State Library of Western AustraliaKNOWIT magazine

JANUARY - MARCH 2004 NO.267 NEWS FROM THE CEO

Comment from Claire VALA 2004 12th Biennial Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, February 3 - 5

The VALA (Victorian Association for Library Acting CEO and State Librarian Claire Forte. Automation) Conference is the Australian forum

his first issue of KNOWIT for 2004 where the use of technology in libraries is has a special focus on 2004 @ your discussed. Tlibrary - a state wide marketing campaign for libraries, launched in February by the Hon Sheila McHale, This year's conference theme of themes of: digital object management; Minister for Culture and the Arts. We are BREAKING BOUNDARIES: cooperatives and consortia; ebooks; excited to be working with colleagues INTEGRATION & INTEROPERABILITY virtual reference; electronic publishing; across the library sector on programs to raise awareness of the valuable role of was chosen as it reflected both the portals; software issues; information libraries. Throughout the year there will enormous successes and the key literacy; extending the ILMs; user be a range of activities and promotional challenges in the field of library and behaviour and access to information; events at a library near you. information technology. user authentication and strategic information planning. The only The new year has certainly kicked off in The keynote speakers, drawn from difficulty was selecting which of the an exciting way with some significant the USA, France and China, were concurrent sessions to attend ! The donations added to the State Library's selected for their expertise and work conference organisers assisted by collections, a focus on strategies to with major projects of significant providing miniature printed support priority preservation work in the interest and their understanding of programmes which were sized to fit State's documentary heritage collections, current key issues. at the back of delegates’ name and the celebration of 25 years of providing badges which were worn by all on community information services. Professor Hal Abelson, Mackenzie lanyards around the neck during the Smith, Lorcan Dempsey and Herbert conference. It was a common sight With so much to celebrate in terms of Van De Sompel, keynote speakers to see delegates checking the back the role libraries play in providing access from the USA, spoke of their recent of their own name badge ! to information and enhancing knowledge work and involvement in digital projects in the community, staff and members of and the importance of standards, Over 700 attendees from all Australian the Library Board were saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Leslie quality and cooperation in that work. states as well as some international Marchant, historian and scholar. His guests participated enthusiastically published works and donated collections Catherine Lupovici of France's in this well organised conference. It held in the State Library will long remain Bibliotheque Nationale spoke of the was a credit to the VALA committee important sources for new research and impact of the web on the National that this popular conference continues the expansion of knowledge. Bibliography and Dr Wu Jianzhong to attract high calibre speakers and Director of the Shanghai Library exhibitors of note. delighted delegates with an overview of services offered by the Shanghai The next VALA conference is Library. scheduled for 2006.

Each of the keynote speakers was Conference details and full text of filmed and their presentations will most of the papers can be accessed be available on the VALA website on the VALA website at at http://www.vala.org.au http://www.vala.org.au

An interesting range of concurrent sessions during the day covered the Pam Phelan K

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 JANUARY - MARCH 2004 NO. 267 KNOWIT

Cover image: 2004 @ Your Library Campaign

The State Library of Alexander Library Building, Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000 Tel: (08) 9427 3111 Fax: (08) 9427 3256 Web: www.liswa.wa.gov.au

COMMENT FROM CLAIRE < 2 VALA 2004 < FROM SHOEBOX TO ONLINE SERVICE 2 DIANELLA LIBRARY MOSIAC 5 2004 @ YOUR LIBRARY 6 JUST ASK @ YOUR LIBRARY 8 RARE BESTSELLERS 9 RESCUING OUR HISTORICAL RECORDS 10 6 DEREK KEENE 11 CONGRATULATIONS CLAIRE 11 PROFESSOR LESLIE MARCHANT 12 PAT COOK 12 BATTYE ABOUT BOOKS 13 8

Design, Art Production Public Programs Editorial Enquiries Patrick Moore ph: (08) 9427 3421 fax: (08) 9427 3336 email: [email protected] Layout / Graphics Adam Peterson ph: (08) 9427 3153 fax: (08) 9427 3152 email: [email protected] 10

' 2004 State Library of Western Australia Editorial published may only be reproduced with permission. KNOWIT is a quarterly magazine published in April, July, October and January.

Deadline for issue no. 268 (Apr - Jun 04) 12 Jun 2004 KNOWIT reserves the right to edit all articles. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of KNOWIT or the State Library of Western Australia.

ISSN 1328-7176

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 1 12 2 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 @ YOUR LIBRARY NEWS

From Shoebox to On-line Service: Community Information @ the Library

A Tale of Two Cities services. Information was collected and recorded manually on cards and uring 1977, State Librarian stored, at , in a shoebox. Robert Sharman, in close The Fremantle service also produced Dconsultation with the City a printed directory that was Librarians of Stirling and Fremantle, distributed free to all households, and launched a pilot community information financed by soliciting advertising project offered from a library setting. from the community. This was in response to their own observations and the timely release of a The pilot Fremantle service, named report known as the Macbeth/Hitchens Fre-info, went ’live’ as part of the report into community information needs library service in early 1979 and its undertaken by . use rose exponentially. Betty McGeever, City Librarian, had In early 1978 two Project Officers, involved Council in the development Caroline Power and Anne Keehan, of the pilot, and at the end of the were appointed by the Library Project in 1980, Fremantle Library Board of Western Australia to appointed its own Community establish a service in each of the Information Officer. two municipalities. Anne, seconded to Fremantle and now working in The Stirling service, known as the State Reference Library, recalls STIRLINK, also commenced in 1979, being shown to a very large and and in 1981, was transferred to the empty desk in the Fremantle Council Administration Offices Offices. The service at Stirling began as part of the Stirling Volunteer in the Karrinyup Library. The first Service. It was transferred back to stage of both projects involved the library in 1985, when a position information gathering and liaising was created for a permanent Susie Busoni on duty, 1988 with existing community groups and Community Information Officer.

