on International Library and Information Work ISSN 2058-8399 (Online)

Volume 46, Number 3, 2015

Editorial 85 Cycling for Libraries Nordic Tour 86 Karen Gibbins Medical Librarian in the Great Midwest 90 Abinola Alayo Focus on Focus 95 Alice Tyler From Bremen Town to Fisherman’s Wharf 99 Ian Stringer Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies 108 Karen Butcher and Thomas Gebhart Eurotoolbox - What is That? 114 John Lake Eurotoolbox 2015 Launch 115 Renee De Luycker Book Review 116 ILIG Business 120 News from Around the World 122 Calendar of Events 126 Now you can Advertise in Focus reaching around 600 ILIG members and subscribers, both individual and organisational, in over 60 countries

Focus is published electronically three times a year, in March, July and November and there is a bumper hard copy in December Advertisements may be placed in any single issue or in each of issues in any one year/volume. Space is available in three sizes.

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84 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Editorial

Keeping Focus on the path of encouraging good practice and new developments around the world with positive articles of advancement sometimes feels like following an uphill path when there is so much evidence of the sector shrinking in size in the United Kingdom (UK), especially in public sector provision.

However, there is much evidence amongst the articles in this issue, of library and information professionals sharing good practice at conferences, on visits and online which serves to re-enforce the notion that our profession does think and act globally in spite of the pressures that exist amongst and between world nations. Karen Gibbins has described another successful Cycling for Libraries ‘un-conference’ which took place in the Nordic countries in August. Abi Alayo describes her fact-finding visit to the health libraries of the Great Midwest in the United States of America (USA) which will feed in to the current National Health Service review process. Ian Stringer provides an overview of the content of conferences in Bremen, Germany and San Francisco, USA with a light touch which shows that in addition to the serious work involved, there is much else to be gained on the social and networking level by attending a conference.

There is also a review on the launch of the Eurotoolbox, now in its 15th year of appearance as a promotion of children’s books in European languages, which has increasing relevance to UK libraries with so much migration around Europe. And from the British Library for Development Studies there is much to share especially for librarians in the southern hemisphere. Lastly, in anticipation of Focus reaching its 50th anniversary, our tireless Associate Editor Alice Tyler, has started trawling through the archives to reveal how the journal started and to share the highlights and changes which have been made to it since the journal began from its humble beginnings in 1967. I sincerely hope that you will be reading the journal in 2017 by the time she finishes her endeavours – it makes fascinating reading. John Lake, Editor

Focus on International Library and Information Work is published electronically three times a year (March, July and November) plus an annual hard copy bumper issue in December by the International Library and Information Group (ILIG) of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Editor: John Lake InDesign work by Gillian Harris Email: [email protected] Subscriptions for 2016: £80.00; US$160.00; €120.00 or [email protected] Orders, remittances (payable to ‘CILIP-ILIG’), Associate Editor: Alice Tyler and advertisements to: Kathleen Ladizesky, Tel.: +44 (0)116 275 1379 Glantrisant, Trisant, Aberystwyth SY23 4RL Email: [email protected] UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 (0)1974 282 411 Book Review Editor: Vacancy Email: [email protected] ILIG’s Website: www.cilip.org.uk/ilig ILIG’s discussion list: [email protected] cilip ILIG on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/13131232426 ILIG on Twitter: @CILIP_ILIG ILIG on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CILIPILIG ILIG on Linkedin: ILIG-International-Library- CILIP registered charity number 313014 Information-Group Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 85 Cycling for Libraries Nordic Tour by Karen Gibbins*

The Cycling for Libraries website proudly and use the skills, knowledge and interests of states that the New Nordic international tour in the attendees to deliver interesting insights to 2015 IS OVER! and I was part of it. I am still good practice, progressive ideas, innovation relishing that feeling of pride and achievement and debates. The traditional conference of having cycled further than ever before format remains popular and useful but the - 730km, visiting three countries (Norway, unstructured format without the costs and Sweden and Denmark) and visiting around 30 managed environment do have their appeal. library venues along the way finishing in the brand new Dokk1 Library and cultural centre Un-conferences share their current popularity in Aarhus, Denmark. with mashups, maker days and hackathons. All these have in common a collaborative Thanks to the ingenuity and passion of approach to making, learning or developing attendees at an International Federation of something new in an unstructured way. This Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) was a theme which suited further exploration World Library and Information Conference as part of the touring cycling project. 2010 in Gothenburg and the continuing efforts of individuals such as Jukka Pennanen, this Some may question if it is possible to really event has run for 5 years and hosted 10 tours address professional development and library in various countries. advocacy by such activities, however…

Its aim was to investigate whether librarians Road cycling is surpassing golf as the had the sticking power, resourcefulness and preferred way of networking for the stamina to adapt and change to meet the modern professional challenges to libraries in a new digital age. The ( http://www.economist.com/blogs/ idea that travelling together over an extended prospero/2013/04/business-networking) time facing poor weather, adversity, changing landscapes, hills and road surfaces could The Nordic 2015 tour allowed this with create a touring “un-conference” event where perfect ease. A hundred attendees from 20 attendees could discuss, learn and discover countries around the world found a common innovation in library services throughout the language in libraries to bond them together journey. over 10 days and still continue to share and discuss after the event finished. The This un-conference idea has been building requirements for attendees were just to have in popularity with many popping up across an average ability in cycling, a love of libraries, the UK. They are low key and low budget curiosity and some personal determination to see them through to the end. *Karen Gibbins is a Principal Librarian for Information and Learning at Swansea Library and Information The tour was organised by a small planning Service, City and County of Swansea. She is a past Chair team, one for each country - Ann-Christin of CILIP Wales. Karen is a Chartered Member of CILIP Karlén Gramming, Bo Jacobsen, Rasmus from Loughborough University and has worked in special, Fangel Vestergaard and Jukka Pennanen. school and public libraries. Other volunteers helped along the way. This

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The tour exposed some amazing examples of Scandinavian library design often in amazing architecturally designed spaces, which was helping change service delivery. We also learnt of the impact of library legislation in Norway and Danish collaborative and bottom up project management structures.

The revised Norwegian Library Act which came into force in January 2014, emphasises active promotion of information, education and culture and states that public libraries shall be “independent meeting places and arenas for public conversation and debate”. So the Cycling for Libraries tour began with an insight into how re-focussing of national library legislation Karen Gibbins in Swansea with lovely new can re-invigorate libraries and re-focus service road bike, in training delivery. Supported by grants from the cultural sector, libraries were benefiting from some re- small team planned all routes, library visits, modelling to support the new priorities of the accommodation and logistics. Perhaps as a first Act in a modern digital setting. time Cycling for Libraries tourer I could see that this team had given their all in their planning Alternative services delivered in libraries were and preparation so their only expectation was investigated in Sweden with visits to up and that we pulled on our own resourcefulness coming art and maker spaces in Gothenburg to make the most of the opportunity given. from Jasmine Idun Tova Lyman (http:// The success depended on our ability to use maker.ninja/) and the Dynamo Library Project initiative and create a supportive environment for each other.

Visits were made to public, academic and special libraries, fab labs and library suppliers along the way. Each site hosted our arrival with a food and drinks reception and pre- organised talks, tours and demonstrations. The library association of Sweden (http://www. biblioteksforeningen.org/) hosted a reception in a literacy centre in Gothenburg and the Department of Library Science in Denmark prepared an evening of talks from their school lecturers and researchers. Cycling for Libraries on the road in Denmark. En route somewhere between Aalborg and Hjorring

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(http://dynamoprimer.com/03_Anatomy-of- a-Dynamo-Definition/3-2_dynamo_libraries. html) which worked with Gothenburg Public Library and the Science Museum. In Denmark the tour visited a real life maker space “Open Space Aarhus” (http://osaa.dk/), a hack house investigating open technology. It was working closely with the public library service including a successful creation of a tech lab hosted at the library for a month. Viborg library (https:// www.viborgbib.dk/) presented their model of cultural funding to develop story labs to engage young people and we built lego Welcome to Hjorring Library monsters to reflect the writing of Patrick Ness, “make the library for people not books” A Monster Calls. Networking has long been an integral part The Hjorring Public Library in Denmark of conference activity and this is no less the stood out as an exciting, designed space case in a touring conference. Cycling together, which created a red ribbon flowing through eating, sleeping and sharing new challenges the venue linking the various spaces together, together for an extended period ensures that the vibrant play area and gaming sections to new connections are made. Social media and the traditional adult reading section with wing easy access to open public wifi at library sites backed leather chairs and tranquil lighting. supported the inclusion of followers outside of the conference. Aalborg Public Library demonstrated a willingness to change library spaces to reflect Robin Neirdoff from Freepint consultants different community priorities and to work blogged along the way and her article “Get with their staff to create even better customer away from your desk to analyse your work” led services. summarises well some of the other benefits such a conference format can bring. These Conversations with colleagues along the include the extended time away from the work way reflected on what was seen and what place, being unplugged from work emails and was learnt in addition to discovering more relying on free wifi hotspots, diverse colleagues about cyclists’ home libraries and their work and site visits. priorities and challenges. The describing of ( http://web.freepint.com/go/ shared work place obstacles was common but blog/72931?kui=FHiXvXI0dVmkLTft17dR7g ) new approaches to resolving them could be heard and discovered. Finding the differences Accepting that learning can take place in in our library service provision was as many different ways demonstrates that visits interesting as finding the things we had in and tours can instruct and communicate just common. as effectively as traditional conferences and learning environments. Good practice sharing

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was evident from the presentations from The knowledge that library services across our hosts at each library visit and from the the world have different pressures on budgets, seminars and the discussions which occurred. priorities and progress but that they still carry The tour ended at the newly opened Dokk1 in the support of their governments, is inspiring. the port area of Aarhus. Its vision is embedded Models of delivery can vary but communities in future plans for the city. will seek out their libraries however services This is an impressive space with big are delivered. It is reassuring to find that the ambitions and the city planners can see that a use for libraries is as strong as ever. library should be at the heart of it. A building Returning to public libraries in the UK where “a flexible and dynamic sanctuary we are still in the midst of local government for everyone in search of knowledge, austerity cuts there can be some hope that inspiration, and personal development - an services could be rebuilt in the future. open and accessible learning environment supporting democracy and community.” The next challenge is to consider how to take the lessons learnt and turn them into actions “Mediaspace[Dokk1] provides space now the tour is over. Sharing details about for contemplation and knowledge. It is the Cycling for Libraries programme is one an attractive, intelligent and interactive step towards this. The Chartered Institute of building, which supports the users’ desire Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) to learn and experience” revalidation candidates or any professional (http://www.urbanmediaspace.dk/en/ updating their personal development portfolio mediaspace/vision) should think about non-traditional personal development opportunities, which may be of 26,500 m2 spread over three floors. available and put them to good use. Cycling for Libraries needs to be up there on the list. A common message heard along the tour was that libraries are about their people not Additional information about the trip can be seen their collections and this is how we should at: reconfigure our services. This fits well with Twitter #cyc4lib the new digital age libraries find themselves Facebook Cycling for Libraries in with fewer physical items to manage. Website http://www.cyclingforlibraries.org/ Blogspot http://cyclinglibrarianmadness. blogspot.co.uk/

ILIG has a twitter account: @CILIP_ILIG Follow us to get the latest updates on ILIG news and events, tweets from conferences, news from CILIP and of international interest, and to communicate with us and let us know what you would like ILIG to do for you.

