
7. It was suggested that abstracts of Conference papers, or Powerpoint slides might be included on the Group website.
8. Following the change of the Group name to Library and Information History Group, it was agreed that the newsletter should now be renamed Library and Information History.
9. It was agreed that the Open meeting in March 2004 should offer speakers and discussions on specific issues relevant to the Group's activities.
10. The Committee were given information on a collection of pamphlets currently held at CILIP that needed to be re-housed.
11. The Committee received a report on the Umbrella Conference to be held in 2005.
12. Congratulations were given to Alistair Black, who is now Chair of the IFLA section.
13. Concern was expressed on the amount of 'spam' appearing on the LIS-LibHist discussion list. This will be investigated.
14. John Crawford had appeared on TV in Holyrood live, providing background for a political debate on the future of public libraries in Scotland.
15. A number of officers of the LIHG wish to reconsider their position on the committee in line with CILIP's planned reorganisation of groups next year.
16. The meeting was followed by a tour of the Bodleian Library, kindly organised by Christopher Skelton-Foord.
17. The next Committee Meeting and annual Open Meeting, will be held on Wednesday 24th March 2004, at CILIP, Ridgmount Street, London.
Go to top 4. New contact details for the Group Chair Dr. John Crawford, Chair, Library and Information History Group, Glasgow Caledonian University, Room 302, (3rd floor) 6 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB Tel: 0141-270-1360 John Crawford
Go to top
5. ‘Libraries and the Working Classes since the 18th Century’
This conference is organised under the umbrellas of the Library & Information History Group of CILIP (UK) and the IFLA Section on Library History and is funded by the British Academy. For details of the programme etc see ‘Forthcoming Conferences (home)’, item 4 below.
Go to top
6. LIHG requires new Secretary and Treasurer After a number of years of excellent service, Dr. Jean Everitt, our secretary and Geoff Forster, our treasurer, have both decided to step down. The Library and Information History Group will therefore require a new secretary and treasurer from our AGM in Leeds in mid June onwards. LIHG is a Specialist Interest Group of CILIP and consequently no remuneration is paid. The reward is chiefly in contributing to the development of library history in the UK. LIHG office bearers must be members of CILIP. Anyone interested in taking on either of these posts should contact me in the first instance. Dr. John Crawford, Chair, Library and Information History Group, Glasgow Caledonian University, Room 302, (3rd floor) 6 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB Tel: 0141-270-1360 John Crawford
Go to top
7. Date of AGM The Annual General Meeting of the Library and Information History group will take place at 4pm on Thursday 17th June at Leeds Metropolitan University, Beckett Campus. It will follow on immediately after the close of the Conference on ‘Libraries and the Working Classes since the 18th Century’. Go to top
8. Library History Award 2004 The Library History Award is an annual award of £200 for the best essay on library history published in, or pertaining to, the British Isles, within the previous calendar year (2003). It is organized by the Library and Information History Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. The Award aims to improve the quality and increase the quantity of writing on library history in the British Isles. It is sponsored by Emerald. The award was first made in 1996.
Items considered for inclusion will normally come within the scope of the former Bibliography of British Library History. The essay should relate to a British Isles theme. The author should ordinarily be resident in the British Isles but need not be a U.K. citizen.
An author may put himself/herself forward for the prize. In addition, any member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals may nominate a published essay for consideration.
The entries will be identified and judged by a panel of five, viz.:
1. The Chairman of the Library and Information History Group. 2. The Awards Manager of the L.I.H.G. who will act as the administrator. 3. One other member of the L.I.H.G. Committee. 4. An external assessor at the invitation of the L.I.H.G. Committee. 5. A representative of Emerald, normally the editor of Library Review.
The editor of Library Review will have the right to publish an abstract or shortened version of the winning essay.
Nominations, including six copies of the essay which should have been published during 2003, should be sent by 30 June 2004 to:
Dr Dorothy Clayton Awards Manager, Library and Information History Group, John Rylands University Library of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PP Tel: 0161 275 3757 Dorothy Clayton
Go to top
9. Annual Open Meeting The Library and Information History Group will hold its 3rd open meeting for all members at CILIP HQ in Ridgmount St. on 24th March at 2.30 p.m. Jill Martin and Caroline Nolan of CILIP will be present. This year’s open meeting will be on the theme of developing access to resources for the library historian and there will be short presentations to promote discussion including:
Jill and Caroline on the CILIP archives policy Alan Clarke, the librarian of the Thomas Parry Library, Aberystwyth, on the Thomas Parry Library’s library history holdings and future plans Professor Alistair Black, Leeds Metropolitan University, on the IFLA survey of archival holdings of the world’s library associations A2A website and its potential for library historians - a short discussion Members who are unable to attend and who wish to express an opinion can do so by using the contact details below, or alternatively initiating a discussion on lis-libhist, the LIHG electronic discussion list which can be found at: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/lis-libhist.html
The open meeting will be preceded by a committee meeting at 12 midday which members are welcome to attend as observers. If you wish to attend please contact the secretary, Jean Everitt, whose contact details are available on the LIHG website.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Dr. John Crawford, Chair, Library and Information History Group, Glasgow Caledonian University, Room 302, (3rd floor) 6 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB Tel: 0141-270-1360
Go to top
Feature Item: ‘An Analysis of the Membership of the LIHG’ – Bob Duckett (Hon. Membership Officer) I give below an analysis of the membership of LIHG at the end of 2003. The membership total was 799.
By Region London & Home Counties – 230 (28.8%) Eastern – 71 (8.9%) Scotland – 70 (8.8%) Yorkshire & Humberside – 55 (6.9%) International – 53 (6.6%) South West – 53 (6.6%) Bucks, Berks & Oxon. - 52 (6.5%) North Western – 51 (6.4%) West Midlands – 39 (4.9%) East Midlands – 36 (4.5%) North Eastern – 33 (4.1%) Wales – 32 (4.0%) Ireland – 24 (3.0%)
The dominance of London and the Home Countries is reflected in other Special Interest Groups. A closer examination of the figures reveals the large number of specialist libraries in the London area and the corresponding larger proportion of members working in national, commercial and ‘other’ libraries than elsewhere in the country.
Given the small numbers represented in the other regions it is important for members to meet each other. Perhaps more could be done to work under the umbrella of the regional branches of CILIP by LIHG members offering to represent the Group on their Branch committee and suggesting venues and subjects of interest to other local CILIP members. LIHG can assist in publicizing such meetings to a wider audience (give me and the Newsletter Editor details). Such an interest would, I am sure, be forthcoming, and may result in more members for our Group.
