BDS RDA Days Huge Success “Resource, Description & Access”, otherwise known as RDA, is rolling out across the UK and BDS is at the forefront of the new cataloguing standard’s adoption and implementation.

Recognising that RDA offers challenges Poster Woodcut by Stephen Kenny as well as opportunities to librarians, BDS continues to offer its “RDA Introduction Day” to library services across the BDS Supports country. The informative and practical RDA image here one-day guides have been delivered to WOW groups of cataloguers in places as diverse as Hertfordshire, the Scottish Borders, WoW or Words over Waltham Forest and Cardiff. was the first ever festival devoted to celebrating creative writing, literary- As an early adopter of RDA, BDS has inspired art, reading, language and experience in the application of RDA and many cataloguers round the UK have now literature in the north-east London Jenny Wright, Development and had the benefit of BDS’s insight through borough that was one of the hosts Training Manager at BDS of the 2012 Olympics. the one day introductory courses. Jenny Wright, BDS’s lead expert in implementing The festival was very much a RDA, runs the training day. community-based affair and In this issue “When the familiar terrain of a was supported and organised BDS Sponsors & Supports ...... 2 & 3 through Waltham Forest Libraries bibliographic record changes, it is in association with Artillery, an unsettling,” says Jenny. “Having a Glasgow Libraries ...... 4 independent arts development guide to the changes is essential, since Translation Conference...... 6 organisation. The festival took place even libraries with no intention of between 26th October and 17th implementing RDA themselves are likely Socialising Around Media ...... 6 November. BDS was a Gold Sponsor. to have to deal with incoming RDA records.” ALA 2013 ...... 7 “We had 101 events and projects National Aquisitions Group ...... 8 during the three week period,” The course contextualises RDA, explains says Josephine Regis, Libraries the principles of the FRBR (Functional IFLA 2013 ...... 8 Development Officer (Adult) at Requirements of Bibliographic Records) National Library of Singapore .....10 Waltham Forest Libraries. “It was model on which RDA is based, looks at ambitious and everybody was the RDA Toolkit, the online product which 3 Wheel ...... 12 incredibly excited.” brings the RDA guidelines together with many other resources to support the King Lear ...... 12 continued on page 3 application of RDA, demonstrates the practicalities of cataloguing with RDA in MARC21, and illustrates RDA cataloguing with real life examples. BDS Sponsors Rural Enterprise Conference

BDS was the major sponsor of the 11th Rural Enterprise Conference, which took place on 20th and 21st June 2013 at University of the West of Scotland, Dumfries Campus, in South West Scotland. Forty-two delegates attended the conference which was opened by Fergus Ewing MSP.

“Although BDS is a company with clients nationwide and internationally, we are also a company based at the heart of a rural community,” says Lesley Whyte. “It was therefore fascinating to hear of studies undertaken in Welcome various parts of the world regarding enterprise in rural Welcome to the latest BDS Life magazine. This autumn 2013 areas. It rapidly becomes evident that businesses in issue travels the globe but has its heart very much at home. rural areas play an integral part in the well-being of the communities in which they are based.” Glasgow is one of the UK’s most fascinating cities and its library service, with the iconic Mitchell Library as its focal point, is doing The theme of the two day conference was “What do we tremendous things. BDS supplies Glasgow with the metadata know? What don’t we know? What should we know?” and for its catalogue and we wanted to find out more about what its ambition reflected how the conference has grown from is happening to our closest metropolitan neighbour. Read the being Scotland-focused to attracting interest from an answers to our questions on pages four and five. international audience that engages with new areas and develops new concepts. BDS also supplies data to a very distant but no less fascinating library service and community in Singapore. Find out about the Papers were presented by delegates undertaking studies National Library of Singapore and its role in one of the world’s in countries as diverse as Zimbabwe, New Zealand, rural most technologically advanced cultures on pages ten and eleven. USA, South Africa, The Netherlands, Sweden, England as well as contributions from across Scotland. Subjects Summer is conference season and in this issue we include included “Micro-brewing and entrepreneurship”, “The reports from IFLA, ALA and NAG, as well as the Futuresource growth of the internet over the last decade”, “Enterprise Entertainment Summit. Festivals also feature. BDS was proud to and Entrepreneurship on Islands”, “The 2003 reform be Gold Sponsor of the first ever “Words Over Waltham Forest” of the Common Agricultural Policy” and “Food Fraud as community literary festival in association with the London Criminal Entrepreneurship.” Borough of Waltham Forest Library Service, while Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre once again returned to our home town, Dumfries, Keynote speakers were Professor Alistair Anderson, with a superb production of King Lear. Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Aberdeen Business School, Robert BDS continues to push the boundaries in establishing and Gordon University; Professor Mike Danson, Professor of implementing metadata standards. You can read about our Enterprise Policy at Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, and ongoing work on RDA, and also about an exciting new pan- Dr Sarah Skerratt, Reader in Rural Society and Policy, and European project, SAM, in which BDS metadata is being used to Head of the Land Economy and Environment establish greater inter-connectivity between users and media. Research Group.

We hope you enjoy this issue BDS hosted a reception at its headquarters (see of BDS Life magazine. photograph) in Annandale House at which delegates had an opportunity to speak with BDS senior members of staff and see BDS operations.