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 89 Medical Librarian in the Great Midwest By Abinola Alayo*

Following the publication of the Knowledge its focus. I also contacted Kirsten McCormick, for Healthcare Framework1 http://hee.nhs. the 2013 award recipient, and she was happy uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/321/files/2014/12/ to advise me on how to proceed with my Knowledge-for-healthcare-framework.pdf by application and prepare for the interview if I Health Education England (HEE), I became a was successful. I was excited to get called up tad obsessed with what sort of collaborations for the interview, which was held in London exist amongst health libraries in other in May 2015 but disappointed when I received countries. The framework promotes the idea notification that I had been unsuccessful. All of a centralised service, digital by default was not lost as I turned to the Health Libraries with evidence based practice embedded to Group (HLG) as an alternative source of improve the quality of patient care in England. funding. Patients deserve equitable care and healthcare professionals should have access to the same Just as I put in my application to the HLG, I timely, evidence-based information to facilitate received an email from Melanie Alpin, Senior the best care irrespective of their geographical Officer, Education at The English-Speaking locations. A quick literature search put me on Union, informing me that, between CILIP the trail of the National Network of Libraries and the ESU, an additional award had been of Medicine (NN/LM) in the United States put together to fund my research proposal to of America (USA). The National Library of the USA after all. I was ecstatic and quick to Medicine (NLM) co-ordinates the NN/LM notify my hosts and fine-tune my itinerary for programme, which is divided up into eight the two-week trip. regions much like the 13 HEE Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs). I also contacted the National Programme Manager for Library and Knowledge Services, With no prior connections in the USA, I Health Education England, Louise Goswami, contacted the Deputy Associate Director of who in conjunction with the Chairs of the Library Operations at the National Library of Working Groups for Knowledge for Healthcare Medicine, Dianne Babski, to investigate the helped identify more areas of the framework possibility of a study tour. She introduced me that could be addressed during my visit. to Lisa Boyd, Consumer Health Librarian for the NN/LM who linked me up with libraries I had always wanted to visit the National of interest. The more I discussed with contacts Library of Medicine and the fact that it also and colleagues, the more real it became and happens to be the headquarters for the NN/ I decided to apply for the 2015 Travelling LM was a happy coincidence. With the aim of Librarian Award and have my proposed trip as the Knowledge for Healthcare Framework in mind, I decided it would be practical to visit *Abi Alayo is an Assistant libraries within the same geographical area as Librarian at Barts Health NHS they seem more likely to have collaborative Trust at Newham University practices. I selected a combination of hospital Hospital in Plaistow, London, and academic health libraries within the 10 UK. state Greater Midwest Region (GMR) visiting Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The libraries visited

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My first contact was the delightful Lisa Boyd who introduced me to the NLM and NN/LM. The NN/LM was born out of the Medical Library Assistance Act (MLAA) which was passed in 1965, which made the NLM a funding agency and enables it to assist medical libraries in the United States. The mission of Mount Carmel - Stevo Roksandic, Me, and Christine providing health information is accomplished Wynd, President, College of Nursing through a partnership between the National Library of Medicine and the eight academic were: the National Library of Medicine in health science libraries that serve as Regional Maryland (NN/LM Headquarters); National Medical Libraries (RMLs). They help manage Institute of Health Library; Mount Carmel membership programmes, hold exhibits, Health Sciences Library; The Ohio State visit health fairs, conduct presentations and University Health Sciences Library; Nationwide webinars, devise courses for training and Children’s Hospital Medical Library; Ruth Lilly create training materials. Medical Library; St. Vincent Medical Library University of Illinois at Chicago Library of The RMLs provide all their support for free Health Sciences (NN/LM Headquarters for the and the federal funds they receive means they Greater Midwest Region); and John H. Stroger, needn’t worry about money. They also fund Jr. Hospital of Cook County Academic Center their member Resource Libraries to reach out Library. to every population from business to consumer in order to promote the products and services I embarked on my study tour in August of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). 2015, arriving in the USA on the 12th. The A good example of a funded project is a hair time difference hit me hard and I had to take salon in South Carolina which received $5000 a day off to acclimatise myself to the new to install two workstations for accessing health environment. It also gave me the opportunity information as well as training for all staff. to let my contacts know that I was in town The project was so successful that the salon and fine tune details on how best to commute employees now go into the community to talk within the cities. The purpose of my study to residents about health information. tour was to find out how access to health information is provided across the country and how medical libraries in the United States collaborate and are supported. My hosts had helped put together detailed programmes for my visits. I recorded conversations on my phone, with permission, and this allowed me to fully engross myself in the visits. Transcribing was a bit tedious but doing it whilst on long inter-state commutes made it a lot easier. National Institute of Health Library

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Ruth Lilly Medical Library is a Resource Library within the GMR where I met Associate Librarian Outreach & Liaison Co-ordinator, Elaine Skopelja, who shared with me about the work she does with public librarians. This includes keeping them up to date on how to obtain health information for consumers, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Medical Library - teaching them how to search for health Information Literacy Librarian, Alison Gehred information, supplying them with consumer at the Circulation Desk materials, directing them to authoritative available but there are designated library resources like MedlinePlus as well as advising points for the public to go to when they need them on materials to obtain for their medical to make informed decisions on their health or collection and how to promote the services that of a loved one. Some libraries even receive they provide. requests for consumer health information from all over the world. Denise Rumschlag, Acting Assistant Director of the NLM’s Manager of Library Services at St. Vincent Outreach Evaluation and Research Center Medical Library told me about a patient (OERC), Cindy Olney, shared with me service they offer tagged “Contact a Medical about the need to evaluate service provision Librarian” which involves providing patients for operational and external purposes. This on wards with health information. ultimately helps demonstrate the value of libraries and can be accomplished through The closest match I found to an established audience analysis, process assessment and centralised service was Mount Carmel Health communication with external stakeholders. System Library Services. I met the vibrant Regional Director, Stevo Roksandic, who I found there to be a big focus on providing placed emphasis on the provision of virtual health information to the public. The birth support across the six locations as well as two of the MedlinePlus database was a result of Mount Carmel College of Nursing Campuses recognising that the audience for Medline and College long distance learning students. wasn’t just health professionals but regular The Library site at Columbus, Ohio, serves people as well. Not only is the information as the hub where all operations are planned and managed and all staff is based. They also generate income from contracts with two libraries outside the Mount Carmel Health System.

Most attempts by libraries to purchase electronic resources collaboratively are often met with a lot of resistance from vendors. The State of Ohio is regarded as a success story due to its successful consortia OhioLINK, OPAL, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Library and OHIONET. There is also DOCLINE which

92 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Medical Librarian in the Great Midwest is an automated inter-library loans system run by the NLM which enables resource sharing nationally. I found that some libraries are making use of resource discovery tools. Mount Carmel uses a federated search solution which they term “MCHSL eSearcher” and was developed by Deep Web Technologies. The resource offers impartial access to almost all of their medical databases. St. Vincent Medical Ruth Lilly Library Library is also looking into obtaining EBSCO discovery tool so that a single search box can University of Illinois at Chicago Library of be used to search library resources. Health Sciences is one of the eight Regional National Network of Libraries of Medicine The libraries I visited also had varying forms (NN/LM) Offices. They hold the current of a Clinical Librarian role with ward rounds federal contract for the ten-state Greater and clinical meetings as the most common Midwest Region (GMR) with Associate themes. An interview with Associate Professor University Librarian & Associate Dean, and Head, Research and Education Services, Kathryn Carpenter serving as the Director. I Ohio State University Health Sciences Library, learnt about the support offered to regional Stephanie Schulte, who is also the co-author members from the Outreach, Planning and of Establishing a New Clinical Informationist Evaluation Co-ordinator, Jacqueline Leskovec. Role in an Academic Health Sciences Center2 She told me about how designated Resource published in 2014 revealed what setting up Libraries have their collections and resources the piloted service involved. Some of the committed to the sharing pool so that all recommendations for consideration before within the region can access the information such a pilot include: for free or at a reasonable cost. • Ensure the library administration and the clinical units are committed to the service Each State is required to have an outreach • Give consideration to the culture of the programme and the GMR provides an department or the institution additional stipend to libraries that take up • Be prepared for a lengthy pilot - at least this mantle within the region. I had lunch a year to start, develop and informally with some GMR co-ordinators who imparted evaluate the service to identify what works that they offer educational classes (online and and what doesn’t in-person) awards, training and continuing • Make sure you have details of the ward education opportunities, to a wide range of round before they commence so that you people including health and public librarians, can catch up if the round starts without you patient educators and the public. Nevertheless, • The role needs to be occupied by someone the sheer geographical enormity of the task with some scientific curiosity and not makes the Outreach Libraries very valuable. necessarily a scientific background The GMR also presents at conferences and • Be prepared for the psychological side of helps co-ordinate with vendors for reduced the job as the clinical setting can be crazy rates to resources for groups of institutions. and gross

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Funding This study tour was sponsored by ESU London Region, ESU Epping Forest Region, CILIP and CILIP - ILIG (International Library and Information Group).

Acknowledgements I am very grateful to my sponsors who GMR Team - Holly Ann Burt, Outreach and Exhibits made this study tour possible. I extend my Coordinator, Me, Carol Bean, Technology Coordinator, gratitude to my colleagues who encouraged Samanthi Hewakapuge, Consumer Health Coordinator, and supported me from the very day the Jacqueline Leskovec, Outreach, Planning and Evaluation idea popped into my head. To all the libraries Coordinator, and Kathryn Carpenter, Director I visited and their staff who went out of their way to accommodate my visit, I say a The handout section of their website is very special thank you. It has truly been an considered public domain and hosts all experience of a lifetime. training materials and presentations freely available for consultation or adaptation by any Bibliography member of the public. Fee, E. (2014). Information on a global scale: the National Library of Medicine. The Lancet, 384(9937), The libraries visited collaborate successfully 21-22. within the states and districts sharing not only Slomski, A. (2011). The National Library of Medicine. resources but also models for service delivery. JAMA, 305(21), 2158-2161. The study tour certainly re-affirmed my belief that libraries face similar challenges across References the globe. There is a need for the essence of 1Knowledge for Healthcare: a development libraries to be recognised to avoid budget cuts, framework for NHS library and knowledge services loss of staff and loss of space. in England. Health Education England, 2014. Accessible at http://hee.nhs.uk/wp-content/blogs. I blogged3 about my visits as they occurred dir/321/files/2014/12/Knowledge-for-healthcare- which not only helped me reflect about what framework.pdf [Accessed 20 Sep. 2015] I learnt a lot from each visit but was also a 2Aldrich A. M & Schulte, Stephanie Establishing a good way of keeping interested colleagues New Clinical Informationist Role in an Academic both in the UK and the US apprised of my Health Sciences Center experiences. I am so glad that I was able 3Alayo, A. (2015). [Blog] Knowledge for Healthcare to establish relationships with American study tour. Available at: http://k4hstudytour. colleagues, which is an avenue for learning blogspot.co.uk/ [Accessed 10 Sep. 2015]. more from each other in the future.