The healthy number of overseas members is interesting though many of them are institutional members. Canada (12), USA (11) and Australia (6) lead the field, though Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Iceland, Myanmar and Croatia are some of the other countries represented. Oxford and Cambridge universities help swell our membership in ‘BBOB’ and Eastern. Some members live in one region and work in another; most seem to select their ‘work’ or ‘study’ region.
By Member Category Chartered – 345 (43.2%) Associate – 252 (31.5%) Fellow – 107 (13.4%) Institutional – 74 (9.3%) Affiliate – 21 (2.6%)
I suspect that the proportion of Fellows compares well with other groups and will represent research and personal interests – we have a fair sprinkling of senior academics and senior figures in the profession, including a Baron and a Dame. Surprising is the number of institutional members. Hopefully, this will result in our Newsletter being on display in libraries, though whether institutional membership encourages any personal interest is unknown. Perhaps you, dear reader and LIHG member, could encourage your own institution and local library service to become a member and subscribe to Library History. Let’s get the public interested!
By Library, etc. Retired 208 (26.0%) Academic Library -196 (24.5%) Public – 126 (15.8%) Commercial -67 (8.4%) National – 67 (8.4%) Unemployed – 53 (6.6%) Student – 49 (6.1%) Other – 33 (4.1%)
Academic library members out-number those in public libraries. National libraries include the British Library, government departments and the health services, while ‘Other’ includes the Alpine Club, Windsor Castle, Cathedral and subscription libraries. Over a quarter of our membership is retired. Is retirement a time of greater historical awareness, a re-living of past times, or a time to indulge in the hobby of history? Answers to the Hon. Editor! ‘Unemployed’ includes full-time mothers and others not in employment.
Go to top Forthcoming Events (at home)
1. British Book Trade History Conference British Book Trade History Conference University of Edinburgh 27-29 July 2004
The Centre for the History of the Book, at the University of Edinburgh, is pleased to be hosting the twenty-first annual British Book Trade History Conference, which will take place in Edinburgh University Library.
The three-day event will include a visit to Robert Smail's Printing Works, an historic property run under the auspices of the National Trust, dinner in the 17th-century Great Hall of George Heriot's School, and an exhibition on the 18th-century Scottish book trade. The conference web-site is at www.arts.ed.ac.uk/chb/booktrade.htm where there will shortly be links to further details.
The conference programme will be determined by the Conference Committee: Dr Iain Beavan (chair), Dr Maureen Bell, Dr John Hinks, Barry McKay, Dr Bill Bell and Ian Maxted. Those offering papers will be informed of the Committee ’s decision by mid-December.
The papers presented will be published in July 2005 as part of the Print Networks series, published jointly by Oak Knoll Press (USA) and the British Library. Papers offered to the conference must be original work and may not be delivered elsewhere before presentation at this conference. It is part of our agreement with the publishers that papers will not be published in any similar collection within one year of their appearance in the appropriate Print Networks volume.
Go to top
2. Friends of St Bride Printing Library 3rd Annual Conference
‘Bad Type’ The Friends of St Bride Printing Library Third Annual Conference 18-19 October 2004
You are invited to submit papers that take a walk on the typographic wild side, which explore not what is lofty, proper and good in the graphic arts, but that which is ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’.
Bad type may be interpreted as that which does not fit with convention and could include work created by typographic dissidents and revolutionaries, or material used for rebellious or seditious purposes. Bad type might deal with work that purposely disobeys normal typographic customs to achieve wayward ends or it may cover material created to facilitate naughty, mischievous or roguish purposes. It could also include the curious work of amateurs with no particular design talents. Bad type may be applied to individuals, their work, the purpose behind their work or the processes used to produce it.
We are looking not only for Conference speakers, but also for people who might wish to exhibit material or who would like to create graphic or art-installations on the theme of *Bad Type*. If you have a topic that does not fit the typographic norm, then we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please send an outline of your proposed talk in not more than 300 words to: [email protected]
For further details and an application form please visit: www.stbride.org.
Closing date: 1 February 2004
Go to top
3. Books and their Settings in Renaissance Europe
Books and their Settings in Renaissance Europe 7-9 April 2005
The Society for Authorship, Reading and Publishing will sponsor several panels at the Renaissance Society of America's annual conference in Cambridge, England, from 7-9 April 2005. Organized by Germaine Warkentin and Michael Ullyot, SHARP@RSA links the RSA with scholars studying the creation, dissemination, and reception of script and print (see http://www.sharpweb.org); we have organized nine panels at RSA meetings since 2001.
Our theme in 2005 will be "Books in their historical and social settings throughout Europe, from 1350 to 1700." We invite submissions that consider books and manuscripts in relation to these contexts. Topics might include: the production and circulation of manuscripts in centres of an evolving print culture; the growth of local collections and the emergence of the book collectors; libraries and librarianship; and particularly the book and manuscript history of Renaissance and Reformation Cambridge. Send abstracts (150 words *maximum* -- no exceptions) and one- paragraph CVs to Germaine Warkentin, [email protected] by 1 May 2004 (note that this is earlier than the general conference deadline to allow for adjudication). Acceptances will be announced promptly. If by post, send materials to Michael Ullyot, SHARP@RSA 2005, The Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, 71 Queen's Park Crescent East, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1K7 Canada. Fax: 416-585-4430.
Please note that the RSA's rule (again, no exceptions) is that all paper-givers and chairs must be members of the Renaissance Society of America by August 2004 or they will not be included in the programme. For further information on the RSA, see http://www.rsa.org/
Go to top
4. ‘Libraries and the Working Classes since the 18th Century’
‘Libraries and the working classes since the eighteenth century’ Leeds Metropolitan University, Beckett Park Campus 16-17 June 2004.
The conference is funded by the British Academy and organised under the umbrellas of the IFLA Section on Library History and the Library & Information History Group of CILIP (UK).
[Provisional Programme]
Wednesday 16th June
09.00 Registration
10.00 Conference welcome: Alistair Black
10.15 Keynote address: Jonathan Rose (Drew University, New Jersey, USA), Arriving at a History of Reading
11.15 Chris Baggs (University of Wales at Aberystwyth), Mrs Evans had "Lady Chatterley’s Lover" out for over a month: examining reading habits in a miners’ library in the 1930s; Ilkka Mäkinen (University of Tampere, Finland), Libraries in the lives of Finnish working-class writers.
12.30 Lunch
2.00 Lief Emerek (Royal School of Librarianship at Aalborg, Denmark), The Danish working class and the foundation of public libraries at the start of the 20th century; Laura Skouvig (Royal School of Librarianship at Copenhagen, Denmark), Danish public libraries and the working classes 1880-1920.
3.00 Tea/Coffee
3.45 Simon Gunn (Leeds Metropolitan University), Reflections on the history of class; Simon Pepper (University of Liverpool), Library buildings and the working class.