“The reception and session at BDS was much appreciated by the delegates and provided an excellent showcase for local enterprise,” commented Dr. David Moyes, Faculty of (continued from front page) Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland, Dumfries Campus. “I can’t thank BDS highly Dr Karen Pierce, Cataloguing Librarian, Cardiff University enough for their support.” Information Services, commented, “Attendees at the RDA workshop in Cardiff came away from the event feeling enlightened and positive that they had a better understanding about RDA than when they had started. Jenny Wright was friendly, helpful and well informed, and able to give practical information about the RDA toolkit which she obviously uses herself. She was exactly the kind of trainer we needed.”

The training shines a light on changes which have been talked about for some years but are now actually happening. As some of the changes that RDA brings are more significant than others, it is important to understand the concepts behind RDA both to navigate the rules themselves and to understand the developments it brings to the library catalogue.

Further training days, which are organised either by an authority or a cataloguing group, are planned. Contact Jenny Lesley Whyte and Eric Green with conference delegates Wright ([email protected]) for more information. outside Annandale House

“It is a pleasure to answer specific questions on RDA and its For more information on the conference go to: implementation,” concludes Jenny. http://www.uws.ac.uk/ruralenterprise2013 2

Sponsors BDS Supports words Futuresource Summit BDS’s trade arm, West 10, was the over waltham FOREST Gold Sponsor of the Futuresource Entertainment Summit which took place at The Grange St Paul’s, London (continued from front page) creative writing skills and gave tips about in July this year. The festival reflects Waltham Forest writing, publishing and performance. Library Service’s proactive stance towards The Summit brought together industry engaging with its community that is Among authors present was the professionals to explore opportunities home to a diverse cultural mix. 50% acknowledged queen of crime drama and shape the strategies surrounding of the population are of Asian, Indian, Martina Cole who talked about her latest entertainment technologies, platforms Iraqi, Afghani, Middle Eastern, Polish and novel Revenge to an audience in North and delivery systems. Eastern European, Irish, North African, Chingford Library. African and Afro Caribbean origin. Key conference themes were IP Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s first female Connectivity and the Connected “It is not only about libraries opening Poet Laureate, offered a stimulating mix Consumer, The Transition from Physical to their doors to the borough’s inhabitants, of new work and old favourites. She was Digital, The Evolving Roles of Games and it is about the library service getting out accompanied by virtuoso musician, John Music, Opportunities Within the Cloud, there among the people,” continues Jo. Sampson, who performed on Crumhorn, Consumer Insights and Behaviours, and Posthorn, Shalmie Pipe, Recorders and Retailer Perspectives and the Events, listed on the festival website, Chinese Halusi. Consumer Journey. www.wordsoverwalthamforest.co.uk, included the launch, an exhibition For the physically adventurous, “Stride”, John Bird, Principal Consultant, presented by Waltham Forest Arts an 11 mile walk taking in the diverse Futuresource Consulting, gave the in Education Network and Learning environments and cultures of the borough welcome and opening remarks and this Disability Experience entitled was devised by award-winning poet and was followed by an impressive array of “This is Me”, exploring the theme of installation artist, John Hudson. Forty- speakers, presentations and discussions identity and celebrating the diversity four poems wound their way from river from representatives from companies of the borough’s community alongside and marshland, along city streets, under such as BSkyB, Samsung, ITV, Sony spoken word, live music and performance bridges, over motorways and among the Pictures, Universal Music Group, France from local young people. ancient trees of Epping Forest. Each poem Telecom, Dixons and Intel. had a QR code linked to a reading and There was an opportunity to inscribe your other audio visual material online and idea for a book you’ve never written in a accessible by smartphone as you strode group artwork called the Library of Untold out across Stories – a collective public sculpture for the borough. permanent display made using clay and plaster. The piece will celebrate the book “WoW is really a festival that brings as a physical object and the idea of a libraries and creativity into the heart of story as buried treasure. the community. We would like to thank all our sponsors and the people who have made this first year work so well,” concludes Josephine. “The Futuresource Entertainment Summit “Initiatives brings together key industry influencers like this are in an environment which fosters the stimulating development and communication of for all who ideas,” commented Andy C Watson, are involved Head of Sales & Marketing, in them,” says Futuresource Consulting. Lesley Whyte. “Waltham Forest “The involvement of companies has been a like West10 enhances the delegate BDS customer experience and provides attendees with for over 10 insights into industry dynamics across years, and it is the entire home and personal gratifying to entertainment universe.” see how the library service “It is only through the exchange of The project was