94 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Focus on Focus: the journal of ICLG [later IGLA and ILIG], 1967 to 2015: Part one 1967 to 1979 by Alice Tyler*

A publication which began as three roneoed1 Please, can anyone offer any explanation for sides of quarto paper circulated to about 150 this odd state of affairs? Could it be something people in 1967 had become, a decade later, to do with the introduction of the International an established A5 printed journal with three Standard Serial Number (ISSN) in 1975? And issues a year, distributed to more than 1500 does anyone know why the dual system - members of one of the Library Association’s Volume and Number and running number Special Interest Groups based in more than 70 - was continued until Volume 19, Number 3 countries around the world. And, in addition, (69) 1988? sold on subscription to non-members of the Group through the Publications Department Incidentally, copies of Focus have been of the Library Association! available, from the World Wide Web, since Volume 30, Number 3, 1999.2 Today, with one change of title, two changes of name of the Special Interest Group (SIG) of The Beginning which it is the journal and one change of title For Focus the beginning was in 1967, when of its parent body from the Library Association a meeting was convened by three former to the Chartered Institute of Library and post-graduate students of the North-Western Information Professionals (CILIP) and two Polytechnic School of Librarianship with a changes of how to subscribe to it - welcome view to forming a discussion and research to Volume 46, Number 3 for November 2015! group on international and comparative librarianship within the Library Association In this article I try to give you a flavour (LA). The three were Marigold L. Kimsey, of Focus and of the Special Interest Group of Monique Mackee and Geoffrey E. Cleve. which it has been the journal for nearly half a century. I have used, as my source, copies This meeting was held on 9 March 1967 at of the earliest issues of Focus ordered from the Head Office of the LA at 7 Ridgmount the British Library, Boston Spa and read in Street, in London’s Bloomsbury. It was the Humanities Reading Rooms of the British attended by over 50 librarians from all parts Library in London and then from Volume 6, of Great Britain and was in two parts. The Number 1 to Volume 45 Number 3 the paper first was an address by Dr H. Coblans, the copies held on ILIG’s behalf by me, as the then editor of the Journal of Documentation, in Associate Editor of Focus. From Volume 46, which he stressed the need for a new emphasis Number 1, for March 2015, Focus has been on international and comparative librarianship. published electronically. The second was a discussion on the formation of an international and comparative For some reason both the LA/CILIP Focus librarianship group within the LA. archive and ILIG’s own archive - only go back to Focus Volume 6, Number 1 (28) for 1975. The meeting agreed that there was a need for such a group and decided that the convenors *Alice Tyler is the Associate Editor of “Focus on should prepare a report of the meeting. International Library and Information Work”. Their report is dated 10 April 1967 and was

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 95 Focus on Focus entitled Focus on International & Comparative who these opponents were. Neither is any Librarianship. It is a short, roneoed report, on clue given as to why the word “opposition” is quarto paper, consisting of a coversheet and used, rather than something on the lines of a 2 sides of text. The story of the quest for an practicality such as “not possible at present international and comparative librarianship due to financial constraints”. I am very literal- group within the LA is continued in Focus No. minded so I find “opposition” an odd word to 2, dated November 1967. use in the context of the proposed formation of an “international and comparative librarianship Focus No. 2 reports that publicity generated group” within the LA. Odd, because the LA, by the distribution of the first issue of Focus in its Golden Jubilee year 1927 took part in an - to those who had attended the March 1967 international conference in Edinburgh during meeting, to those who had previously offered which it - the LA - became a founder member support and to the library schools - had slips of what is now the International Federation of attached for supporters for the proposed group Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).4 to sign and return and that also appeared in the correspondence column of the Library What is even odder is that, with hundreds Association Record and publicity in Library of its members based outside the United World. The publicity resulted in written Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern responses from about 150 librarians from Ireland (UK), CILIP has not yet set up a Great Britain and abroad as well as telephone branch, regional member network, section enquiries. Contacts were made in Beirut, or group for such members, even though it Sweden, Perth, Mexico and Botswana3 has always had the power, under its Royal Charter/charity Governing Document, to do so. Focus No. 2 also reports that on 10 May 1967 the Steering Committee of the proposed 1968 to 1979 group - Marigold L. Kimsey, Monigue M. Focus 3, dated April 1968, although still MacKee, Geoffrey E Cleave, Geoffrey E. roneoed and on only nine sides of quarto Davies and Colin Norris - met to prepare the paper, set the pattern which has been followed formalities for a petition to the LA Council ever since, being a mixture of articles relating for the establishment of an International and to the international aspects of librarianship, Comparative Librarianship Group within reports of ICLG events, ICLG business, book the LA. The establishment of such a group reviews, and news from around the world. was approved, and the International and Comparative Librarianship Group (ICLG), Key pieces of ICLG business in this issue within the Library Association, came into are the announcements, on page 1, of the date being on 1 January 1968. of the first ICLG Annual General Meeting on 19 October 1968 and very importantly, of a According to Focus No. 2 “It seems that the General Meeting, on 6 June 1968, to approve proposal received some opposition” but I have, so the Rules of the Group5. The announcement far, been unable to discover why there should provides additional information that after the have been any opposition to the formation of formal business on 6 June, Mr A. Thompson such a group within the LA at that time - or was to speak on the work of IFLA.

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This “Mr A Thompson” is the Anthony Focus and ICLG in the 1970s. In addition the Thompson who was, from 1962 to 1970, the Editorial in Number 2 talks of the “practical first full time secretary of IFLA. Anthony need for an International Office” in the LA! Thompson died in 1979 and left a bequest to the LA, the Anthony Thompson Scholarship Interesting news published in Focus Volume Fund. The interest earned by this fund is to 5 is the computerisation of the membership be used to fund a study tour, the Anthony records of the LA and that Focus would change Thompson Award, to the United Kingdom to a smaller, more compact size - A5 - starting (UK), by a qualified librarian from outside the in 1975. It did - and 1975 was also the first UK to come and study some aspects of UK year that Focus had an International Standard library and information work. Serial Number (ISSN).

The first LA Anthony Thompson Award The next volume to catch my eye was was awarded, in 1983, to Mrs Kathy Matiska, Focus Volume 6 for 1975. Number 1 includes from Zimbabwe. An award has been made a short version of the ICLG Annual Report, at roughly three year intervals ever since and 1974. From this I learnt that in May 1974 the ICLG, IGLA, and ILIG have been involved in Group had 1166 members and that its activities its management. Applications for the 2016 that year included three evening meetings, a CILIP Anthony Thompson Award close on 31 day conference at the British Library, Boston December 2015.6 Spa, a study tour to UNESCO House in Paris, a Youth Exchange visit to Stuttgart and the There was a big change and a small change Group’s first residential conference, held in to Focus in 1971. From 1967 to 1970 a running Scotland. During this conference the Focus number identified the individual issues of Editorial Board met for the first time and it Focus. From the first issue for 1971 issues is noted that Focus is abstracted in Library and within the same calendar year were grouped information science abstracts (LISA).7 into volumes. So, Focus Number 13 is also designated as Volume 2, Number 1. [I have I also see that the ICLG Committee had not, so far, come across any reference to Focus continued to press for representation on the numbers 1 to 12, which span 1967 to 1970 LA International Relations Sub-Committee, but being referred to as “Volume 1”!] The small without success, despite the acceptance by the change in 1971 was that the page size changed Sub-Committee of an invitation to send their from quarto to A4. representative to ICLG Committee meetings.

Focus Volume 4 for 1973 really grabbed In Number 1 of Focus Volume 7 for 1976 my attention. Number 1 proudly proclaims the Editorial reports that a Soviet and a that it is “genuinely printed matter instead of Rhodesian writer condemn British librarians roneoed”. The main article in each number of for subjectivity and for devotion to merely this volume has a resume in French and, in sectional interests. This is followed by a Numbers 1 and 2, in Russian as well. There passionate cry from the Focus Editor - Will the seems to be a Russian thread running through real John Bull ALA stand up and be counted! - you have nothing to lose but your image.8

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The big thing - for Focus Volume 8 for 1977 References - is the dual celebration of the LA’s centenary 1Roneoed - to duplicate (a document) from a stencil and the tenth anniversary of the founding of 2These are pdfs of Focus issues, uploaded to the ICLG. In this anniversary year ICLG had over ‘Publications pages’ of the Group’s section of the 1500 members in 72 countries. The Group was LA/CILIP website. In 2015 access to the earliest well represented at the Fiftieth Anniversary of pdfs available is via the Group’s ‘Focus back copies’ IFLA which also took place in 1977. page at http://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/ archive/20130627105302/http://www.cilip.org.uk/ In 1991 ICLG changed its name to the get-involved/special-interest-groups/international/ International Group of the Library Association publications/focus/back-copies/Pages/default.aspx. (IGLA). In April 2002 the Library Association This page is part of the CILIP website archived in and the Institute of Information Scientists (IIS) June 2013 by the UK Web Archive. More recent came together to form the Chartered Institute copies can be accessed from the Group’s ‘Publication’ of Library and Information Professionals page of the current CILIP website at http://www. (CILIP) and its International Group became the cilip.org.uk/international-library-information-group/ International Library and Information Group focus-international-library-information-work (ILIG) and Focus changed its name to Focus 3This list quoted from Focus No. 2, November 1967 on International Library and Information Work 4IFLA did not add the words “and Institutions” to its - with a new ISSN but retaining the volume name until 1976. count. The most recent change is that, from 5In the 1960s the LA’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Focus Volume 46 for 2015, Focus is published had far more autonomy than LA/CILIP Groups have electronically. in the 21st century 6See www.cilip.org.uk/international-library- Notes information-group/anthony-thompson-award-2016 Editors named: Gordon Harris 1975 to 1988 7I have found that Focus is also abstracted in Michael Wise, 1989 to ? Began at College of Librarianship, Referativnij zurnal: Informatika as well as LISA. Wales, in Aberystwyth but moved to Nigeria during 1990. 8In this article I have used - where possible - the Printers named: E.H. Baker & Co. Ltd. until 1988 [I wording I found in my sources.The problem is that think] not only do ordinary words change their meanings Typeset and printed by Print Department, University over time, so does English charity law and LA/CILIP College Wales, Aberystwyth, 1989 governance. Five changes have been made to LA/ CILIP governance since 1967. The biggest change was in 2002, when the LA became CILIP. As a result of this change, the John Bull ALA of 1976 is the John Bull MCLIP of 2015. If, of course, anyone still uses the term “John Bull” in 2015!

98 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 From Bremen Town to Fisherman’s Wharf by Ian Stringer*

I've been lucky enough to attend three of round the Ratskellar and complementary glass the world's biggest library conferences in the of wine was a good start to the conference. last 18 months or so. I went to Manchester for the CILIP Conference and then was invited This was followed by a meal for all the as Chair of the International Library and foreign delegates. This is a lovely way to start a Information Group (ILIG) of CILIP to be an conference and introduces you to other people International Guest of Bibliothek & Information in the same boat as yourself. Deutschland (BID) http://www.bideutschland. de/ at their conference in Bremen and this was I went to the English-speaking table and followed by an invite to the American Library found myself with five Americans and a Association Conference. http://www.ala.org/ couple of Finns. We had a great evening and conferencesevents/home I was given choice I discovered Meg from Chattanooga and Tara of Chicago in winter or San Francisco in the from Reno were doing a stall on projects for summer… for me that was a no-brainer and children. so San Francisco it was. Next morning we had a guided tour around Other people have described the CILIP Bremen and learned of its naval history and Conference in Manchester so here are reports saw the town symbol, the town musicians of on the other two. Bremen. This is a local legend which depicts a donkey carrying a dog, a cat, and a rooster. Bremen By the statue is a slot in the ground. Dropping After a two hour crawl through security in the one Euro down it produces the sound of rain in Manchester it was great to stroll out of one of the animals. They make 10,000 Euros Bremen airport in two minutes in sunshine a year!! We also learned that people from and hop on a tram right outside the door and Bremen are known as ‘scouse’ because they two Euros and 20 minutes later get off the eat the maritime dish ‘Labskaus’1. They also tram right outside my hotel. It set the standard make Becks beer whose symbol is the key to for an excellent conference. I signed in at the the town. conference and met the international group outside the Rathaus (Town Hall). Because no In the afternoon I sought out the American wine is produced in Bremen it has become the stall and found they were demonstrating lots of wine connoisseur’s capital of Germany. They information technology (IT) for kids - Ardiuno, have no axe to grind and so their verdict on Makey Makey, Maker Space and others that I had wine is accepted as totally impartial. A trip never heard of. This was most entertaining and I was soon trying out Google glasses and *Ian Stringer is Chair of various virtual reality games. They had tied a International Library and PC via Ardiuno to five bananas and on screen Information Group was a piano. Each banana played a note and they were asking the librarians to try and play the German national anthem. I couldn't do the UK national anthem but could manage Frère Jacques.