5.00 Film: Tba
6.30 Buffet Dinner
Thursday 17th June
8.45 Committee Meeting of the Library & Information History Group (UK) (observers welcome)
10.00 Magnus Torstensson (Swedish School of Librarary and Information Studies, University College of Borås) Libraries ‘for’ or ‘by’ workers in Sweden: an historical perspective; Peter Almerud (Sweden), Libraries in work places: a story of marginalisation.
11.15 Tea/Coffee
11.30 Bill Lukenbill (University of Texas at Austin, USA), Empowerment or indoctrination: American public library services to working-class youth in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries; Martin Goldberg (Penn State University, USA), The workingman’s library: reading, writing, arithmetic, swimming and more...
12.45 Lunch
1.45 Gordon Armstrong (Leeds Metropolitan University), The socialist and philanthropic ideal of public library provision in 19th century Nelson; Arvydas Pacevicius, Changing image: from peasant library to the soviet reading club in Lithuania in the first half of the twentieth century.
3.00 Tea/Coffee
3.15 John Crawford (Glasgow Caledonian University), Recovering the lost Scottish community library: the example of Fenwick; Steve Walker (Leeds Metropolitan University), Community computing in Manchester in the 1980s.
4.30 Annual General Meeting of the Library & Information History Group (UK) (all welcome)
5.00 Reception
For further details about conference registration and accommodation contact Lizzie Bellarby, Research Officer, ([email protected]) or Alistair Black ([email protected]) at School of Information, Leeds Metropolitan University etc. The full fee is £30; £15 the concessionary fee for students, the retired etc. The fee is payable to ‘Leeds Metropolitan University’.
Go to top
5. ‘Material Cultures and the Creation of Knowledge’
‘Material Cultures and the Creation of Knowledge’ The University of Edinburgh July 22-24, 2005
Speakers will include: Peter Burke, Roger Chartier, and Robert Darnton Topics will include: Libraries and the Order of Knowledge; Censorship and Regulation; the Creation of Disciplines; the Intellectual and the Circulation of Ideas; the Cultures of Collecting; Readers and Reading Practices; the Knowledge Industries; the History of Science and the History of Ideas; the Information Revolution; the Cartographic Imagination; and Geographies of the Book.
Proposals of 200-300 words are invited on these and related topics, to be sent no later than November 1, 2004, to Material Cultures, OLL, University of Edinburgh, 11 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9LW or by email to [email protected]
For further information, please contact [email protected]
The conference is organised by The Centre for the History of the Book http://www.arts.ed.ac.uk/chb.
Go to top
Forthcoming Events (further afield) 1. ‘Migrations in Society, Culture and the Library’
‘Migrations in Society, Culture, and the Library’ WESS European Conference, Paris, during the Salon du Livre (www.salondulivreparis.com), March 22-26, 2004.
Keynote Speakers: Roger Chartier, Ecole des Hautes Etudes, Paris, and the University of Pennsylvania; Jean-Claude Guedon, Université de Montréal, Canada; Friedrich Heckmann, University of Bamberg and Director of the European Forum for Migration Studies; Hans-Jurgen Lusebrink, University of Saarbrucken; David Seaman, Director of the Digital Library Federation in Washington, DC.
The program will address opportunities and tensions that migrations - demographic, technological, cultural, intellectual and literary - bring to Western Europe and libraries supporting Western European studies.
For more details about the program, registration, hotels (for which discounted registration is separate), and other local information, please see our website at: https://cs.ala.org/acrl/wess/
For questions about registration, please contact Margot Sutton at [email protected].
Go to top
2. ‘The 1970s and 1980s: on the Way to the Information Society’ ‘Die 70er und 80er Jahre des 20. Jahrhunderts: auf dem Weg in die Informationsgesellschaft’ Wolfenbütteler Arbeitskreis für Bibliotheks-. Buch- und Mediengeschichte Annual Conference 2004 May 10 -12 Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel
After the immediate postwar-period and the times of the Cold War, library history from the 1960s onward came in the historians' field of view. There is a consensus that these years were a turning point for libraries too, challenging the old order in some respects. In Germany the ideas of the "68- generation" caused social changes with consequences not only for the educational system in general but also for libraries.
An international conference in Borås (Sweden) in 2001 dealt with "Libraries in times of utopian thoughts and social protests - the libraries of the late 1960s and the 1970s" for the first time, followed by a seminar "Library and information science under the red banners: years of radicalism in Finnish library education and librarianship" at the University of Tampere (Finland) the year after.
Inspired by these conferences the "Wolfenbütteler Arbeitskreis für Bibliotheks-, Buch- und Mediengeschichte" decided to take up the topic, adapting it to the development in Germany, and to complete the series of its conferences dealing with contemporary history, which started with the history of libraries in Nazi Germany in 1988 and the period from 1945 - 1965 in 1990.
Programme - ‘Bibliotheksplan 1969 und Bibliotheksplan 1973: Anspruch und Realisierung’, Konrad Umlauf, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - ‘Die IuD-Programme der Bundesregierung seit 1974’, Hans-Christoph Hobohm, Fachhochschule Potsdam - ‘Die neugegründeten Universitätsbibliotheken: ein Erfolgsmodell?’ Uwe Jochum, Universitätsbibliothek Konstanz - ‘Ein neuer Bibliothekstyp entsteht: die Fachhochschulbibliotheken’, Reinhard Altenhoener, Die Deutsche Bibliothek Frankfurt a. M. - ‘Die "68er Generation" im Bibliothekswesen: neue Konzepte’, Wolfram Henning, Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart - ‘Von der Vielfalt zur Einheit: von der Deutschen Bibliothekskonferenz zur Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Bibliotheksverbände’, Birgit Dankert, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg - ‘Von der Meisterlehre zur Fachhochschule - neue Wege in der Ausbildung’, Peter Vodosek, Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart - ‘Neue Aufgagen für Regionalbibliotheken?’, Dr. Werner Arnold, Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel - ‘Vom Zentralkatalog zum Verbund’, Ronald M. Schmidt, Hochschulbibliothekszentrum Köln - ‘Siegeszug der EDV: Revolutionierung der Bibliotheken?’ Siegfried Schmidt, Erzbischöfliche Diözesan- und Dombibliothek Köln - ‘Das Gutachten der Kommunalen Gemeinschaftsstelle für Verwaltungsvereinfachung "Öffentliche Bibliothek" (KGSt-Gutachten) 1973: Modernisierungsschub für die Öffentlichen Bibliotheken?’ Günter Beyersdoff, Berlin - ‘Bibliotheksplan Baden-Württemberg. Gesamtplan für das wissenschaftliche Bibliothekswesen (1973): Anspruch und Wirklichkeit’, Elmar Mittler, Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen
The conference is chaired by Peter Vodosek (Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart) and Werner Arnold (Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel) Conference Language = German; Conference Location = the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel, Germany Accomodation: For accomodation contact Tourist-Information, Stadtmarkt 6, 38300 Wolfenbüttel, GERMANY; Phone: +5331 86 28 0; Fax: +5331 867708 Fore more Information about the conference contact Werner Arnold, P.O.B. 13 64, 38299 Wolfenbüttel, GERMANY; Phone: +5331 808-303; Fax: +5331 86 7708; Email: [email protected]
Go to top
3. ‘Material Worlds: at the Intersections of Print and Material Culture’
‘Material Worlds: at the Intersections of Print and Material Culture’ University of Toronto, April 24th, 2004
We invite proposals for papers and complete panel presentations for a colloquium on the multiple intersections of book history, print culture and material culture. Expanding on Robert Darnton's comment that book history is "interdisciplinarity run riot," the organizers invite emerging scholars from any discipline to submit proposals that approach the material dimensions of recent work in the field of book history and print culture studies.