led by Orly Orbach, an is addressing today’s challenges. Words ideas and research that the home artist, illustrator and printmaker, and over Waltham Forest is a remarkable entertainment industry is going to included workshops on creative writing achievement and BDS is delighted to be engage with the public appetite for the activities and opportunities for people part of it.” variety of methods of consumption of its to develop their image-making and products,” says Barry Smith, Director of typographic skills. Sales at West10. “West 10 is at the heart of this process through its creation of Another workshop, led by professional quality, flexible and in-depth metadata.” comedy poet Neal Zetter, was entitled, “Who Wants to be a Poet?” Neal For more information on Futuresource encouraged people to develop their Consulting go to: http://futuresource-consulting.com 3 At a time when libraries are perceived as under threat on many fronts, Council and herself a Glaswegian. “Our including government cuts, the internet and social and cultural change, libraries are so much part of our culture one city’s local authority is bucking the trend; its libraries and the culture and a love of language is in our veins.” around them is thriving. BDS Life went to Glasgow to find out the secret of its success… Glasgow libraries remain a social hub whether it be as a resource to access the internet, e-books and e-zines – Glasgow has the lowest uptake of broadband at home anywhere in the UK – or as a vibrant, dynamic, exciting centre for the city’s annual and hugely successful book Glasgow Libraries: festival, “Aye Write!” – the title a sardonic pun on the Glaswegian’s at the heart of a city famous scepticism. “The festival is unique among UK book by John Hudson festivals insofar as it is a core function of of contrasts the library service,” comments Karen. “It is in its eighth year and attracts 43,000 visitors. Its hub is The Mitchell and we run a schools’ programme, a community Glasgow, one-time powerhouse of the rate; it is home to one of the oldest and programme and a city-wide British Empire, is famous for its patter, its most respected universities in Britain, reading programme.” humour, its warm-heartedness, its poverty yet the city suffers twenty percent of its and squalor, its universities, its erstwhile population with numeracy and literacy Each Spring Aye Write! attracts the literati shipbuilding, its love of shopping and problems; it is the origin of some of the and the glitterati of the world of books fitba, the beauty of the Campsie Fells and most radical socialist movements in UK but it never forgets the people, and it is the Firth of Clyde, and its library. history, yet its wealth and growth were their stories, from diverse backgrounds based on tobacco and slavery. The list and communities, that make up popular The Mitchell Library is the largest public could go on. events such as “Voices: I want to tell reference library in Europe, and that you about…”, a session where refugees, makes Glasgow one of Europe’s great It was tobacco money that set up The asylum seekers, new and settled migrants cities. World famous Glaswegian comic, Mitchell – Stephen Mitchell & Son would come and tell their own stories in Billy Connolly, may have got a laugh when become one of the members of the their own words. he said, “The great thing about Glasgow Imperial Tobacco Company, and it was is that if there’s a nuclear attack it’ll that famous Scot who Partnerships, with the people of the city, look exactly the same afterwards,” but supplied money to set up the system of with the city’s and Scotland’s writers, he was wrong. The dome of the Mitchell libraries across the city. There are now with business and with charities are at Library stands alongside those other thirty one other libraries plus school and the heart of this library service’s vision of great, iconic library domes, the British college libraries which, together with progress, a vision that is already planned Library, The Library of Congress and The The Mitchell, serve 600,000 people. until 2030. Bodleian to name but three, and it is a Glasgow landmark of which Glaswegians It was Carnegie who, in 1907, laid the “We are very excited about our are proud. foundation stone of The Mitchell itself. developing partnership with Macmillan Cancer Research,” says Karen. “It is Pride, both civic and personal, is an “We’re growing, we’re investing and we investing £2.5 million over the next three important part of our story but Connolly’s are optimistic about the future,” says years to recruit and train three hundred joke does tell us something: Glasgow is Karen Cunningham, Head of Libraries and volunteers to work in libraries across a city of extremes. It has untiring love of Cultural Venues at Glasgow Life, the arms- the city and offer assistance to people laughter and a frighteningly high murder length charity set up by Glasgow City affected by cancer, on matters relating to care, benefits and work, as well as offer emotional support.” 1 As Karen speaks it is clear that there is a pivotal role here for the library service she oversees. Scotland is a country whose battle against cancer is challenging. It is predicted that one in three people in the UK will be affected by cancer by the year 2020; it could well be higher in Glasgow. However, the landscape for those people is changing. Survival rates are increasing and so there is a real need to address a whole new raft of issues relating to cancer that did not apply when the disease was more often than not fatal. For Glaswegians the first port of call when they need information and support is their library.