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 99 From Bremen Town to Fisherman’s Wharf

day. They had tied the PC via Ardiuno to five carrots and on screen they had set up the Tetris game. So three Americans, me and a Dutch librarian from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) HQ each had a carrot and each carrot controlled one movement. We then had Meg shouting up, down, spin etc and we bashed the appropriate carrot. It’s not easy banging a carrot to order with about 50 people in the audience. We then did a similar thing with How I got to the USA - bananas cushions and tin foil to make contacts.

I tried one potentially interesting paper, I then helped out at a live broadcast for but my German just wasn't up to it and there Dutch television. was no simultaneous interpretation. It was about using Open Source (OS) as a library It wasn't all fun and games and I met system and some German libraries are using Susanne Riedel my opposite number in it. A few weeks later I saw a similar system Bibliotek & Information Deutschland (BID) being promoted in Sweden. Getting rid of and got lots of useful information on exchange your expensive Library Management System visits and general library visits to Germany. (LMS) seems a better option than getting rid BID is always open to offers for visits to of your staff. This rather cramped my style and German libraries. I had visited Dortmund I didn't learn too much from other papers such and Stuttgart libraries the previous year, and as mystery shoppers in university libraries and had a night out with the librarians from there, innovations in children’s work. So I visited the plus Aldo Pirola from Italy and five other exhibition where most of the traders spoke foreign librarians. Aldo puts us all to shame English, some were English. I was called over by speaking Italian, German, English, French, to the Springer (Springer-Verlag) stand as they Spanish and a little Finnish. (plus Greek - Ed.) misread my name badge but then took a good photo of me. There was a mobile library meet the next day so I spent much time visiting the vans In the evening I went out again with the and meeting old acquaintances. I got lots of Americans for a cultural evening at the art pictures, which I used in my next presentation gallery. This was, disturbingly, on a street in Falkenburg, Sweden and sent to my where there were big signs prohibiting correspondents in Spain and Portugal. handguns. I’ve been to Germany about 30 times previously and this was the only time The trade fair was big when compared I've seen this. My meal was paid for by Meg to the one in Manchester. But the delegates from Chattanooga as she had a hospitality party was enormous, we took over Werder account. To earn my meal I was roped in to Bremen football stadium and I sat with all help the Americans do their session the next the ‘auslanders’ (foreigners) and met Michael

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Dowling, an old IFLA colleague and now ALA then onto the nearby Moscone Convention President. Over our 5th Becks he invited me to Center. However I had a mentor, the ALA's present a paper at the next ALA Conference. all singing, all dancing registration system spotted that I was a first timer, and so chose The closing ceremony was easier to follow. me a mentor who was matched to my profile - Politicians the world over like to tell about rather like an on-line dating agency I suppose. how they used libraries as children and at So I met my mentor a black, lady vicar, from university and how they will fight to keep a prison library in Chicago. Obviously my them going. In Germany they actually mean reputation as someone who eats illegal meals it! At my previous German conference it had preceded me. It was all rather pointless as was in Leipzig at the great big Messe Hall she proceeded to tell us very basic conference concurrently with the enormous book fair tips. My best tip was not included, that is of 130,000 delegates – a mere side show by to chose presentations that offered food! Frankfurt International Book Fair standards Seriously, doing this has got me much more with its 250,000 visitors when I was there. A networking opportunities than just listening to good video was shown of the whole Bremen presentations. event with many humorous clips that sent us all away wanting to visit again. This was followed by a strange ‘Introduction for International Librarians’ which told us It was with some surprise that I read some all about getting visas and getting to the three weeks later that Meg from Chattanooga conference from the airport and which were had been suspended for financial mis- the best hotels. I was glad to find I was in one appropriation. My meal on expenses had of the recommended ones. But as we were all been a fraud - no wonder it tasted so good. already there it was pointless. The rest of the Neverthless, I can thoroughly recommend time was spent in telling us of the many things Schweinshaxe!2 to do in SF (always assuming you weren't attending lectures). San Francisco On midsummer's day I flew from London to The opening ceremony was in a vast San Francisco (SF). I had hoped to stay with a friend Nikki for the first couple of nights but she had an audition in Hollywood and you can't argue with that. So I booked a cheap place in the suburbs - Castro to be exact. This turned out to be the gay centre of SF which of course is the gay capital of the USA. I then found out it was Gay Pride week. All of which gave me no problem although some of the librarians hearing where I stayed made the obvious assumption.

I made my way by streetcar to my hotel and Moscone Convention Center

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 101 From Bremen Town to Fisherman’s Wharf hall and we were given an excellent speech a black American Muslim and about his rise by Roberta Kaplan the famous gay rights to fame and his subsequent success as a best lawyer, and that very day President Obama selling author. Yet again, I heard how a library announced that gay marriage would now be played such an important role for someone legal in the whole of the USA. This gave a real helping them to achieve success. buzz to the conference. It was interesting that it wasn't just about gay issues. It was the feeling The actual Carnegie winner was Bryan that America was catching up with the rest of Stevenson with his book Just Mercy3 which the world. highlights the incredible lack of justice for black Americans and he spoke of the vast The sheer size of the event is mind blowing numbers of black people in US jails - there are but, in contrast to my mentor, the on-line 800,000 (40% of the prison population is black). personal scheduler was really helpful. You Black people represent 10% of the population signed in and then could look at all the (cf. UK - 85,000 Germany - 69,000) lectures, 37 pages of them. 25 plus were often happening at the same time. You clicked on Black people are four times more likely to be the presentation and saved it in your scheduler executed in the USA. Nine of the States with and it gave you all the other attendees and death penalties have only white prosecutors - a short run down of the event. Many of the and so it went on. A very emotional evening. librarians were very friendly and loved my Irish accent and Irish hat. As I spoke English The vast exhibition included author (but not Queen’s English) the assumption was presentations every half-hour and each that I must be Irish, especially in my Yorkshire author brought books to sign and give away. flat ’at. A feature of the hall was the long queues of eager librarians near the popular authors. Yet As I was doing my presentation on incredibly there was not one author that I bookmobiles, I went to every other had heard of. I got lots of freebies and when bookmobile event. I met up with Farbers coming home had too many to fit in my case. who had sponsored my first trip to the USA I sacrificed most of my socks and wash bag to in 1994. This was a very interesting day, but air-conditioning is still the main item on the agenda for USA bookmobiles as it was in 1994.

As well as the lectures there were many library visits and awards. I went to a most interesting Carnegie Medal Award ceremony. The main speaker was Kareem Abdul Jabbar who is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. He gave a great talk on the problems of being Un-commons Session for Children’s Librarians

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the other foreigners - if only it been on the first night. The library is spectacular and we had a trip round it. I met Gloria Perez Salmeron, my IFLA Public Library Section colleague, who is the new President of IFLA, so we drank her health. I met Croatian librarians, who I had previously met in Zagreb and met the other half of the Australian International Group (her partner Susan Henschal provided an ILIG informal here in the UK) and I also met Michael Dowling, who had invited me in the San Fransisco Public Library first place. I took him a carrot as a reminder of our German trip. make space. I met the only person in America who runs My last couple of days in California was a pirate shop, Mac Barnett, who is also, a spent with an IFLA colleague who kindly took children's author. I heard his speech and had me round her hometown Cupertino, where a great drinking session with him afterwards. Apple is based, at ‘1, Infinite Loop’ just by He was amazed that a librarian would want to ‘Disk Drive’. We also went down to Salinas - buy him a drink. I had prepared a presentation home of John Steinbeck. Considering he wrote and one flier, which I intended to photocopy the Grapes of Wrath I was surprised to find that and put round the halls to promote my talk. To my surprise there were no colour copiers as ALA had decided it was too expensive to hire one in. So I had to go out and find a Kinko's4

I attended an ‘Uncommons’ session on children’s story sessions and it was great fun. I was the only foreigner and the only man, but I joined in the singing and dancing and also demonstrated some of the rhymes and clapping songs I did (and still do) at a local school. There were various questions - my favourite being – What’s your worst moment as a children’s librarian? This immediately preceded my session so I persuaded many of them to hear about elephant libraries etc. which is my specialism and thus got a reasonable attendance.

The last night was the ‘International Gathering’ and booze up at the San Francisco San Fransisco Public Library Interior Public Library where I finally met up with all

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without qualified staff but also without paid staff at all.

Because of this pride, employers see it as vital to pay for staff to attend conferences. To achieve this, the conferences have to be seen to be relevant. Perhaps a plenary speaker who reads the news for a minority channel is not the way forward. The intention was to get the media interested. But that is what our (UK) conference needs. At the two conferences (in Germany and the USA) lots of librarians go under their own steam seeing it as good for Carnegie Speaker: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar their careers, networking and keeping up with developments. Recent CILIP initiatives he was born to a rich family in California. have at least made this more of an issue and it has become useful towards Chartering. The So what did I get out of it all? Our ILIG German Library Association organises lots of Informal speaker last year said that the visiting foreigners who return with colleagues main thing people get from conferences is year after year. Many come to Germany networking and I got lots of that. Networking because their own country doesn't have a big at one conference got me invites to the next. It conference e.g. Slovakia and Slovenia. They provided useful information for CILIP and I also arrange complete packages for groups of gathered mobile library information, which I students, cheap accommodation, travel and used in Sweden and the USA, and passed on fees. to colleagues in Chile, Portugal and Norway. At both the other conferences the Special I'm retired from paid library work now, Interest Groups (SIGs) have their AGM's and so I have a different agenda from most as to various other meetings which means all SIG what a conference brings. What is noticeable committee members are at the conference and is the vast difference in attendance from the also anyone who would have just gone to the UK Conference c. 800 delegates compared to AGM. On my previous trip to the German Germany c. 5000 and the USA c. 25,000. conference I was a speaker within the public

Why the great discrepancy? There's the cultural thing. In the USA and particularly in Germany a professional qualification is a highly prized achievement. Services are proud to say they have ‘x’ number of professional staff. When did you last see CILIP certificates on show in a library? The UK government is proud to say we can run libraries not only Busy scene at ALA Conference

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event. This was called an ‘Uncommon’. The organisers monitor which sessions are popular. Sponsorship is more wide spread for individuals in the other countries. So I asked my two opposite numbers to answer some questions.