"Material World" follows on the success of the "New Scholarship in Book History and Print Culture" conference that took place in October 2002 and was sponsored by the Collaborative Program in Book History and Print Culture at the University of Toronto. "Material World" will be held at the University on April 24th 2004.
Keynote speaker: Janice Radway.
Go to top
4. Conference on the Future of the Book
The Second International Conference on the Future of the Book Beijing, China, 29-31 August 2004.
Following the success of our 2003 conference, held in Cairns, Australia, the Book Conference 2004 will provide a forum for participant academics, educators, librarians, researchers and teachers from around the world to discuss the future of the book. It will also provide a window to the past and the future of the book in China.
The conference will include a mix of keynote address, paper, workshop and colloquium sessions, with speakers discussing topics as varied as: the effects of print on demand and ebooks; written text in the context in the new communications environment; the future of the book from a library perspective; computers in education and e-learning; reading, books and the Internet; teaching and learning literacy in school and at home; and trends in the publishing industry.
Papers submitted for the conference proceedings will be fully peer-refereed and published in print and electronic formats in the new International Journal of the Book. For those unable to attend the conference in person, virtual registrations are available. These provide access to the online edition of the conference proceedings. Virtual participants can also submit papers for refereeing and publication in the International Journal of the Book. For in-person presentations, 30 minute, 60 minute and 90 minute colloquium sessions are available.
Full details of the conference, including an online call for papers form, are to be found at the conference website.
We do hope you will be able to join us in Beijing in August 2004.
This note is to inform you of the current round in the call for papers for ‘The Second International Conference on the Future of the Book’. The deadline for proposals is 1 March 2004. Full details of the conference and the online call for papers are to be found at http://www.Book-Conference.com.
To be held in Beijing, China, confirmed speakers include: * Alfred Rolington, Chief Executive Officer, Jane's Information Group, London. * John Shipp, University Librarian, University of Sydney, Australia. * Melissa A. Rosati, Director, Editorial & Production for McGraw-Hill International, United Kingdom. * Walter Bgoya, Chairman, African Books Collective, and Managing Director of Mkukina Nyota Publishers, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Mary Jay, African Books Collective, Oxford, UK. * Prof. Bertrand Gervais, Departement d'Etudes Litteraires, Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Canada. * Timothy W. Luke, University Distinguished Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, USA. * Dr. Sidney Berger, Department of English and Communications, Simmons College, USA. * Plus a number of keynote speakers from China, details to be confirmed - visit the Conference website for regular updates.
Conference papers will be published in print and electronic formats in the peer refereed International Journal of the Book. If you are unable to attend the conference, virtual registrations are also available allowing you to submit a paper for publication, as well as providing you with full access to the full text of the electronic edition of the Journal for that year.
We hope you will be able to join the Book Conference community, either in its virtual form, or by joining us at this year's annual conference.
Howard Dare Collie Director, International Centre for Graphic Technology RMIT University Melbourne, Australia
Go to top
5. ‘Religion and the Culture of Print in America: Authors, Publishers, Readers and more since 1876’.
‘Religion and the Culture of Print in America: Authors, publishers, readers and more since 1876’ A conference run by the Center for the History of Print Culture in Modern America, the Wisconsin Historical Society and the University of Wisconsin-Madison To be held in Madison, Wisconsin, September 10-11, 2004
This conference will address the world of print in which religions and religious practices were inherited, constructed and promulgated over the last 125 years. In addition to keynote speakers to be announced, there will be a number of additional special presentations. Papers should focus on and illuminate the interaction between the reader and printed materials (e.g. books, Bibles, periodicals, newspapers, church bulletins, hymnals, tracts, etc.) aimed at or produced and read by religious individuals and groups. Studies dealing with religion and class, regionalism, feminism, immigrant groups, racial and sexual minorities, radicals, etc. are especially welcome. The Center hopes that the conference will include scholars interested in Protestantism (in its many manifestations, including revivalism and missionary outreach), Roman Catholicism (both The official church and grassroots phenomena such as Marian visitations), Eastern Orthodox churches, Mormonism, Judaism (all varieties), Islam (both immigrant and native originated), and indigenous religions, as well as new or less-well-known religious movements. Studies of single group experiences and studies that compare the historical sociology of print in the lives of religious groups and individuals located at the periphery of power are of great interest to the Center.
The conference is being cosponsored (support requested) by the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Religious Studies Program, Departments of English, History, Educational Policy Studies, General Library System, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Afro-American Studies, School of Library and Information Studies, Center for the Humanities, George L. Mosse/ Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies, Asian American Studies Program, Womens Studies Program, and the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures.
The Center encourages the interdisciplinary study of print culture history and welcomes proposals from scholars in all fields. The Director and Advisory Board will select a number of papers from the conference for publication in a volume in the Center's series "Print Culture History in Modern America," published by the University of Wisconsin Press. Papers most likely to be selected for publication will be those that combine innovative theoretical perspectives, clarity of organization, a pleasing and accessible prose style, and significant research in primary resources to produce an account that deals with texts and readers in meaningful ways. A listing of books produced by the Center, available on the Center's website, offers a guide to prospective authors. For more information on the Center and its programs consult: http://slisweb.lis.wisc.edu/~printcul/.
For information contact: James P. Danky, Director Center for the History of Print Culture in Modern America Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State Street Madison, WI 53706 608/264-6598 FAX 608/264-6520 [email protected]
Go to top
6. ‘Mechanics’ Worldwide ‘04’
‘Mechanics Worldwide ‘04’ First International Conference of Athenaeums, Literary Institutes, Lyceums, Mechanics’ Institutes, Schools of Arts and Workingmen’s Institutes Swinburne University, Prahran, Melbourne, Australia 2-4 September 2004
Speakers include Dr David McKitterick, Dr Robert Anderson and Dr Keith Manley. For further information either visit the website at http://www.vicnet.net.au/~mivic or email [email protected]. Go to top
7. ‘Paradise: New Worlds of Books and Readers’
‘Paradise: New Worlds of Books and Readers’ 27-30 January 2005 Wellington, New Zealand.