The partnerships with Glasgow Libraries are not always in the form of social support; they can also mean business. With 1.5 million items over thirteen floors The Mitchell represents a huge resource for businesses such as one of Scotland’s foremost newspapers, The Herald. This

4 special partnership extends beyond the In 2014, Glasgow will once again be at the research arrangement the library has heart of what was once the British Empire with its neighbour - albeit that a vital and when it hosts the Commonwealth Games. lucrative one – it also covers sponsorship It’s a big event for this proud city and deals and the ground floor café, The Glasgow Libraries plan to be at the centre Herald Café Bar, where you can even get a of the non-sporting action by hosting The “bevvy” – that’s an alcoholic drink. Commonwealth Book and Short Story Prize finals, focusing on Commonwealth “It raised some eyebrows at the time,” writers, and establishing a £600,000 laughs Karen, “but it’s right outside The schools’ newsroom project. Mitchell Theatre, so it serves more than just sober study.” “We are setting up a Commonwealth Games Schools Newsroom,” announces The Mitchell Theatre is at the heart of the Karen, “and the library will be a media ‘70s extension to the library and seats hive of young journalists from across 2 over four hundred in an auditorium ideal Scotland, the UK and the Commonwealth for readings, performances, interviews reporting on the games and other and discussion. The theatre maintains cultural events. There will be a real live, the site’s historical links with St Andrew’s all-singing, all-dancing newsroom and a Halls which was a concert hall until it virtual newsroom.” burnt down in the ‘60s. One mischievous story, typical of Glaswegian humour, The whole project is supported by among blames the fire on a librarian who threw others Reuters and the British Council and his cigarette onto the building. The story the level of support Glasgow Life have goes that it was a practical solution to the garnered is indicative of its ambition, pressing problem of storage space for the commitment and vision. As Karen says library’s growing collection. The result is of herself, “I am not afraid to chap on a light, airy space where theatre, anyone’s door.” The reward for such computer stations, information point courage and hard work is the creation and café meet. of an invaluable educational resource offering real-world experience combined At the core of the library are its with first class training across a 3 collections. A particularly special one is worldwide culture. the Robert Burns collection which, as one might expect, is the biggest and most Perhaps that is why Glasgow Libraries valuable in the world and comprises are thriving. In many ways Glasgow has 1. Library @ The Bridge in Easterhouse ephemera and memorabilia as well as always been part of a much bigger world 2. The exterior of The Gorbals Library books. On the wall of Karen’s office is than its northern, Clydeside location. 3. Aye Write! Festival a framed facsimile of one of the most It’s long been at the centre of things – 4. The exterior of The Mitchell Library famous and often sung poems in the economic wealth brought on by imperial world, Auld Lang Syne. The Mitchell is expansion, social change brought on home to this treasure as well as two by hardship, innovation brought on by copies of the 1786 Kilmarnock edition, necessity, learning brought on by a need the most important publication from to grow, and humour brought on by an Scotland’s national poet during his honest down-to-earthness… aye, right! own lifetime.