Questions to the two International Officers in USA and Germany

Which organisation runs your conference? USA - ALA runs the annual conference; it is Busy conference scene held every June, in rotating cities (next year: Orlando Florida) library SIG’s day. I followed their AGM and Germany - it is a co-operation project of the everyone stayed so I had an audience of about two German library staff associations, BIB 150. (http://bib-info.de/) and VDB (http://www.vdb- online.org/). We hire a professional conference Day rates are very low and catering is not organiser to do the technical things. included. This makes the up front cost less. Also both the USA and German conference Do you have a conference committee and do they bags were much cheaper, after all - what you involve other library groups? need is something for the conference not a bag USA - ALA Conference Services runs all the for life Cf. IFLA Congress in Glasgow. mechanics of the annual conference. ALA is an enormous organisation, so it has many Day visitors swell the numbers and as the full-time staff dedicated solely to Conference conference lasts longer there are more days Services. Yes, ALA partners with other to have visitors. To help day visitors certain library groups (like state library associations, sectors are concentrated on certain days in or education associations, or publisher trade the USA. For example, bookmobiles day is organisations, etc.) on Saturday, as most mobiles don't go out Germany - A conference committee? We Saturday, so staff are free. Concentrating lots have an Abstract Management System where of public library events on one or two days people submit their contributions. A group means more value per day for the day visitor. of colleagues evaluate the submissions and Both the USA and especially Germany, have decide on the acceptance for the programme. big exhibition centres (messe) in all major cities This group constitutes of representatives of much like the UK’s SECC and NECC, which the two associations. And there are reviewers can take the big conferences. The UK sadly who check the relevance of submissions to the lacks behind with this model. programme pillars.

In the USA there are open slots for people Do you fund any places? to book a slot of time and then set up an USA - Yes, ALA has a budget to fund venues.

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For example, the International Librarians Germany - No. Every three years the Reception—held every year at the ALA conference is tied to the Leipzig Book Fair. annual conferences, as a gala reception for But there are disadvantages as well: the hotel international librarians—is usually held in a prices are very high, so people who have to venue near the convention centre, such as a pay for the stay by themselves are discouraged library or museum or such. There is typically to attend. Otherwise no. a rental and catering fee, so ALA pays for this. ALA is able to do this because the revenue When going for big name speakers do you stick to from registration is high enough to support it. library/book people such as authors or would you Germany - No be happy to have TV film personalities, politicians religious leaders etc? Do you get sponsors to fund places? USA - ALA has conference speakers from all USA - Yes, many publishers (EBSCO, areas: religion, politics, entertainment, etc. But ProQuest, Gale, etc.) do sponsor events. They typically, for a non-library related person to are typically at hotel ballrooms. be an invited speaker, they must have done, Germany - No. There is an exhibition where or be doing, something related to reading/ companies who work in the library field can books/libraries. For example, Stan Lee, the present their products and services parallel to iconic founder behind all the Marvel comic the program. They pay for their booths and books and movies, was an invited speaker a area which subsidies the whole thing. while back, due to his influence in promoting reading (via comics). Do other library groups fund places? Germany - for the plenary sessions, we try to USA - Other library associations (state find people who are personalities outside the library associations, subject-specific library library field but have a connection to library associations, etc.) may have satellite meetings issues or issues that have an importance for during the ALA annual conference, and yes, libraries. they fund their own venues. When I say “they fund”, it may or may not be totally funded. In Is your conference limited to people in the library some cases, they may “ticket” the event (e.g., field? $25 ticket admission) to help offset the venue USA - There are no limits. Primarily, rental cost. librarians and library-related staff attend Germany - libraries in the cities where the ALA’s annual conference. However, many conference takes place host a few of the others attend too. Some from related fields meetings. Otherwise, no. (education, publishing, etc.). Some for vending opportunities (office supplies, legal services, I know the German conference often ties in with NGOs, etc.) the Leipzig Book Fair and the US with Carnegie Germany – Yes. awards, do you do any other tie-ins to increase participation? As a mobile librarian I noticed you both have USA - Yes, ALA does tie in with other events. vehicles attending. Do you do anything similar for Because ALA is so massive, it is usually the other library groups? other way around: other events tie in with USA - Vehicles attending? I’m not sure I ALA.

106 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 From Bremen Town to Fisherman’s Wharf understand your question. If you mean mobile California. I am not an official spokesperson library busmobiles, no, these are not part of the for the ALA organisation as a whole. If you annual conference. If you mean do mobile/ would like official statements, then you should virtual opportunities exist at the conference, contact ALA, at www.ala.org the answer is yes: videoconferencing, John Hickok International Outreach Librarian podcasting, streaming, blogging, etc. all occur at the conference. Is there anything else you can think of that helps to Germany - We try to address all fields of get such a large number of delegates attending. We librarianship through a broad programme had only 500 at the UK conference? as the conference is an event for continuing education. The mobile libraries are eye- Germany - I think it needs to be a good catching, though. As we have a growing mixture of exhibition and talks, a broad problem with the demographic change, we programme, an interesting location, social try to attract young professionals and students events, the date (early summer) and a in the field. This could be with other types moderate fee is important. of sessions than lectures but seminars, world café type of things, bibcamps ... to make the References conference more attractive for them and 1Labskaus is a one-dish meal made with mashed involve them more. We are working on potatoes, corned beef and beet juice served with internationalising the event in order to attract a fried egg, pickles and pickled rolled herring people from abroad who bring in new aspects (rollmops). www.germanfood.about.com and new perspectives from their countries. 2Schweinshaxe (German pronunciation: [ˈʃvaɪns. Unfortunately, we are not capable to provide haksə]), in German cuisine, is a roasted ham hock enough interpreters so the international (or “pork knuckle”) Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/ colleagues may not get enough out of the wiki/schweinshaxe sessions in German. 3Stevenson, Bryan Just Mercy. Hardcover Published by Spiegel & Grau. October 2014. 352pp. ISBN USA - You can share my answers with any 9780812994520. $28. other counterparts. Please keep in mind, 4Kinkos is a photocopy store chain in the USA taken however, that I am only the Chair of ALA’s over by Fed-Ex in 2004, who have subsequently IRRT. This is a volunteer position; my actual dropped that trading name. Source Los Angeles employment is a librarian at a university in Times http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_ co/2008/06/post-2.html

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Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 107 Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies by Karen Butcher and Thomas Gebhart*

The British Library for Development Studies Library’s approach to collection management2. (BLDS) was founded in 1966 as an integral Exchanging publications provides a means part of the Institute of Development Studies of acquiring material from a wide range of (IDS) at the University of Sussex. More than non-commercial suppliers, which would be four decades later, BLDS is recognised as prohibitively time-consuming to administer in the largest specialist development studies any other way. This results in a range of lesser- library in Europe, with a print collection of heard voices being represented in the BLDS approximately one million items held in over collection, while enabling BLDS to acquire the four miles of shelving space and a growing ‘grey literature’ and government publications e-library. Over fifty percent of the collection that form a key part of the Library’s collection. originates from developing countries, with Today, BLDS participates in 180 exchange a large proportion of material unavailable partnerships with research institutes around in other European and United States of the world. Over 140 of these arrangements America (USA) libraries. Indeed, the range are with institutes in the Global South, based and depth of the BLDS collection means that in 53 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America the Library’s catalogue, is a key bibliographic and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. tool for those researching international Recent scoping work undertaken by BLDS development. By creating catalogue records staff has resulted in new exchange partners for those items produced in the Global South1, in regions previously underrepresented in the BLDS is raising the profile of this research by BLDS collection, such as francophone Africa. increasing its visibility, thus promoting access In return for our partners’ publications, BLDS to a broader range of perspectives and voices sends the flagship IDS journal, the IDS Bulletin, regarding development issues. Improving the thus disseminating the latest research by IDS discoverability of and access to development in the process. As part of IDS’s commitment research remains a fundamental aim of BLDS, to increasing access to research, the IDS and comprises the Library’s contribution to the Bulletin will be re-launched as an open access furthering and improvement of development publication in January 2016. policy and research. As we will see, the Library uses a variety of approaches to achieve this BLDS Global Projects: BLDS Document aim. Delivery Service As soon as BLDS receives a new item for the BLDS Global Projects: BLDS Publications collection, it is added to the online catalogue. Exchange Programme Many of the journal titles received on Firstly, a large proportion of material for the exchange are indexed, with BLDS staff creating BLDS collection is sent to the Library through catalogue records for individual articles, thus publications exchange. Since the Library’s increasing discoverability. The majority of titles foundation, the publications exchange selected for indexing are published by research programme has played a vital role in the institutes based in the Global South and are not indexed elsewhere. Our website and *Karen Butcher is Repository Coordinator and Thomas Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) can be Gebhart is Cataloguing and E-Resource Coordinator at searched by anyone, anywhere, so by creating the British Library for Development Studies.

108 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies records for items in the collection, the visibility customise an e-commerce platform to provide of these items is increased. What remained an enhanced, streamlined online order process was for BLDS to enable researchers based which links to the BLDS OPAC. A document outside IDS to access this research remotely. request link is provided on every catalogue BLDS has always operated an interlibrary record: the user simply needs to click this loans service, but this is not easily accessible link to be taken through the request process. for those researchers, practitioners and policy The required document part is then scanned makers who are not employed by a university. in accordance with United Kingdom (UK) To enable wider access to the BLDS collection, copyright law and made available on our the Library now operates a document delivery secure platform for the user to download, or service, by which anyone can request scanned- sent to a postal address as required. on-demand copies of full-text journal articles, book chapters and parts of publications in the The funding from UK Aid also enables BLDS collection. BLDS to provide the document delivery service free of charge to users based in over The BLDS document delivery service 140 low - and middle -income countries, and has recently been overhauled with financial to Department for International Development support from UK Aid as part of the Global staff as funders of the service. Eligible countries Open Knowledge Hub (GOKH) programme were selected using criteria drawn up by the at IDS. This funding has allowed BLDS to United Nation’s Human Development Report,

BLDS Library Catalogue

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 109 Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies the World Bank’s Country and Lending the opportunities that making research freely Groups and the Research4Life programmes: available on OpenDocs presents to BLDS and we have endeavoured to be as inclusive as our partners. By making Southern-published possible in our selection. Since launching our research and grey literature4 freely accessible new platform, 83 researchers have registered on OpenDocs, this material becomes easier to to use the service, 63 of whom are eligible for find online and can have an impact on future the free service due to their location. Feedback research and policy; research that previously from users of the service has been positive, may only have been accessible locally now with the main drawback being the limitations has the potential to reach a global audience by placed on supply by copyright law; in general, virtue of being open access. The application full-text access is preferred by users. of Creative Commons licences encourages fair use and attribution, meaning that research BLDS Global Projects BLDS Digital Library from the Global South can be cited by any This preference for full-text access was one of researcher or policy maker around the world. the driving reasons behind the launch of the Furthermore, the BLDS Digital Library BLDS Digital Library3 (part of the IDS Digital includes material dating back to 1940, making Repository, OpenDocs), which enables anyone it a unique resource for those interested in the with an internet connection to search and read history of development. full-text publications. This collection is being built in partnership with research institutes There are two facets to the BLDS Digital in Africa and Asia, and BLDS staff are Library working with these partners to digitise their • Southern partner digitisation where publications and make them available online. partners digitise content held at their Library staff have carefully selected print institution. The content needs to meet material from the BLDS collection that they BLDS’s collection policy. To help partners consider would benefit from being digitised, manage the digitisation process, BLDS and have contacted the relevant research offers support that may be needed, which institutes to arrange this. In many cases, these could include digitisation equipment, institutes have already partnered with BLDS software and training. Items are uploaded for our publications exchange programme; to OpenDocs by partner institutions and publications selected for digitisation have often then approved by BLDS library staff5. been received on exchange. In other cases, • BLDS digitisation which involves partner institutes are supported to digitise digitisation of content based on shelf- content from their holdings for inclusion in scoping material in the Library’s collection. OpenDocs. Institutions that own the material are approached for permission to digitise. As of September 2015, the BLDS Digital Material is then scanned, run through Library provides open access to 4616 full-text OCR software, and uploaded by a project copies of development research and ‘grey assistant. literature’ by means of partnership agreements with 24 research institutions across Africa Crucially, the BLDS Digital Library aims and Asia. Central to these agreements are to be a mutually beneficial partnership