Hosted by the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand. Organised by the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies and Wai-te-ata Press.
Special guests: Alberto Manguel, Michael Twyman, Rimi Chatterjee, and friends.
Special events: D.F. McKenzie Lecture, Conference Dinner, post-conference mystery tour.
The conference will be open to papers dealing with any aspect of the study of print culture, including production, distribution and reception. Particular emphasis will be placed on colonial and postcolonial histories of the book and print, particularly in the Asia/Pacific, South America and Africa. Significant questions include: How does print capture / colonise / create new worlds?; Can paradise be reforged, once lost?; How do readers colonise spaces of writing; What role does geography play?; What happens when the text is not a book?; Who shall be the master? The writer or the reader? (Diderot: 1796); Is translation the ultimate act of comprehending?
Other topics directly related to the conference themes might include the role of the market, libraries as agencies of culture, books and reading in popular culture, textual encounters, the author as reader, orality and text, visual cultures of the book, etc.
Abstracts due 30 June 2004. Please send 250-300 words with short biographical note to convenors: Dr Lydia Wevers & Dr Sydney J Shep Stout Research Centre PO Box 600, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND. Fax: 64-4-463-5439 e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].
Go to top
Conference reports 1. Historic Libraries’ Forum, November 2003
‘Wider still, and wider’
The HLF (Historic Libraries’ Forum), the organization that caters for the subscription, propriety, society and cathedral libraries that house collections of historic value, held its annual meeting at the Linnean Society in Burlington House (Piccadilly) in November last year. Librarians came from York, Durham, Edinburgh, Norwich, Cambridge, Lampeter, Wells, Hereford, Bangor and Southwell, as well as from many libraries in London; 41 of us altogether.
The keynote speaker was Peter Windsor of Re:source. Peter introduced us to the just-published report on WILIP: the WIder LIbraries Project. Hitherto, Re:source had been looking at public libraries (Framework for the Future) and this project had aimed to look at the overall picture of the nation’s libraries. Twelve core types of libraries (‘sub-domains’ in Resource-speak) were covered. These are worth listing: Public libraries; School libraries; Higher Education libraries; Further education libraries; National Libraries; Health Sector libraries; Prison libraries; Culture and Heritage libraries; Government libraries; Corporate libraries; Research Institute libraries; Voluntary Sector libraries.
Key issues and challenges for each sector were identified. An interesting extension was WILIP’s excursion into ‘content-providers’ such as publishers, distributors and tourist information centres. Overall Key Issues were identified:
Improved access to information and knowledge Funding and the sustainability of initiatives Workforce development Need for a strategic framework Advocacy The following speaker was Tim Hobbs, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Museums, Libraries & Archives Council, who looked at the role of the regional MLACs in relation to historic libraries. Tim was able to look at how some of this strategic thinking might develop at the regional level. After a most agreeable buffet in the historic surroundings of the library of the Linnean Society, we had gamekeeper-turned-poacher Alison Berwick, once of the Heritage Lottery Fund (the other ‘HLF’!), now Archives Lottery Advisor to the National Council of Archives, on HLF’s approach to wider access and other aspects of grant applications. The need for a ‘How To Get Funds’ advisor was clear to see and we envied the archivists!
Finally, Stella Butler of the John Rylands University Library told us about two of the successful projects, which had sought funds for historic libraries (Manchester’s medieval Cheetham’s Library and the Victorian John Rylands building itself). Close attention was paid to Stella’s tips and pitfalls.
The HLF has some 200 members, mostly small libraries which fall outside the standard library categories, but whose rich resources are of national importance and should, with care, be made available to all. The WILIP Project was a chance to highlight the issues and the Heritage Lottery Fund was an agency who could help bring this about.
On from WILIP is ‘Routes to Knowledge’, the banner under which a programme of strategic planning and advocacy will be taken forward. The need now is to focus on building knowledge networks to improve the library and information services.
No library is an island. I was pleased to see a wider focus endorsed and for us professionals to look at our place in the wider Knowledge Society.
Full Report of the WILIP Consultation Exercise, by Stuart Ede. Published by proSede for Re:source: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, 2003. ISBN 1-903743-39-7. Also: WILIP: Summary Report and Next Steps, by Sue Howley and Andrew Stevens. Re:source, 2003. ISBN 1-903743-44-0.
Bob Duckett, Bradford
Go to top 2. ‘Against the Law: Skulduggery and Sharp Practice in the Book Trade’. 29-30 November 2003, Birkbeck College, and St Bride's Printing Library, London The annual book trade history conferences held in London each November/December under the aegis of Birkbeck College have become an important engagement for all those interested in Book History, and have resulted in a substantial series of published proceedings. The 25th conference focused upon the relationship between the book trade and the legal system, with eight speakers covering a range of topics, and periods.
Christopher de Hamel formerly of Sothebys and now Librarian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, opened proceedings by demonstrating that book thefts were not uncommon in the Middle Ages. He was followed by Adri Offenberge curator of the Bibliotheca Rosenthalia at Amsterdam University and the editor of the British Library catalogue of Hebrew incunabula, spoke on the censorship of Hebrew books in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and attempts at extorting payments from the Jewish communities wishing to produce religious books.
After lunch, the attention moved from continental Europe to the British isles, with a consideration of copyright law and illegal activity in early modern Scotland by Alastair Mann of St Andrew's University. He was followed by Maureen Bell of the University of Birmingham who gave the audience of preview of some of the materials from her forthcoming chronology and calendar of documents relating to the London book trade, 1641-1700, In 'offensive behaviour and the book trade' she used two approaches first of all by means of an overview the range of different materials relating to aspects of her topic in the calendar, and then focusing on accounts of the same events in 1692 from several sources to give a more detailed account.
The venue of the second day was the hall St Bride Institute adjoining the St Bride's Printing Library, off Fleet Street. Nicholas Pickwoad, conservation adviser to the National Trust gave an illustrated history of false raised bands in book bindings. The lecture was subtitled 'an exercise in design and deception over five centuries', which may be reprehensible but it was difficult to see exactly how this related to the overall theme of Against the law'.