Other collections relate to important BDS is proud to supply metadata to Glasgow themes – tobacco, Glasgow Library Service. shipbuilding, trade and, significantly, the Commonwealth.

4 5 Translation Transformed

Following the 2012 visit to the UK of a delegation from the Moscow-based All-Union State Library for Foreign Literature which included a meeting at BDS (reported in the autumn 2012 issue of BDS Life), senior officials and academics returned on 20th to 22nd September 2013 for a conference entitled Translation Transformed. The weekend series of talks, presentations and discussions took place in the town of Moffat, not far from BDS HQ in Dumfries.

“This was a conference that presented Richard DeMarco with Ekaterina Genieva and Evgeny Reznichenko a wide spectrum of ideas regarding the translation of Russian literature into English,” said Lesley Whyte, who attended the conference. “I was particularly interested in a film called Russia’s Open Book, by Paul Mitchell and BDS Engaged in Establishing Sarah Wallis, which was screened at the conference. Presented by Stephen Fry, it examines six quite different European Standards contemporary Russian writers. BDS is partnering eight international true standards, protocols or common The Moscow State Library for Foreign organisations in a European ways in which users can discover and Literature is committed to bringing research project. access additional information related to modern Russian authors to the attention consumed content. of European readers, and they have SAM, or Socialising Around Media, is devised a remarkable programme aimed at leading research into 2nd “SAM will change this disorder by of translation to ensure that the Screen usage and content syndication. developing an advanced social media contemporary Russian voice is heard BDS was selected as lead data partner delivery platform based on 2nd Screen by those who do not read Russian.” in user-oriented studies. The aim of and Content Syndication within a Social the project is to create an advanced Media context,” continues Barry. The official conference opening was federated social media delivery platform undertaken by Cabinet Secretary for and to deliver open and standardised “This is achieved by providing open and Culture and External Affairs, Fiona formats for the description of media. standardised ways of characterising, Hyslop MSP and State Secretary, discovering and syndicating media Grigory Ivliev, Deputy Minister of BDS is collaborating with the Universities assets interactively. Users will be able Culture of Russia. A further keynote of Athens, Reading and Alicante, Belgian to consume digital assets from different speech was given by Richard Demarco, SmartTV manufacturer TPVision, syndicated sources and different European Citizen of the Year 2013 broadcaster Deutsche Weile from synchronized devices, thus creating richer and one of the founding fathers of the Germany, software developers Ascora experiences around the original media.” Edinburgh International Arts Festival. from Germany, Talkamatic from Sweden and Tie Kintetix from the Netherlands SAM’s innovation is that, instead of users Papers included “The importance of reaching for the data, it is the data which translation in a 21st century digital “Today’s generation of internet- reaches the user through the syndication age” given by Dr Ekaterina Genieva and connected devices has changed the approach and their 2nd screen. It is in the Evgeny Reznichenko with Dimitry Bak way users are interacting with media research undertaken to achieve this where while there was an engaging discussion, from passive users to proactive and BDS data, with its extensive content and “Can a translation ever be better than interactive,” comments Barry Smith, deeply linked information, will be vital. the original?” with Alexander Director of Sales at West10, BDS’s trade Livergant, Dr Oliver Ready, Arch Tait arm. “Users are able to comment on or “These are exciting times for technology and Aleksey Varmalov. rate a TV show and search for related and metadata use,” concludes Barry “and information regarding characters, facts BDS is proud to be engaged in a project The catalyst for this collaboration or personalities. They do this with both at the forefront of the process integrating between Russia and Scotland is the friends and wider social communities.” media consumption and the consumer via 200th anniversary of the birth of poet the technology available to them. Mikhail Lermontov in 2014. Lermontov This recent phenomenon is known is reputedly descended from the Scottish as “2nd Screen”. As an illustration of The selection of BDS in this prestigious Earls of Learmont. 2014 is also set to be use, today over 40% of all UK Twitter project represents an unparalleled seal of the “Year of Language and Culture,” an traffic at peak TV viewing time is about approval for BDS and its metadata.” international exchange between Russia TV. Another coupled phenomenon is and the UK following an agreement “Content Syndication” which is a field between Prime Minister David Cameron where digital content is created once and President Vladimir Putin. and delivered to many different channels (devices, markets and stakeholders) The film Russia’s Open Book can be together allowing efficient content viewed by following the link: control, delivery, and feedback. However, http://intelligenttelevision.com/ the 2nd Screen phenomenon has grown productions/entry/russias-open-book in an unordered way. There are no 6 It’s one hundred and twenty years since Chicago first played host to the the auditorium’s house lights flashed on American Libraries Association Conference. Much has changed in the world and off without explanation at one point, of libraries during that time but the world’s largest annual gathering of prompting Stone and Kuznick to wonder if librarians is always dynamic, progressive and wide-ranging. Eric Green and the CIA might be sabotaging the event. Sarah Armitage were there between 28 June and 3 July to see the American Cory Doctorow, digital rights activist library world’s concerns, trends and plans… and science fiction writer, looked at how libraries can and do stand on the access to millions of books, articles, front lines of the debate over the role of photographs, historical documents, free information and free information “Transforming objects, and artefacts. technology in ensuring the healthy maintenance of a free society, while a Our Libraries, Technology was no less present in the tribute to Ray Bradbury and his influence exhibition hall. As the largest exhibition on literature, film, television, art, library Ourselves” of library-oriented technology and advocacy, hailed the late author as one of content products worldwide, ALA offers our great thinkers: curious, unflappable, ALA 2013 Chicago librarians a unique opportunity to review and passionate about truth, literacy, and the latest offerings from nearly every open access of information. significant vendor in North America. US libraries spend $450 million annually Among the many other special events, The theme of this year’s ALA offered on technology products or services, so exhibitions and interviews, Alice Walker, a an interesting comment on the state of setting aside some time libraries in the world today. At the same in the exhibit hall shows time as it recognises the need for and us where the UK may inevitability of change, it also clearly be heading. states ownership and assumes power. The library ebook arena was Impressively, 20,237 people attended a particularly busy area. the conference and there were 6,125 ReadersFirst exhibitors in a city that has always proved www.readersfirst.org, an popular with ALA and its members, not American library initiative to forget speakers. This year’s lineup with the goal of ensuring included Steven Levitt, Jaron Lanier, that public library users have Khaled Hosseini, Ping Fu, Congressman the same open, easy, and John Lewis, Temple Grandin, Giada De free access to ebooks as they Laurentiis, Ann Patchett, Oliver Stone and do with print books, was of Peter Kuznick, Alice Walker, and especial interest. Octavia Spencer. Among the speakers and It was also the opportunity for interviewees, Khaled celebrating the 75th anniversary of Hosseini, author of the the Caldecott Medal that focuses on bestsellers Kite Runner and authors and illustrators of the year’s most A Thousand Splendid Suns, distinguished books for children. Young talked about his newest book people, their education, engagement And the Mountains Echoed. with libraries and literacy are always His first novel in more than prominent features at ALA, and