110 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies for BLDS and the partner institutions. The Digital Library boosts discoverability and BLDS Digital Library provides BLDS with credibility through linkages with the rest an opportunity to meet its commitments to of the Digital Library, the BLDS catalogue, share global knowledge for global change by the IDS website itself, and BLDS’s tailored improving access to development research, subject indexing. providing training and expertise, assisting • Licensing: The benefits of Creative with technical support and, in some cases, Commons licensing, using an assisting in building infrastructure. The internationally-recognised system of process of approaching potential digitisation licensing which combines wide access partners involves communicating the benefits with rights protection and clear guidance of including their research in OpenDocs. These on reuse. benefits include: • Metrics: All the abstract views and • Discoverability: By making research download statistics are publicly available publications from the partners easier to and can be provided on request find on search engines, the BLDS Digital Library greatly increases the likelihood of As these examples illustrate, the library their being used by a global audience. team’s expertise and skills are vital to the • The BLDS Digital Library is hosted on successful running and implementation of the infrastructure that has a fast internet BLDS Digital Library, and an important selling connection. Being part of IDS, the BLDS point to partners in the Global South. As well Digital Library has been accepted by as curating the uploaded content, ensuring Google Scholar so its content is indexed and that metadata standards, licensing and citation easily found using search engines. conventions are applied, the association with • Open access and Impact: Research BLDS and IDS adds credibility and recognition in repositories is cited more, and, to research in the BLDS Digital Library. significantly, has an increased impact outside of academia because it can be Ultimately, the value and success of the freely obtained by Non Government BLDS Digital Library lies in its ability to Organisations (NGOs), practitioners and enable the research of partner institutions to policy makers. become globally accessible, influential and • Preservation: The repository software acknowledged. As of the start of October preserves copies of research in a way that 2015, the total number of downloads from is independent of the original format, the BLDS Digital Library was 1,135,590. It is avoiding software obsolescence. significant to note that download figures tend • Reusability: The repository software is to increase from countries and regions once standards-based, providing standard material from that country is added to the interoperability, capability-defined by OAI- Digital Library. In September 2015, the highest PMH, and uses standard-based metadata number of downloads came from Ethiopia descriptions such as Dublin Core, meaning with 31,466 downloads, following an increase the material can be easily harvested for re- in the number of partner institutions based in use by other systems with less effort. the country. Figures from the United States • Authority: Being part of a development- and, increasingly, China, continue to be high focused subject repository like the BLDS on a monthly basis.

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 111 Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies

Downloads by Country from BLDS Digital Top 20 countries: Number of files Library: September 2015 downloaded May 2013 - September 2015

Country File downloads Country File downloads

Ethiopia 31,466 United States 282,693

United States 29,195 China 159,008

China 21,386 Germany 85,362

Germany 3,688 Ethiopia 73,441

India 1,993 France 49,957

Philippines 1,300 India 29,981

France 1,219 United Kingdom 24,282

United Kingdom 1,093 Malaysia 18,455

Zimbabwe 983 Kenya 14,607

South Africa 919 Nigeria 11,845

Nigeria 695 South Africa 10,311

Kenya 606 Ukraine 10,216

Canada 503 Philippines 10,198

Uganda 488 Uganda 8,103

Pakistan 444 Russia 7,880

Italy 438 Zimbabwe 6,900

Russia 364 Pakistan 6,439

Malaysia 308 Tanzania 5,555

Ghana 245 Australia 5,239

Indonesia 239 Italy 4,753

112 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Global Projects at the British Library for Development Studies

the BLDS collection of print and electronic materials, or digitised versions of material which are fully open access..

References 1Global South is made up of Africa, Latin America and developing Asia, including the Middle East. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_south 2For more on the history of the BLDS publications exchange programme pre-2000, see Mahoney, M. ‘Change and exchange: the publications exchange programme of the British Library for Development Studies’, The Acquisitions Librarian, 1999, No. 22, pp. 109-120. 3The BLDS Digital Library is part of the Global Open Knowledge Hub (GOKH) programme funded by UK Aid. 4For more on grey literature and the BLDS Digital Library, see Playforth, R. 2013: Grey literature, green BLDS Library open access: the BLDS Digital Library. http://www. impactandlearning.org/2013/11/grey-literature-green- BLDS Global Projects Conclusion open-access-blds.html As we have seen, BLDS approaches the 5You can read about two of our partners’ experiences problem of resource discoverability and here: Mwesigwa, A. 2015: Sustaining DSpace access from a variety of angles. Through our repositories: the experiences of Makerere University global projects, BLDS actively advocates for library (Maklib) and University of Zimbabwe open access and works with partners to build library (UZ lib) https://atmire.com/dspace-labs3/ capacity for digitisation and repositories in handle/123456789/22963 their own institutions. Our ultimate goal is 6Bimbe, N., Brownlee, J., Gregson, J. and Playforth, to provide the user with whatever they want, R. 2015: Knowledge sharing and development in wherever they are, and so live up to our aim a digital age. Brighton: Institute of Development of being ‘your local library, wherever you are in Studies, p. 3. For a more in-depth look at this topic, the world’. It has to be recognised that there see Gregson, J., Brownlee, J., Playforth, R. and Bimbe, are potential users in a number of our target N. 2015: The future of knowledge sharing in a digital countries who do not have easy access to a age: exploring impacts and policy implications for secure internet connection, meaning they are development, IDS evidence report 125, Brighton: potentially unable to access online resources. IDS. That said, countries are making fast progress in this area6, so it seems sensible to work towards If you would like to find out more about increasing online access to material, whether these projects, or wish to suggest a new this be scanned-on-demand resources from partnership, please email Karen Butcher: [email protected].

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 113 Eurotoolbox - What is That? by John Lake*

A handy tool pack for travelling by car in Birmingham exhibited the books and Europe? - an investment package for saving we enjoyed some great comments about your hard-earned Euros? - or a free resource the collection and use of the books from for librarians and teachers who need to inspire local people. Other locations included the children with the latest children’s books in independent school Shebbear College in Devon European languages? and Westminster Library Service in London. The only restrictions are that your organisation If you chose the last of these options you’d has to be in the UK and that the current year’s be right on the button. collection of books cannot be borrowed due to the need to move the complete collection onto Eurotoolbox is a resource collection which the next participating organisation on time. has been put together by Eurolis, a group of expert librarians in the United Kingdom In 2015 the resource was launched at an cultural centres of France, Germany, Italy, event in Pimlico Library in London on the eve Portugal and Spain, with the assistance of the of European Languages Day on Friday 25 Chartered Institute of Library and Information September (see adjacent report on the launch. Ed.). Professionals (CILIP) in the United Kingdom. Now in its fifteenth year of production the Improvements to the collection in 2015 most recent toolbox for 2015/16 contains the include; the 2015 Carnegie/Kate Greenaway best children’s literature from the countries Award shortlisted books in English thanks represented in the shape of picture books to a donation by CILIP; the collection is now for babies through to books for young adults divided in to reading age groups (0 - 7 years supported by fully annotated bibliographies in and 8 – 15 years); a featured theme book on English to use alongside the books. “Myths and Mythology” from each language; a second collection from 2014 has been With many years of production experience retained which can be borrowed according to and feedback from users, the expert team of the usual rules and regulations of the library librarians have built a resource which enables borrowing the collection providing a more librarians and teachers to use over 70 books for flexible (longer) loan period; and more visually individual reading or group sessions in their attractive accompanying publicity. own library or the schoolroom for a month at a time. This at no cost to their organisation other The Eurotoolbox is a unique collection of than onward transportation to the next library hand-picked recently published children’s location in the UK. The books are labelled books in different European languages which for easy identification and there is a handy will help children to get into learning and checklist supplied of all the books when the loving other languages and it is available free time comes to gather them in. for use by your library. So if you are interested in more information about this resource do Last year the new public library in visit http://eurolis.wordpress.com/ or contact Mariella Reidy at the Italian Institute by email: *John Lake FCLIP, Member of the Eurolis Team and the [email protected] or by telephone: International Library and Information Group of CILIP 020 7396 4425.

114 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Eurotoolbox Collection Launch 2015-2016 A report by Renee De Luycker*

On Thursday the 24 September, Pimlico Library hosted the launch of the 2015-2016 collection of Eurotoolbox.

This year, the event featured guest author, the fascinating Veronique Tadjo. Born in Paris from a French mother and an Ivorian father, she grew up in Abidjan and has since lived in Paris, Lagos, Mexico City, Nairobi and London. Veronique Tadjo

Veronique told us about her books, her life it was fascinating to discover how this process and writing. She did so with great humility could also lead her to change the original text. and with a very humane and approachable A very modest storyteller, Veronique is a very unassuming person, approachable, and it is only as she unfolded her career as a writer that the depth of her passion and experience unfolded, with a love of people, languages and stories.

I had the pleasure of a brief conversation with her afterwards, and found her a warm soul, inspiring and very much… alive!

The Eurotoolbox Collection for 2015-16 Eurotoolbox 2015 books at Pimlico Library launch collection is an extremely attractive one this year (and includes the most recent Carnegie manner. We heard how she “fell” into writing and Kate Greenaway Award winning books in stories for children by chance and how the English for the first time Ed.) and the presence same happened with her talent as an illustrator; of Veronique Tadjo, as the featured guest of she wanted life and colours within her stories its launch put it in the very warm light of her and that’s how, untrained, she threw herself writing and life story. into drawing.

Veronique says there is no such thing as writing for children. She writes for people of all ages, stories with universal accents, often inspired by myths, old stories and legends. She has also translated some of her books and

*Renee De Luycker is a Library Assistant for Westminster Council and Project Manager of Les Crocodiles French Children Library in East London http://www.les- crocodiles.org/home-en/ Eurotoolbox Display

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 115 Book Review

Collaboration in International and Comparative Librarianship, edited by Susmita Chakraborty and Anup Kumar Das. Hershey, PA: ISI-Global. 2014. (ISBN: 978-1-4666- 4365-9; e-ISBN: 9781466643666). Current, discounted prices ― Print: $106; Print plus lifetime e-access: $156; e-access only: $148; e-access, for a single chapter: $37.50.