This talk was followed by the lecture most directly interesting to library historians an account of the depredations of Italian libraries by Count Libri, delivered by Anthony Hobson, former president of the Bibliographical Society. As an aristocratic and imposing government inspector, Libri was able to steal whole manuscripts or else extract substantial portions from under the noses of their custodians. As soon as his thefts were discovered, he was able to skip the country with much of his loot, and persuade the British Government and his friend Sir Anthony Panizzi that he was a refugee being persecuted for his beliefs.
The first paper in the afternoon was Helen Berry of the University of Newcastle, entitled ‘John Dunton and crimes of conscience’. This covered the sharp practice that Dunton suffered at the hands of the Dublin book trade at the end of the seventeenth century. This was followed by Bill Bell of the University of Edinburgh, who spoke about on reading in prison, on prison ship and in the British penal colonies of Australia during the nineteenth century.
This was to have been the last of these London conferences. However, at the end of proceedings Michael Harris (who with Robin Myers has been involved with the organisation of each one) announced the good news that negotiations to find a new sponsor and underwriter for the event were well advanced and it was expected that it will continue in 204. David Stoker, Aberystwyth
Go to top
3. Visit to York Minster Library, January 2004 At the end of January, the Yorkshire & Humberside Branch of CILIP arranged a visit to York Minster Library. Seeing an opportunity, I mailed members of the Library & History Group in the area inviting them to the visit. (In fact, as members of the local Branch of CILIP, they were entitled to go anyway, but a reminder never did me any harm!) How many were alerted by which publicity machine is unknown, but a creditable nineteen librarians gathered for the occasion on a chilly, sleety day.
Acting Dean, Glyn Webster, welcomed us, and spoke about the recent threat to dispose of the Library. We were assured that the library was ‘safe and secure’ for the foreseeable future. An advisory committee chaired by Lord John Habgood was due to report in the summer. Glyn also mentioned the Commission led by Andreas Whittam Smith which was looking into the future of Lambeth Palace Library and some other ‘cathedral’ libraries.
John Powell, Minster Librarian, then talked in more detail about the library and its collections. John was at great pains to dispel the prevailing ‘heritage/hidden treasures’ view of the library. "It is a modern working library and our treasures are not hidden!" The catalogue is on the Internet (http:// libcat.york.ac.uk), the public are freely admitted, and 60% - 70% of the users are students from York University. "We were a public library long before the 1850 Act!" John was clearly proud of the high cataloguing standards and quality of research materials available.
The present library dates from 1422 and moved to its present site in 1810. We were shown the Old Library and allowed into The Cage (incunabula, etc.) and up onto the gallery. There were separate Periodicals and Historic Resources rooms in addition to the General Library and modern study areas with Internet access in the 1998-vintage wing. This HLF-funded extension also houses an archive strong room and a conservation studio. 57 volunteers assist the library "without whom" it could not function.
York Minster Library is the largest cathedral library in the country with a collection of approximately 120,000 books, tract and pamphlets. Over 25,000 of these were printed before 1801. The main subject coverage of books in the Library is theology, history, art, religious literature, York and Yorkshire history. The Library is open 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday (9 - 12 noon Fridays). Prospective users of specialist material should phone the librarian in advance (Tel: 01904 625308) to give him time to find them! Many of the modern books can be borrowed on application of a reader’s ticket (£20.00 per year).
We left York promising John that we would spread the word that there is a thoroughly modern research library in the heart of York that welcomes the public: ‘Gawpers’ no more; Scholars to the fore!
Bob Duckett, Bradford
Go to top
Resources of Interest 1. Book History Online Book History Online is pleased to announce that hundreds of new bibliographical records have been added to the database: www.kb.nl/bho (or: http://www.kb.nl/kb/bho/index2.html)
Included are recent Belgium, Canadian, Icelandic, Irish, Italian, Mexican, South African, Swedish and Swiss entries.
Paul van Capelleveen Afdeling Informatie & Collecties / Department of Information & Collections Koninklijke Bibliotheek Postbus 90407 2509 LK Den Haag / The Hague Netherlands e [email protected]
Go to top
2. Jewish Encyclopedia Online The 12 volumed Jewish Encyclopedia, originally published between 1901-1906, is now available online at: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com. As well as covering Jewish history and culture, the Encyclopedia also includes information on libraries, book-collectors, and catalogues of Hebrew books. Whilst historically limited, this compilation is the only free encyclopedia of Judaica available on the Internet.
The section on libraries gives the following good advice: "Take good care of thy books; cover thy shelves with a fine covering: guard them against damp and mice. Examine thy Hebrew books on the first of every month; thy Arabic ones once every two months; thy pamphlet-cases once every three months. Arrange them all in good order, so that thou weary not in looking for a book when thou needest it. . . . Write down the titles of the books in each row of the cases in a separate fascicle, and place each in its row, in order that thou mayest be able to see exactly in which row any particular book is without mixing up the others."
[I am grateful to Julie Robinson, International Officer, CILIP, for this item. Ed.]
Go to top
Items you might have missed [Please note that this section simply includes items that have caught my eye and is in no way meant to be a comprehensive/extensive selection. Ed.]
1. William H. Sherman ‘"Rather soiled by use": Attitudes towards readers’ marks’. The Book Collector 52 (4) Winter 2003, 471-90. Another piece on the issue of marginalia in books. and Stephen Colclough ‘"A Larger Outlay than any Return": the Library of W.H. Smith & Son’. Publishing History 44 2003, 67-93. Aspects of the history of Smith’s Subscription Library and its relationship with Mudie’s Select Library.
Go to top
2. Mechanics’ Institutes are alive and well in Australia! For those of you interested in the continuing saga of Mechanics’ Institute, you may like to know that there is a Newsletter, now into volume 2, issued by the Mechanics’ Institute of Victoria Inc., which charts their continuing progress primarily in Australia, but with other snippets worldwide. Please note the Conference being organised in Melbourne in September 2004 (see ‘Forthcoming Conferences - further afield’, item 6 above).
Go to top
3. Centre for the History of the Book News - online The ‘Centre for the History of the Book News’ from the University of Edinburgh is now available online at http://www.arts.ed.ac.uk/chb and is well worth looking at. The web site contains more information about the Centre and the previous two issues of the CHB News.
Go to top
Exhibitions/Seminars/Courses etc 1. Book History Workshop, Lyon
Book History Workshop Lyon, 5 - 8 April 2004
For the third edition of its Book History Workshop, the Lyon-based Institut d'histoire du livre is offering three advanced four-day courses in the fields of book and printing history. Courses on offer are:
French Gold-Tooled Bookbindings 1507-1967: major workshops and collectors. Tutor: Isabelle de Conihout and Pascal Ract-Madoux (course in French); Printed Ephemera under the Magnifying Glass. Tutor: Michael Twyman; Introduction to Analytical Bibliography. Tutor: Neil Harris (course in French); Type, Lettering and Calligraphy 1450-1830. Tutor: James Mosley. The Book History Workshop is aimed not only at book and printing historians but also at the many other specialists who encounter questions related to book and printing history in the course of their work: researchers, teachers, archivists, librarians, museum curators, antiquarian booksellers, collectors, designers, etc.