this year six years is about how we proved no exception. love and take care of one another, and how the The Opening General Session, on Friday, choices we make resonate presented Steven D. Levitt, co-author through generations. of the forthcoming book Think Like a Freak and the international bestseller The discussion delved into Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist the author’s relationship Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. with books, libraries, and In support of the conference’s theme, the characters he creates. Levitt set about showing how applying Hosseini began the counterintuitive approaches to everyday conversation acknowledging problems can bear surprising results. how different his life would have been had he remained The ALA Annual Auditorium Speaker series in his native Afghanistan. kicked off on the Saturday with a revealing He had to buy books then because there regular speaker at ALA, always stands out. talk by Jaron Lanier, the man who were no public libraries for him to visit. On the subject of libraries she summed up popularized the term “virtual reality,” and He revealed that he didn’t know anything how everyone at the conference felt. the author of the bestseller You Are Not about libraries until he walked into one a Gadget. Lanier’s latest book, Who Owns for the first time in France. “To librarians, I would say hang on to the Future, addresses the detrimental your library, because that is the place effects networking technologies have had Academy Award–winning filmmaker Oliver where everyone can go and learn. And on our economy, and by extension, the Stone and historian Peter Kuznick talked learning is the ultimate activity as far lives of everyone on the planet. However, about their joint project, as I’m concerned. Learning is the key to this didn’t stop today’s overriding The Untold History of the United States. liberation. I’ve never heard a story about concerns with all things digital. Stone and Kuznick were also eager to a bad librarian. Librarians are held in high talk with librarians about what they esteem for the helpfulness and kindness Maureen Sullivan welcomed Dan Cohen, see as the current sorry state of history and patience they show to people, and that founding executive director of the Digital books available to middle and high is wonderful.” Public Library of America (DPLA). This school students. The discussion almost ambitious enterprise offers great promise didn’t happen, though. The microphones to libraries of all types, enabling open failed without warning at the start and 7 ‘Sharing Today, Securing Future Libraries, Tomorrow’ Infinite Possibilities The annual National Acquisitions Group (NAG) Conference took place at the IFLA 2013, Singapore Royal York Hotel, York, on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th September by Lesley Whyte this year. Chinese dragons. Children drumming. The conference theme was ‘Sharing Indian dancing. A spectacle of multi- Today, Securing Tomorrow’ and cultural music, colour, dress and the two days of talks, workshops movement swirling, beating and singing and discussions looked at how the in a darkened auditorium, fusing into an traditional image of the library incredible spectacle. continues to evolve as libraries and the services offered continue to One would have been forgiven for adapt and change. imagining the welcome from the IFLA WLIC 2013 National Committee’s 79th “Libraries up and down the country congress was an opening ceremony are constantly developing successful for the Olympics. But the excitement processes and strategies, adapting generated was really indicative of their ways of working as technology what was to follow, and an insight into continues to develop, and continually the panache with which everything is turning what were considered to be undertaken in Singapore, from the iconic challenges into opportunities,” said the architecture to the passionate campaign conference rubric, and BDS’s Eric Green posters displayed in the National Library, was there to follow the discussions. from the mouth-watering cuisine to the Singaporeans’ love of their country and “It is important that BDS listens to its heritage. Singapore is a country you libraries and we do this is in all manner can’t help but notice. of ways. NAG is a superb opportunity to hear for ourselves what issues are The inspiring theme for the conference affecting librarianship in the field of was drawn from a speech given by the acquisitions from a wide variety of outgoing President, Ingrid Parent of 1 perspectives,” says Eric. Canada. Ms Parent spoke eloquently, both in the opening and closing ceremonies, Madeleine Lefebvre of Ryerson University, Annie Mauger, CILIP CEO and resident about her two years in office, the Toronto, described an innovative of York, welcomed delegates to the librarians she had met, the multiplicity partnership between the university and city and then delivered the Conference of different libraries she had visited and a local cinema. Faced with building a keynote speech. This year’s NAG Award the experiences she had encountered new library on an existing site in the was presented to Derbyshire Libraries. in two years of intensive travel. Along city, Ryerson elected to gain revenue by with colleagues from libraries around the letting their “upward space” to a local Papers on subjects as diverse as “Is the world we were eager to explore “Future cinema, the movie theatres doubling as digital library our future?” and “Welsh Libraries, Infinite Possibilities.” lecture theatres during the day. standards in public libraries” alongside workshops on issues such as making What could be more appropriate than Liz McGettigan spoke of the urban library material accessible for people to focus on the library of the future? On regeneration project and results in with sight loss took delegates through the eve of a major new public library Craigmillar, Edinburgh, and Sam Boss to the Gala Dinner, sponsored by BDS, opening in Birmingham, referenced at described the multi-cultural library in the and the highly entertaining NAG Quiz. the conference, I was curious to learn city of Guangzhou, where local traditions about new libraries in other parts of are reflected in regional or period décor The following day saw the workshops the world. The Library Buildings and and contemporary artists exhibit their repeated while papers addressed RDA, Equipment group presented papers from work in dynamic, flexible spaces which RFID, UKSLC e4libraries project, the Denmark, Helsinki, Toronto, Edinburgh can easily be used for public gatherings. new central library in Liverpool and the and Guangzhou in China, exploring the national monograph strategy. concept of the library and the city. All of these case studies placed the library centre-stage in the community, As in previous years, there were Jens Thorhauge, consultant and former emphasizing the importance of numerous opportunities for librarians librarian, had a vision of libraries as generating a sense of place. The libraries to network with publishers and library cultural transformers. With more than showcased were beautiful, built not only suppliers, and colleagues in both public 80% of the world’s population living in for the present, but for posterity, and and academic libraries, as well as a cities, his view was that social challenges intended to impact forcefully on the chance for delegates to share their own and technological developments mean people who use them. knowledge and experience. that we need a new kind of institution. Since access to information is everywhere, Moving from buildings to books, “It is clear that amongst all the changes he asserted that we need to establish a series of papers covered the national library services are undergoing, the a new raison d’etre for public libraries, bibliographies of India, Iran, Denmark professionalism and expertise of focusing on activities that don’t only use and Norway. The challenges of collecting librarians and the field of librarianship the collections. His concept that public and cataloguing the 13 major languages remain as vigorous and committed libraries are important public spaces was used in India were recounted by as ever. The NAG conference is an shared by Maija Berndson from Helsinki, Shahina P Ahas from the National Library excellent advocate for our libraries and and she suggested that communities must of India. Carsten Andersen described BDS was proud to sponsor part of its find ways to maintain public spaces to the work undertaken at DBC, the agency schedule,” concludes Eric. avoid disintegration. responsible for creating the Danish 8 2