This is a festschrift for a distinguished Indian The editors (in this case two of Ghosh’s LIS educator, well known in some international former students when he was teaching the library circles, Dr. S.B. Ghosh, latterly Professor Associateship in Information Science course at and Chairman of the Faculty of Library and the Indian National Scientific Documentation Information Science of the Indira Ghandi Centre) wrote around to senior international National Open University. and Indian librarians whose paths had crossed with the individual whom the Compiling a festschrift for a senior member festschrift is intended to honour, soliciting of the library profession is a common feature contributions around a general theme that in of Indian publishing in librarianship. That some way reflected aspects of his career ― fact, together with the obeisance to Dr. and then whatever turned up was gratefully Ranganathan that is a rather unnecessary and and seemingly uncritically accepted. There irritating feature of so many essays on Indian are, however, two almost self-contradictory librarianship, has long made me believe that exceptions to the usual pattern in this case. there must be something in the culture that One is that the price probably ensures that reveres these senior figures as if they were the book will not be widely available in India almost god-like. Most of these published (or anywhere else) ― to the detriment of the festschift haven’t found their way out of India, honour intended for Professor Ghosh ― even except in occasional free copies that used to be though the publisher’s web site is already sent to the contributing authors (I received one offering a discount on the print and e-versions volume of a two-volume festschrift to which I (but not the chapters, which can be purchased innocently contributed a chapter some 30 separately). The other is that this American years ago), which is a mixed blessing. Some publisher’s practices now mean that anyone of the contributors do put in a bit of effort, but searching the web by author or keywords is overall the contents tend to be a curate’s egg. likely to come across the book or the individual Perhaps, understandably so. If good book chapters. chapters didn’t get cited in widely published journals, they were always lost to the world What, then, is in this compilation that might ― and the limited distribution of these Indian be of interest? festschrift made that even more certain. Astute Paul Sturges provides a typically thorough authors and experienced internationalists knew scholarly and critical overview of book in advance that they would be wasting their donation programmes and what motivates time in contributing chapters to these festschrift, donors. He notes the shift from a considerate to unless they had a specific message to try to a propagandist approach by some government impart to the Indian Library and Information agencies, and the continuing pervasiveness Services (LIS) community. of well-meant benevolence by charitable organisations that send totally inappropriate This one generally follows the usual pattern. material to libraries in developing countries.

116 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Book Review

Paul’s insights into the ethical challenges of the two or three in the book that could faced by LIS professionals might have been be described as presenting research-based put to good use to improve chapters on the evidence. A research-based chapter is a study impact of globalisation and on the support of digital library education, undertaken by a that American academic libraries provide for student on an internationally collaborative international scholarship, neither of which can Master’s Degree that used to be funded by the be said to show that their authors have fully European Commission TEMPUS programme. thought through the implications of the issues More careful editorial work might have spotted that they have raised. that some of the in-text references are not supported by citations in the list of references. A chapter on German librarians’ international activities reveals a well-organised and federally Some of the chapters are simply factual funded infrastructure, dedicated to ensuring accounts of the activities of various institutions that Germany’s interests are well represented and organisations ― the Special Libraries in relevant international spheres of activity. Association, IFLA’s Marketing Section, and an The range of activities supported covers both academic library consortium in the Philippines. developmental activities by German colleagues A chapter on agricultural information abroad, and bringing foreign librarians to provision presents a useful summary of Germany. A couple of other chapters recount digital developments in the field, while Norwegian projects in Romania and Africa. another reviews some projects supporting The latter is seemingly being supported the preservation of cultural heritage in the for an enviable 15-year time span, i.e. long scattered island communities of the Pacific. Yet enough to actually embed ideas. Both these another outlines the work of The Energy and chapters reminded me of the level of activity Resources Institute, based in India. Another that the United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign chapter describes some of the impact of the Office and the Department for International ‘Bologna Process’ on LIS education in Europe, Development’s (DfID) predecessors used to and the importance of quality assurance in support through the British Council before the course management. However, none of these Council’s leaders proved unable to resist the say anything about where and how these imposition of a narrow interpretation of the facilities are being used, or with what effect. Millennium Development Goals, and it became the failed organisation that it is today. At a Quite a few chapters, especially those on time when DfID is reported to be unable to IT-related topics are little more that ‘pie in the spend the generous UK aid budget completely sky’ wishful thinking, without any credible and effectively, and the new Millennium suggestions as to how the concepts they Development Goals do say a few important promote might be implemented. One chapter words about the importance of access to even describes collaboration between India and information, perhaps the debate about Britain’s China in supporting IT companies’ research support for overseas LIS development should efforts, without any attempt at relevance to the be re-opened? theme of the book. And there are a couple of bibliometric studies that, as usual, prove little One of the Norwegian chapters is one more than that their authors can count.

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 117 Book Review

One interesting chapter describes the services have occurred and exist, as a means experiences of editors from two international of underpinning future developments more associations in collaborating to edit a book that effectively, and is based on long-established would serve the interests of somewhat different approaches to examining aspects of other members of their separate associations ― a social science fields. It became a subject of pragmatic and revealingly self-critical account. some interest some years ago, when seminal The editors of this book might have benefited texts were produced in the UK1,2, and in the from reading it carefully. United States of America3, in which it was argued that LIS and LIS education need to be A poignant chapter for members of CILIP- considered in their broad economic, political, ILIG is a personal memoir by Alan Hopkinson, educational, social, and cultural contexts. The a member of the ILIG Committee for many concept of comparative librarianship attracted years, which recounts the tremendous amount a lot of support, including from among the of international development activity that he founders of the then Library Association’s undertook before his involvement was cut International and Comparative Librarianship short by a serious stroke that left him almost Group, as it was known when it was set up completely paralysed a couple of years ago. in 1967. Regrettably, interest in developing the techniques of comparative librarianship Looking back across the 27 chapters, the withered fairly quickly, and its use in LIS title seems annoyingly misleading. There research has been limited, probably because is little ‘comparative librarianship’ in this the challenge of integrating such a broad range volume, except in the very limited sense that it of knowledge and theoretical understanding describes, separately, developments in several into LIS studies has remained beyond the reach countries. The editors, like many others, of LIS academic researchers until recently. clearly do not understand what ‘comparative Nonetheless, its basic premise remains sound, librarianship’ really is. However, the editors and is to be re-examined in a new book by contribute a chapter entitled ‘Comparative Dr. Peter Lor, the former Secretary General of and International Librarianship’ but it devotes IFLA, that is expected to be published by De a single paragraph to a couple of rather vague Gruyter in 2016. definitions of comparative librarianship before outlining some international strands in the The series in which the book being development of librarianship ― without the reviewed is published. is called ‘Advances in significant contextual explanations that might Library and Information Science.’ The editors facilitate comparison and understanding. of this volume set out to ‘document the many Moreover, only a couple of chapters in instances of collaborations in the international this festschrift reveal that their authors have LIS scenario as well as to honour the lifelong any understanding of what comparative contributions’ of Professor Ghosh. In these librarianship entails, but even they do not aims, the book may have succeeded. The pursue it to any extent. volume does recount many instances of progress through collaborative developments Comparative librarianship is an approach that might otherwise have gone un-noticed. to understanding why differences in library However, although the publisher intends the

118 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 Book Review series to comprise ‘high quality research-oriented’ wonder that library development receives publications, there is precious little research in little support from the international funding this volume. Most of the accounts are merely agencies? descriptive, and critical evaluation is rare. In Professor Ian M. Johnson recent years, evaluation has become an essential Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom element in the formulation of international development project proposals. This volume References (or series) has an editorial advisory board that 1 Simsova, S. and M. MacKee. 1970. Handbook includes amongst its members a few people of Comparative Librarianship. London, UK, and who should have known that, and one is left Hamden, CT, USA: Clive Bingley and Shoe String wondering what their editorial contribution Press. was supposed to be. If senior people in the 2 Simsova, S. 1982. A Primer of Comparative LIS profession seem as completely unaware Librarianship. London, UK: Clive Bingley. of such basic considerations as many of the 3 Danton, J.P. 1973. The Dimensions of Comparative contributing authors appear to be, is it small Librarianship. Chicago, IL, USA: American Library Association.

Notes for contributors to Focus

Articles for publication in Focus are always welcome. Focus is not peer-reviewed, and articles are primarily intended to keep readers (who are professionals from a variety of different types of library and information services) informed about what is going on in the international library and information world, to introduce new ideas and programmes, report on activities and experiences, etc., rather than be ‘academic treatises’.

Articles are normally between 1,500 and 2,000 words, though can be a little longer if necessary. The inclusion of references and URLs/links to further information is valuable, as are relevant photos (640 × 480 at 300dpi), if appropriate.

Focus is published in March, July and November. Copy deadline is normally the end of January, May and September, respectively.

Please e-mail material for consideration to the editor at [email protected]. Articles should normally not have been previously published, or be under consideration elsewhere.

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 119 ILIG Business

Committee Profile – Anna Jablkowska In the future, as well as keeping up my I have worked in public libraries, mostly family interests, I hope to go to the IFLA within the Borough of Kensington and World Library and Information Conference, Chelsea. There I held numerous positions, as which will be held in Poland in 2017. So once a Children’s Librarian, Branch and Lending again I will be able to use my knowledge of Librarian in addition to cataloguing. After Polish and help perhaps in any translation over thirty years I decided to change direction etc. Although my knowledge of Polish has and increase my professional knowledge. I occasionally been called on when working, worked as a temp. for 2½ years for Redbridge this time I am looking forward to combining Borough Council, as both their Cataloguer and my professional knowledge with my language Inter Library Loans Librarian. It was whilst skills. working at Redbridge that I decided to become actively involved with CILIP. I joined the ILIG International Awards committee of CILIP in London (now London In April 2015, the ILIG Committee decided Member Network Region) and I am now their to drop the International Award which were treasurer. awarded to overseas librarians who had made a significant contribution to the library After that temporary job, I was lucky and information profession in their local enough to get a full time job at Middlesex community which had not been previously University as both Cataloguer and Repository recognised. This was mostly due to a lack of Librarian. I helped to set up the repository nominations in recent years and partly due system there, I also trained staff and worked to a low point in the finances of the Group. with colleagues in India in order to maintain However, this financial situation has improved the repository. Unfortunately, after three a little with an increase in the capitation which years I was made redundant. It was whilst CILIP awards each year and the Committee at Middlesex I decided to rejoin and get on are now considering how to offer an award of to the Committee of ILIG. I am now their a different type to assist an ILIG member to Secretary. I enjoy still being at least vaguely attend an international conference or seminar. active within the profession as both a way of In the meantime the Committee approved keeping abreast with what is happening in the a small grant to assist Abi Alayo visit the profession, as well as for the networking and USA in August due to her high standard of socialising involved. application for this years Travelling Librarian Award which was won by Frances Tout. (See Since retiring, I have been doing some article elsewhere in this issue). research for a Polish historical organisation – some of this work has since been published. The ILIG Committee still administer the award I have also been involved with family events process for the Anthony Thompson Award for in Poland, so for example I have written a CILIP and 2016 applications are now invited pamphlet on the history of my family, which by the deadline of 31 December 2015. Read on has been published. if this interests you!