The courses offered by the Institut d'histoire du livre cover various aspects of the history of the book and graphic communications. Subjects are dealt with from both theoretical and practical points of view through illustrated lectures, discussions and close study of original documents. In addition to Lyons City Library and Museum of Printing which are the principal source of original documents for study, the Bibliothèque Mazarine (Paris) will this year open its collections to students following the course on French gold-tooled bindings.
The courses will take place in Lyon from the 5th to the 8th April 2004. Classes will be held at the Ecole normale supérieure - lettres et sciences humaines (Lyon) with sessions at the Lyon City Library, the Printing Museum (and the Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris in the case of the course on French gold-tooled bindings).
Tuition fee: 450 euros (mid-day meals included).
In order to facilitate access to collections of original documents the number of participants is limited to twelve per class.
For further information and evaluations of previous Book History Workshops see: http://ihl.enssib.fr/ siteihl.php?page="6&aflng=en" or contact: Marie-Noëlle Frachon Bibliothèque de la Part-Dieu 30 boulevard Vivier-Merle 69003 Lyon France [email protected] http://ihl.enssib.fr
Go to top
2. World Book Day Talk [Sorry about the self-advertisement! Ed.]
As part of World Book Day celebrations on Thursday March 4th, I will be giving an introductory talk at the Oakdale Institute, National Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagan’s, Cardiff on ‘The Influence of the Workmen’s Institutes on the Reading Habits of the Communities that Surrounded them’. The talk will begin at 2pm, will last ca. 1 hour (including question time) and is free.
Go to top
3. Exhibition in Amsterdam University Library On the 18th February 2004 the exhibition Werk onder handen (Work in progress) opens at the Amsterdam University Library. We show about one hundred books published in the years 1473-1673 in the Netherlands, that tell something of the development of Dutch book design in those years. The address is Singel 425, the entrance is free (opening hours mo-fri 13.00-17.00). For those who are in Amsterdam on that date: the exhibition opens at 16.30 with an address by the eminent book historian Prof. dr. Frans A. Janssen, followed by a viewing and drinks.
For those who are not able to see the exhibition we have produced a CD-rom with about 800 pictures, partly in full-color of 400 books. In this digital catalogue we place the Dutch typographical tradition in an European context, starting with the great Italian printers of the 15th century and French books of the 16th century.
The catalogue is published in the well-known Acrobat format with high definition pictures, so that it can be printed as if it were a book - it includes a cover-design and instructions how to produce it. For those who want a book but not the fuss: we can produce it for you in a high quality print.
For more information on the exhibition and the catalogue, please contact: [email protected] (senior-bibliographer special collections, University Library Amsterdam)
Go to top 4. Sandars Lectures in Bibliography 2004 The Lectures entitled 'Sir Sydney Cockerell' will be delivered by Dr Christopher de Hamel, Donnelley Fellow Librarian, Corpus Christi College Cambridge, at 5pm in the Morison Room, Cambridge University Library,as follows: Thursday 4 March Cockerell as a bibliographer and creator of manuscript collections. Tuesday 9 March Cockerell at the Fitzwilliam, as a collector of people and promoter of manuscript studies. Thursday 11 March Cockerell as a private collector of illuminated manuscripts.
Go to top
5. The Colonial and Postcolonial History of the Book Organised jointly by the Open University's Postcolonial Literatures and Book History and Bibliography Research Groups as part of the Inter-University Post-Colonial Studies Seminar. All sessions take place on Tuesday evenings from 5.30-7pm at the Institute of English Studies, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU.
Programme 24 February 2004 (Room 265) Graham Shaw (Head of Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections at the British Library) Publishing in Asia (1): 'South Asia in Global Book History: Connections and Disconnections' 9 March 2004 (Room 265) Dr Shafquat Towheed (Post-doctoral Fellow in English Literature, University of Nottingham): Publishing in Asia (2): 'Copyright, Piracy and Literary Authority in Kipling's Early Indian Publications'
Organisers: Robert Fraser ([email protected]) and Mary Hammond ([email protected]) and the Institute of English Studies ([email protected]).
Go to top
Miscellaneous 1. Justin Winsor Prize The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is accepting submissions for the 2004 Justin Winsor Prize for the best library history essay. Applications must be received by January 30 2004. Receipt will be confirmed with 2 business days.
The award, named in honor of the distinguished 19th century librarian, historian, and bibliographer who was also ALA's first president, consists of a $500 cash award. It includes an invitation to have the winner's paper considered for publication in Libraries and Culture.
Manuscripts submitted should not be previously published, previously submitted for publication, or under consideration for publication or another award. To be considered, essays should embody original historical research on a significant topic in library history, be based on primary sources materials whenever possible, and use good English composition and superior style. Essays should be organized in a form similar to that of articles published in Libraries and Culture, with footnotes, spelling and punctuation conforming to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. Papers should not exceed 35 typewritten, double-spaced pages (plus footnotes and bibliography).
Three copies of the manuscript should be submitted. The name and other information identifying the author should appear only on a separate cover letter. Submit manuscripts to Mary Jo Lynch, American Library Association/LHRT, 50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Fax and e-mail are not acceptable.
Decisions will be made by LHRT's Justin Winsor Prize Committee chaired by Toni Samek, School of Library & Information Studies,University of Alberta.
Toni Samek, PhD Associate Professor School of Library & Information Studies 3-15 Rutherford South, University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T6G 2J4 Phone: (780) 492-0179 Fax: (780) 492-2430 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.ualberta.ca/~asamek/toni.htm
Go to top
2. ALA LHRT Book Award
Eliza Atkins Gleason Book Award of the American Library Association Library History Round Table
The Eliza Atkins Gleason Book Award is presented by the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association every third year to recognize the best book written in English in the field of library history, including the history of libraries, librarianship, and book culture.
The award bears the name of Eliza Atkins Gleason, the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago. Her book, The Southern Negro and the Public Library (Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1941), traced the history of library service to African Americans up to that time and laid the foundation for all other histories of that aspect of library service.
Eligibility and criteria Entries for each triennial award must have been published between January 1 and December 31 of the three years preceding the award year. Bibliographies and edited collections will not be considered. Entries are judged on quality of scholarship, clarity of style, depth of research, and ability to place research findings in a broad social, cultural, and political context. One award will be given every third year. If a suitable candidate is not found, the award will not be presented for that three-year cycle. *Exception for the 2004 award: Because of special circumstances, books published in 2000 will be eligible.* Award Jury The Gleason Book Award Committee, a subcommittee of the Research Committee of the Library History Round Table, serves as jury for the award.