National Bibliography, and the initiatives to include user contributions and link the 3 national bibliography to other data sets. In Norway, the entire collection of books pre-2000 is to be digitised.

It was particularly fascinating to hear of the challenges facing countries with such diverse cultures as the Indian sub-continent, and it is remarkable how the skills, methodologies and tools at the librarian’s disposal are adapted and transformed to meet different needs. There is always something to learn and new possibilities to reflect upon. in the country’s history to record the to attend such a conference, and it is Digital issues are always on the agenda at multiplicity of perspectives and ethnicity fascinating to visit national libraries, all of IFLA, and Caroline Brazier gave an insight in the country. Working with the British which have different ways of serving their into the strategy at the British Library, Library, they are identifying early printed citizens and protecting their which exists for everyone who wishes to material that is relevant to Singapore as national heritage. do research, and is used by 16,000,000 well as holding roadshows where citizens readers per annum. The British Library has are encouraged to write down memories. Singapore is a special and unique place, a role in connecting as well as collecting, Each citizen in the country can log in to so abundant in cultural diversity that one a development which started with the a personal memory account, and each cannot fail to be surprised. As always, compulsory legal deposit of digital memory is tagged. They have produced an I left the IFLA conference full of ideas as well as print material introduced app, so memories can be recorded. Every on how we at BDS can respond to the in 2013. Access to digital material is baby born in Singapore is registered at dynamic changes that are taking place currently restricted to within the library. the public library at birth. in our libraries, and proud to belong to Interestingly, the British Library has made a profession that has such a profound use of futurists to help anticipate the A thought-provoking range of topics, from impact on people’s lives. needs of researchers. traditional subjects like the collection and preservation of national bibliographies Crowdsourcing was a term used in to discussion on how to use linked data to leverage value from the collections several sessions during the conference. 1. The Singapore skyline was debated amongst 3,500 international The National Library of Singapore has 2. Liz McGettigan of delegates. It is a privilege to be part an agenda to collect both institutional Edinburgh City Council of this, to meet librarians from small and personal memories of its citizens, 3. The IFLA volunteers and has a number of initiatives to look libraries in the host country who might beyond the memoirs of important people not otherwise have an opportunity 9 The National Library of Singapore Travelling Through Time and Identity

the Marina Bay district of high rise towers and designer brands, colonial elegance and a cricket pitch, mosques and restaurants along Arab Street and the bustle and spices of Little India. Any national collection has a challenging task addressing such diversity.

Yet, since its early days, the national library has actively collected materials relevant to the documentary heritage of Singapore and the neighbouring region. Among its literary treasures is a book of great historical importance, The History of Trauayle in the West and East Indies, and other Countrys Lying Eyther Way, Towards the Fruitfull and Ryche Moluccaes. Printed in 1577, it contains one of the earliest narratives of sea voyages and provides a clue as to why Singapore is such a melting pot of cultures: its position along one of the world’s major sea-trade routes.

Alongside preservation runs outreach. From its inception, any member of the public could use the library and borrow books for 25 cents a month. Hedwig Anuar, the first Singaporean Director of the national library, continued this tradition. Under her leadership, the purchase of library vans boosted the library’s efforts at decentralisation. By 1991 full-time branch libraries had been constructed across the island. Rather than distinct institutions, these branch libraries were considered a physical extension of the national library.

“You will be here, expanding when we have gone.” Today’s iconic national library building opened in 2005. Like so many things Edwin Thumboo, Singapore poet, editor and critic Singaporean, it arose as an opportunity seized through ongoing change. To much civil opposition, the old national library 1 in Stamford Road had to make way for redevelopment – in fact the construction of a freeway. Singapore is known as Mention Singapore and it may evoke meaningless; with 80% of humanity “campaign city” and it was no doubt in arresting architecture, stop-overs on living in cities, some would say Singapore part as an effort of appeasement that long-haul flights, fabulous shopping, an is the future of the way the human race the people of Singapore were given exciting night-time Grand Prix, a British will live on planet Earth. two sixteen storey blocks and three military failure in World War Two, an basements to replace their much-loved iconic hotel, equatorial heat and humidity, It is interesting therefore that the red brick original. or Nick Leeson. Singapore is many things, National Library of Singapore is at the all of them fascinating, some of them heart of this process, looking back in It houses two libraries, the Central Public awe-inspiring. time but with an eye firmly on the future. Library in level one of the basement From its beginning, when Raffles laid and the Reference Library from levels Since it became an independent city the foundation stone of the Singapore seven to thirteen above ground. It also state in 1965, Singapore has become Institution Library in 1823, the library houses the Drama Centre on levels two a futuristic social and technological catered primarily for the reading needs to five. Each floor is linked by futuristic model society. The Republic’s five ideals, of the local population. Now it has added “skybridges”. On the sixteenth floor there as depicted on their national flag, are the dual functions of reference and is a viewing point called The Pod which democracy, peace, equality, justice preservation, while also addressing offers panoramic views of the Singapore and progress. The country has a clean the needs of a linguistically skyline. There are also gardens and three environment and its streets are some of diverse population. panoramic elevators. The National Library the safest in the world. Today, Singapore Board headquarters is on the fourteenth is virtually co-extensive with the built up Singapore has four officially recognised floor while the first floor has the main city which is busily reclaiming land from languages: English, Malay, Tamil and entrance and a cafe, with a “Plaza” used the seas that surround it. The traditional Chinese, and a population of five and for exhibitions. As a mark of respect to the divisions between town and country, a half million people. A short walk can past and a nod towards public opinion, producers and consumers are rendered take in the Taoist temples of Chinatown, a number of red bricks from the old 10 building were used in the construction of materials. It provides reference services On all levels the atmosphere is light, a commemorative wall within the onsite, or via email, telephone and peaceful and pleasant, inviting curiosity new building. fax. It offers facilities such as access to through its carefully curated displays and electronic databases, a document delivery areas for study. It is interesting that, as with libraries service, microfilm, reprography and in the West, philanthropy played an audio-visual facilities as well as wireless As the modern mixes happily with the important role in the making of the new access to the internet. past along the corridors and rooms of the national library. The Lee Kong Chian, national library, an exhibition running Reference Library gets its name from The most valuable items in the collection in the Plaza, near the entrance, sums up Doctor Lee Kong Chian a prominent are securely stored on the thirteenth floor today’s ambition and vision. Chinese businessman and philanthropist with carefully controlled temperature active in Malaya and Singapore from the and humidity, and have to be handled Photographs of people’s hands are 1930s to the 1960s. The Lee Foundation with care as they can be old, scarce and beautifully reproduced on back-lit donated a remarkable 60 million fragile. Beneath these treasures, floors screens. Each hand tells a story, a person’s Singapore dollars, about 30 million are devoted to areas of learning such story, a citizen of Singapore, and beneath pounds, toward the library’s construction. as the Singapore and Southeast Asian the photograph their story is told in The reference library has an area of collections; the Arts and Social Sciences; each of Singapore’s languages. These 14,265 square metres and a collection Business, Science and Technology; and are stories of immigration, of suffering of nearly 600,000 print and non-print the Chinese, Malay and Tamil collections. turned to success, of a way of life being fast buried by skyscrapers, of changing, mutating language, of a city forging a people into a new identity and people changing the fortunes of a city.