120 Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 ILIG Business

Applications for the 2016 Anthony Thompson Information Group (ILIG) will consider Award are now open applications. Their decision will be final and The Chartered Institute of Library and they will not enter into correspondence on it. Information Professionals (CILIP) and its Normally visits last for up to three weeks in International Library and Information Group June or July and it is hoped that the scholarship (ILIG) invite applicants from New Professionals visit will be planned to coincide with CILIP’s working in Central South America and the Conference to be held in Brighton in July 2016. Caribbean to apply for a funded study tour to The scholarship supports airfare to, and from, the United Kingdom in July 2016. This award the UK, travel within the UK and a small daily enables a qualified librarian from outside the maintenance allowance. United Kingdom (UK) to visit and study some aspects of UK library and information work. Applicants are required to write a reflective report of not more than 4,000 words within Anthony Thompson was the first full- six months of their visit, and a version for time Secretary-General of the International publication in Focus on International Library Federation of Library Associations and and Information Work, the ILIG journal. Institutions, (IFLA), serving from 1962 to 1970. Following his death, in 1979, a trust fund Applicants should submit a formal proposal was set up for the study of international and in English of up to 500 words (equivalent to comparative librarianship. 1–2 pages of A4 paper) detailing how the visit will support their professional development Applicants should have a maximum of five within the context of their career to date and years post-qualification experience and not using the headings of ‘Visit objectives’ ‘Planned have made a previous professional visit to the approach and content’ ‘Application of learning UK. post-visit’.

The selection panel encourages applications You should attach a Curriculum Vitae for the 2016 award from Central South America (CV) of up to five pages in length, including and the Caribbean. Given the emergence the names of two referees in senior posts. and importance of new professionals within Applicants are encouraged to seek the support international librarianship, applications of their line-manager or organisation, prior to for 2016 will be considered from qualified submitting an application. The deadline for the librarians of any age with up to five years post- receipt of proposals for the 2016 scholarship is qualification experience. 31 December 2015. The successful applicant will be notified by the end of February 2016. A panel comprising members of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information The proposal should be sent: by e-mail to Professionals (CILIP) and members of the Anna Jablkowska, the ILIG Secretary, at ilig@ committee of its International Library and cilip.org.uk

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Africa Canada (including Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and British Columbia). Book Donation Programmes Readers of Focus might be interested in the pre- I have previously addressed staff conferences print version of this wide-ranging, two-part in Edmonton and Calgary Public Library on investigation of book donation programmes the subject of community-led libraries, as both in Africa, which has just been uploaded on cities are going down this route. Edmonton Academia.edu and is freely accessible: Public Library, in particular, is probably the most advanced model of a community Part I is at; https://www.academia. led public library in Canada. They employ edu/13165497/Book_Donation_Programmes_ Community Development Librarians and for_Africa_Time_for_a_Reappraisal_Part_I Social Workers who build relationships with local communities. while part II, in French, with an abstract in English, can be found at; Equality, happiness and well-being: Evaluating https://www.academia.edu/13166294/ public library impact and outcomes – John Pateman Le_don_de_livre_mais_%C3%A0_quel_ In this session I explored the relationship prix_et_en_%C3%A9change_de_quoi_Book_ between public library inputs and outputs donation_programmes_for_Africa_part_2_ (membership, visits, circulation) and impacts and outcomes (equality, happiness, well- The complete study will be published in being). By attaching public libraries to local, issue no. 127, 2015 of African Research & provincial and federal big picture agendas, Documentation. Journal of SCOLMA (the we can demonstrate our contribution to some UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa), of the most challenging and important issues forthcoming later this year. Terry Barringer, the facing Canadian society, and re-position Editor of ARD, will be inviting responses and public libraries as agencies of social change debate, for publication in a subsequent issue. and significant players in developing local Feedback from receiving libraries in Africa will communities. be particularly welcomed, as of course will be African publishers’ views. Superman to Simpsons: Connecting with teens through popular culture – Kelly Stinn and Chelsea Sent in by Hans Zell of Hans Zell Publishing Murray http://www.hanszell.co.uk/ This session explored how public library staff can utilise popular culture in order to build Canada meaningful relationships with teens regardless of budget or individual staff knowledge. By Alberta Library Conference – a report by developing stronger singular connections, John Pateman public libraries can change the way teens I was invited to speak at the Alberta Library perceive public libraries and library staff, thus Conference, which was attended by over 800 encouraging the next generation to be life-long delegates from Alberta (mostly from Edmonton library patrons. and Calgary), but also from other parts of

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Two Mayors, One Voice Connecting communities: Edmonton Public This was a fascinating session - an hour with Libraries’ “epl2go” and “Welcome Baby” projects Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Edmonton – Laura Young Mayor Don Iveson as they discussed how The Edmonton Public Library launched two libraries ‘cannot live on love alone’ and why large-scale projects as part of their centennial: they strongly believe in and advocate on behalf epl2go, a mobile service creating pop-up of their library systems. My favorite quote library spaces in communities where access was from Mayor Nenshi: ‘Libraries serve as to a traditional library is limited, and the community hubs where super smart people Welcome Baby program, placing books and give access to information and resources early literacy resources into the hands of people need.’ new families. These two community-driven programmes promote early literacy and digital Popular perceptions of Libraries – How is the literacy, foster community led relationships in library viewed in your community? – Jen Anderson non-traditional spaces and strive to eliminate and Grant Tolley barriers to library access. Everyone agrees that public libraries are changing, and must change, as their roles The conference was a very useful evolve in the modern age. The presenters opportunity to network and connect with discussed changing perceptions of libraries librarians in western Canada who are in Alberta and beyond and challenged developing community-led public libraries. entrenched stereotypes and long-standing cultural traditions associated with libraries. John Pateman, Chief Executive Officer and They posed a key question - What will your Chief Librarian of Thunder Bay Public Library, ‘library of the future’ look like? Canada

Hiring for outreach at Hinton Municipal Library Philippines and Archives – Tara Million In 2014, the Hinton Municipal Library & National Library of the Philippines Archives were restructured to include an implements the INELI-ASEAN Project Outreach position. This challenging process After almost a year of going through the involved considerable changes including: process of applying a grant, on 30 April 2015, creating the position; recruiting a candidate; the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has training for outreach, and; operationalizing the finally awarded it to the National Library of position within the existing staff structure and the Philippines (NLP) to fund its International operating budget. These changes were used Network of Emerging Library Innovators as a springboard for increasing connections (INELI) INELI-ASEAN Project. On 11 June between the Library & Archives and the 2015, the INELI-ASEAN Launching and Hinton community. Pre-Convening activities were held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, Bangkok, Thailand. This was the first activity of the Project, which coincided with the 16th Congress of Southeast Asian

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Librarians (CONSAL). The Launching and United States of America ‘Pre-Convening’ activities primarily aimed to brief National Library Directors and/or Bexar County - Second branch of all-digital National Library Association Presidents on the public library to open Saturday INELI-ASEAN Project. Less than two years after opening the country’s first all-digital public library, Bexar County The INELI-ASEAN project involves ASEAN officials opened the second full service branch member countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, with a ceremony on 25 July 2015. Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste BiblioTech offers residents of Bexar County and Vietnam. The project participants will 24/7 access to 38,000 current titles, an endless be brought together in three ‘convenings’ to number of classic titles, research databases, be held in Malaysia on 21-24 October, 2015; comics, graphic novels, music, movies, Singapore in October, 2016 and Vietnam technology tutorials, genealogy resources and in October, 2017. The project will build the more through a cloud-based collection. The skills level of 40 Innovators through online physical locations offer access to Mac desktop learning modules and workshops during computers, laptops, iPads, study rooms, and the ‘convenings’. There will be experienced interactive touch screen tables for children to mentors and learning facilitators who will play educational games. Residents also can guide the participants/Innovators throughout check out e-readers loaded with five books at the duration of the program. a time, or interactive e-readers loaded with 150 children’s books for a two-week period. The core goal of the INELI-ASEAN Project is the establishment of ASEAN Public The Dr. Ricardo Romo BiblioTech is the first Libraries Information Network (APLiN), digital library co-located in a public housing which is expected to be organised during community. The Gardens at San Juan Square the last convening in October 2017. This will is the San Antonio Housing Authority’s newest be participated in by public libraries with all mixed-income community that includes 539 Innovators serving as its first organisational units redeveloped from the San Juan Homes. founders and members. The APLiN will The three-phase redevelopment created a serve as a network, information hub, walkable community connected by walking common and practical platform wherein public libraries in Southeast Asia can connect with each other. It is a mechanism that will create future collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders within the region. It will provide easy access to vital information and a conducive venue for relevant knowledge, information exchange and best practices.

More details can be found at; http://www. ndl.go.jp/en/cdnlao/newsletter/083/836.html Dr Ricardo Romo opening the library

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also Focus Vol 46 No 2 for an article on the RDA toolbox

Funding support for the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in 2016 IFLA 2016 National Committee Fellowship Grant Announced!

The IFLA 2016 National Committee, through generous donations from the North American IT facilities inside the new library library community, will offer up to 50 full fellowships to librarians from outside North trails and a park with plaza space. The America (U.S. and Canada) to attend the IFLA community also features live-work units for 2016 Congress in Columbus, Ohio. small business owners and commercial spaces to spur economic development on the near The fellowship will cover travel, Westside. http://bexarbibliotech.org/ accommodation, a per diem food allowance, (See also Focus Vol 45 Issue 3 November 2014 and conference registration fees. Priority will for an article on the first Biblio-tech digital library be given to younger professionals with a to open in the USA. Ed.) minimum of 5 years experience in the field of libraries who do not usually attend IFLA Other International News Conferences.

Transition timescales for RDA Governance More information on the Application Process In June 2015, The Committee of Principals can be found on the Congress Website http:// shared an initial statement with stakeholders www.ifla.org/node/9913 which outlined the direction for the future development of the Governing structures for AND the development of Resource Description & The IFLA Section on Management and Access (RDA). Marketing has the pleasure to announce the 13th IFLA BibLibre International Library This statement committed to sharing a Marketing Award. detailed transition plan with stakeholders prior to IFLA’s World Library and Information Winners will get €2000 plus registration and Congress in 2015. travel to IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Columbus, Ohio, USA! Having reviewed the agreed changes, the Committee has agreed a 4-5 year programme Find all the information about the award of activity to enable the current structure to objectives, guidelines, selection criteria and move, over time, towards the new governing application form in the link: http://www.ifla. structure. The RDA website has all the details org/node/6922 at; http://www.rdatoolkit.org/blog/7772. See

Focus on International Library and Information Work Vol. 46, No. 3, 2015 125 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ILIG INFORMALS AND MEETINGS

ILIG Joint Seminar with Eurolis Friday 27 November 2015 09.30 – 16.30 Keeping connected: how social media works for libraries This seminar will study how librarians across Europe are making use of social media for public relations and to attract new users. Chair of the Conference and Speaker: Phil Bradley, United Kingdom Speakers: Cristina Bambini and Tatiana Wakefield from Italy Sina Schröder from Germany, Nieves González Fernández-Villavicencio from Spain Rui Zink from Portugal & Romain Gaillard from France Venue: Institute Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT Cost: £60 - £50 conc. including lunch More info & tickets: institut-francais.org.uk & eurolis.wordpress.com Contact: [email protected]

ILIG Informal Wednesday 13 January 2016, 18.00 – 19.45 Transatlantic tours & the Travelling Librarian Award with Abi Alayo and Frances Tout CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London, WC1E 7AE Light refreshments will be served This event is free of charge, but for catering purposes, please book online

ILIG Committee Meeting Wednesday 9 March 2016, 13.30–17.00 CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London, WC1E 7AE ILIG members are very welcome as observers, please notify the Secretary Anna Jablkowska

ILIG AGM 2016 Wednesday 9 March 2016, 17.45 – 19.45 ILIG AGM followed by a talk by Nick Poole Chief Executive of CILIP. Light refreshments will be served CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London, WC1E 7AE This event is free of charge

Keep up to date with ILIG via its web pages at www.cilip.org.uk/ilig

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