Nominating process Nominations are welcome from all interested parties and should include a brief statement explaining why the book is worthy of consideration for the Gleason Book Award. Nominations, postmarked by March 1, 2004, should be sent to:
Charles A. Seavey, Chair, Gleason Award Committee Associate Professor School of Information Science & Learning Technologies University of Missouri-Columbia 303 Townsend Columbia MO 65211
Presentation of the Award. The winner will be announced in a press release on or about June 1st of the award year. Certificates honoring the author and publisher of the Gleason Book Award winner will be presented at a Library History Round Table awards ceremony during the American Library Association Annual Conference in the year of the award.
Go to top
3. Grolier Club Library Fellowships New York, December 15, 2003. The Grolier Club Library is pleased to announce a new fellowship in the history of the book. Awards of up to $2,500 are available for research in the Library's areas of strength, with emphasis on the history of antiquarian bookselling and private collecting of books and prints in the United States, Great Britain, and Western Europe. The fellowship may be used to pay for travel, housing, and other expenses. A minimum research stay of two weeks is required, and fellows are expected to present a seminar or lecture at the Grolier Club, and submit a written report.
Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs are not eligible, but all other interested persons are encouraged to apply. There is no application form. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a proposal, not to exceed 750 words, stating necessary length of residence, historical materials to be used, relevance of the Grolier Club Library collections to the project, a proposed budget, and two letters of recommendation.
The deadline for applications and letters of support is March 1, 2004, and announcement of awards will be made in early May, 2004. Research terms can take place any time between June 1, 2004 to May 30, 2005, but please note that the Club is closed for the month of August.
Applications should be sent to The Fellowship Committee, The Grolier Club, and 47 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022.
The Grolier Club Library is a focused research collection of approximately 100,000 volumes on the art and history of the book, with particular strength in book catalogues of all types -- printed and manuscript inventories of private libraries, catalogues of antiquarian booksellers, and book auction sales. The Grolier Club Library collections of book catalogues are among the most comprehensive in the US, and have long been recognized as an important resource for collectors and scholars in book history. For further information about the Library, as well as an online catalogue of its holdings, visit http://www.grolierclub.org/Library.htm.
Go to top
4. Judging a Book by its Cover
Judging a book by its cover: fans, publishers, designers and the advertising of books Edited by Nicole Matthews and Nickianne Moody, Media and Cultural Studies, Liverpool John Moores University
Book covers have long been the preserve of collectors and art historians. This collection will draw a new range of disciplinary perspectives - cultural studies, business and marketing, the history of the book, library and literary studies - to make sense of book covers in the wider context of publishers' publicity and the marketing of books.
Taking its starting point the contemporary marketing of popular fiction, this collection will focus on the publishing industry from the twentieth century and beyond. Our aim is to place the book cover and publishers' publicity in an international context, highlighting the global circulation of books and ideas about how to market them. We are particularly keen to bring together accounts of the industrial context of the advertising of books and discussions of the way readers make sense of the publicity for books.
Some possible topics include: readers' responses to publishers' publicity; libraries and the use of the book cover; the publishing industry's marketing mix; popular genres, fans and negotiations over the book cover; cover art, self-improvement and the marketing of 'distinction'; marketing 'difference' through the book cover; the star author in popular and high brow publishing; histories of publishers' publicity: the twentieth century and beyond; the book cover as an intertextual marketing tool; international differences in the marketing of books; convergence in the media industries and the promotion of books.
We hope the completed book will be useful, not just for academic readers, but also for undergraduate students of consumer culture, advertising and marketing, global media industries, contemporary literary and popular cultural studies.
Please send abstracts of no more than 300 words and a short biographical note to:Nicole Matthews, Media and Cultural Studies, Dean Walters Building, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L1 7BY, Ph: + (0) 151 231 5045, Fax: + (0) 151 231 5049, E-mail: [email protected]
Deadline for abstracts: January 30, 2004
More information on the collection to be found soon on the Association for Research in Popular Fictions site: http://www.arpf.org.uk.
Go to top
5. Death of Linda Parr LIGH members may have missed the brief note in the January issue of CILIP’s Update announcing the death of Linda Parr, librarian of the Princess Alexandra College of Nursing in London, who died in November. She was a fairly regular attendee at LHG conferences and meetings at one time and also published an article in Library History in 1987 on the library of Halifax Mechanics' Institution 1825-1857.
Go to top
6. Most Fascinating Library Buildings Back in March and April 2001, many of you may have remembered sending in votes on the most fascinating library buildings in the world, visited or seen. The categories voted for were: most fascinating national library buildings. most fascinating university library buildings. most fascinating public library buildings. The results of all the votes are published in detail in the forthcoming edition of "Library World Records" which is due to be published in March 2004, around the time of the UNESCO's World Book Day.
Well its time to vote again for the most fascinating library buildings in the world you have seen or visited. Also to be included in the voting category, will be national archives buildings.
The new categories to vote for are: Public Library buildings; Subscription Library buildings; University Library buildings; National Library buildings; Special Library buildings; Private Library buildings; National Archives buildings.
I have set up a special form for submitting all your votes: http://www.geocities.com/infolibrary/ Votes.htm.
Voting period will end in September 2004, so if you happen to visit a library this coming Easter or summer holidays, please remember to send in your votes.
The results of these new votes will be published in detail in the second edition of "Library World Records" which is provisionally set for publication in 2006.
Godfrey Oswald author "Library World Records" http://www.geocities.com/infolibrary/Aboutrecords.htm
Go to top
Special Issue of Library Quarterly [I’m sure there should be scope here for a good library history item - Ed.]
For a special issue of Library Quarterly that we are editing, we are seeking papers on the theme of the "Library as Place." The journal is interested in publishing papers that relate to the historical and/ or contemporary place of the library within its community of interest, the role of the library as an important locus within the public sphere, the influence of the library as a public or civic space within contemporary urban or rural landscapes, and the uses made of library spaces by various clienteles and the public in general. In particular, we would encourage submission of papers that discuss the meaning(s) of the library in the lives of its users and user groups, and the ways in which library places and spaces are socially, culturally, politically and economically constructed and understood. All types of library places are of interest, including those in the public, academic, school, and organizational realms. A variety of theoretical and methodological approaches are welcomed.
Papers should be prepared in accordance with the Library Quarterly Instructions to Authors and submitted to Gloria Leckie, (Faculty of Information and Media Studies, Middlesex College, Room 255, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont. N6A 5B7, email [email protected]) or John Buschman (Moore Library 234, Rider University, 2083 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, email [email protected]) no later than Feb. 1, 2005.