The National Library of Singapore is collecting memories, harvesting stories and preserving them for the future. Through its programme of preserving national memory, aided as you would expect by the most modern technologies, it is recognising that a national collection is more than books and maps and manuscripts but something to do with selfhood. No matter how diverse the origins of Singapore, this colourful and exciting city state has self, a personality uniquely its own, and the National Library of Singapore is its time machine, looking back and travelling forward.

2

4 3

1. Exterior of the National Library of Singapore 2. IFLA delegates visit the National Library of Singapore, including Lesley Whyte 3. View from the National Library of Singapore 4. Hands Exhibition 11 Eric Raises Money for Children’s Ward

Touring the Highlands of Scotland in a three wheel Robin Reliant may not be everyone’s idea of fun but when it’s raising money for children’s charities and hospital wards in Dumfries and Edinburgh, no-one would deny that the adventure is a great idea.

Eric Green and his co-pilot and son, Ross, jumped into the cockpit of a bright yellow classic three wheeler vehicle better known for city driving in the days before the car boom and four lane motorways. They set off to circumnavigate Ben Nevis, the Cairngorms, Loch Ness and Fife before returning to Dumfries after four days of hills, bends, B roads and camp sites.

The fund-raising event is organised by “3 Wheel Scotland”, a non-profit making organisation set up by Dumfries based businessman Joe Boyle, whose son has been a frequent visitor to children’s hospitals. During his monthly visits, Joe became aware of children who never left hospital.

“We wanted to do something to make their stay a little more comfortable and enjoyable,” says Joe. “It’s never a nice Superlative Lear experience having your child rushed into hospital and it happens more than you think.” in Dumfries

The event has grown in popularity since it started in 2009 when A remarkable performance from Joseph Marcell as Lear and it raised nearly £12,000 and has become an annual adventure a supporting cast of seven gave what was perhaps, to date, supported by trikes and other three wheelers as well as the the most enthralling visit of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to iconic Robin Reliant. Dumfries, home town of BDS.

“My son Ross and I had a great time and we were helping kids A thousand people attended the three performances which are across the country,” said Eric. “There were plenty of ‘pit-stops’ supported by BDS, the main corporate sponsor. and we grew to love our trusty Robin Reliant as it negotiated the steep hills and bends.” “These were special performances of a remarkable production” commented Lesley Whyte. “Despite the difficulties associated BDS staff and management were all rooting for, and sponsoring, with the play, it was evident from the reactions of the audience Eric and Ross who got back in one piece to the relief of wife and that they were totally enthralled by the action. Helping to mum Karen who works in BDS’s Publisher Liaison Department. bring this event to Dumfries for the last six years has been an enormous privilege, and delivered great benefits to the region. The money raised was split between Dumfries and Generally one has to travel far to see theatre of this calibre.” Galloway Royal Infirmary Children’s Ward 15, Yorkhill Royal Hospital for Sick Children, The play was performed in the Crichton grounds, where BDS Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital and Cash is based, as part of an extensive tour of the UK and abroad, for Kids. and was presented in a style akin to the touring practices of Shakespeare’s own time – maintaining the principles of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

“A particular highlight for me was the storm scene,” said Chrys Salt, Artistic Director of The Bakehouse, who acts as producers for the Globe visit to South West Scotland. “A simple cloth flapped on stage and an old fashioned thunder machine made an awe-inspiring backdrop for the play’s climactic turning point. Essential and brilliant.”

Members of the BDS staff attended the performances, many of whom rarely have the opportunity to see Shakespeare live due to their location.

“So many emotions packed so tightly together. It was incredible!” and “The play was special and yet it looks at everyday conflicts and emotions,” and “Families are the same everywhere,” were some of the comments. BDS LIFE CONTACT US Joseph Marcell’s Lear was an exceptional performance. Editor: Lesley Whyte Bibliographic Data Services Ltd The audience were obviously impressed that the actor who Writer: John Hudson Annandale House played comedy as the butler alongside Will Smith in www.johnhudson.info The Crichton, Bankend Road The Prince of Bel Air could sustain such an intense and tragic Dumfries, DG1 4TA role. The final scenes between a broken, old king and his loyal Design: weesleekit ltd daughter Cordelia left everyone in the audience deeply moved. www.weesleekit.co.uk BDS’s sponsorship of the Globe’s King Lear followed on from 01387 702251 www.bibliographicdata.com last year’s Hamlet, while previous years have seen the Globe [email protected] www.bdslive.co.uk perform Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Comedy of Errors and As You Like It.