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 3 Consolidation and Consultancy converted to a database using the a month on the databases via the thesaurus from the State Library Internet. Queries range from the As the Pilot Project was concluding, and Inmagic DB/Textworks software. seemingly obvious such as, ’Where the two Community Information In 1999 the four databases: are the local primary schools?’ to Officers recommended that a Community Information, Events, more obscure enquiries. One man centralised databank of Cafes/restaurants and Tourist called from Tasmania wondering metropolitan-wide community Accommodation, were made where he could purchase craypot information be established at the available 24 hours a day on the City cane as his supplier had gone into State Library. On return to the State of Fremantle website. receivership. Throughout the year, Library, the two officers organised Fre-info answers many calls about information with a metropolitan The STIRLINK information was particular events including what, scope, and produced a community computerised in 1984 with the when, how much and how long information thesaurus to provide development of the COMIN system. entertainment performances are appropriate topic access to this type This was upgraded in 2003 to the and what activities can be of information. (Published as Info Stirling Public Library’s system AMLIB recommended for children during Link's manual and thesaurus for and the service is now available from the school holidays or after school. community information in 1987). the Stirling Community Information This was partially based on eastern Office, all City of Stirling libraries, the Swan residents are encouraged to states models to which the officers City of Stirling Customer Contact ’discover your local area with your had been introduced at a national Centre, and online via the Internet mouse’ via the DiscoverSwan conference in Sydney in 1979. The from the City of Stirling website. database which contains about thesaurus has subsequently been 1200 entries relating to the City of used by Western Australian public In 1989/90 the City of Swan joined Swan and surrounding areas. The libraries to establish their local services. the community information world database provides answers to with the introduction of their first queries such as ’how do I find The State Library’s service which library automation system (Collier someone to remove a snake from was named Infolink, had not only a Knyn). A decade later, Swan Library my backyard?’ or ’can you please consultancy role, it also hosted the Services updated their library system provide a list of JPs living in the interagency Community Information to Geac/Plus and 1, which included local area’. Sharing Service (CISS). By 1985 a community information module Infolink staff had moved into the new and enabled this information to be The State Library’s Infolink database Alexander Library Building, and for accessed via the Internet 24 hours a has over 11000 entries providing the first time a public service was day. Then in 2001, the service was information on State government offered from a desk located on the renamed as DiscoverSwan. and community organisations ground floor. Two years later the throughout the State of Western State Government Information In the years since the Pilot Project, Australia. Also available is the Centre, run by the Premier’s a number of other public libraries Infolink Calendar of Special Dates, Department on St Georges Terrace, have established vibrant community which lists dates of Western was merged with Infolink, which information services. Among them Australian or international then began to supply government are the public libraries at Joondalup, significance. There have been over as well as community information to Melville and Cockburn. 7000 queries on the Infolink the public. database just over the last two weeks. ….and into the community Out of the shoebox….. The STIRLINK service is also now From their humble beginnings, into its 25th year of providing wide With Infolink’s move into the Ground twenty five years ago, community and varied information to the Floor of the Alexander Library Building, information services have always citizens of the City of Stirling. Not a custom-designed computer been very much in demand by the only answering questions on local database software called Infotext Western Australian community. events, clubs, organisations and replaced the card system. In 1991 services, the service has even Infolink moved to a higher profile Fre-info has recently celebrated the assisted a lost Santa on his way to position on the mezzanine floor. anniversary of 25 years of service, a children’s function, and a lady Four years later it became part of during which time it has answered who emailed from the United States the Battye Library. The database 200,000 queries about services, requesting information on a hotel to was transferred to the INNOPAC facilities, groups, clubs, activities, meet her husband for a few software system in 1996 and places to hire, where to dine and romantic days when he arrived became available directly to the what’s on in the area. It has onboard a US submarine at HMAS clients visiting the State Library and developed into an extensive source Stirling. over the Internet. of information available by phone, on-line or by visiting the library. Indeed, ’dynamic’ and ’diverse’ have In 1994 the Fre-info files were Currently there are about 2000 hits proved to be hallmark traits of the

4 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 expanding community information scene in Western Australia.

Web Sites: Infolink: www.liswa.wa.gov.au:81 Fre-info: www.freofocus.com.au STIRLINK: www.stirling.wa.gov.au DiscoverSwan: www.cityofswan.com/library Comminfo (City of Joondalup): www.joondalup.wa.gov.au Co'Info (City of Cockburn): www.cockburn.wa.gov.au K

Dianella Library Mosaic - January 2004 A grant of $2,000 from he artwork was designed by the librarians coordinating the project. Community Arts local artist and Dianella Library ’Nearly all of our materials have been TTechnician, Annie Q Medley, donated, thanks to the generosity of Network WA has and features local flora and fauna in local businesses including BGC allowed Dianella the Dianella region. Construction, Dianella Plaza Shopping Centre Management, Bunnings Library and local Library staff enlisted the aid of Inglewood, Federation Tile Factory, primary school professional mosaic artists Chris James and Tiles Expo.’ students to create a and Renee Martin, from MosaicArt to work with students from a local The artwork was launched in stunning community primary school, to complete the project. December with sponsors, students mosaic art installation and proud parents admiring their for the entrance The project was completed in mosaic which has improved the visual November 2003, having involved Year appearance of the library and attracted walkway to the Library. 6 students and parents from Our more people into the library. Lady’s Assumption Primary School, adjacent to the Dianella Library. For further information about the project or City of Stirling library ’The support from parents and the services please contact Viv Barton, local business community has been Manager Libraries, Arts and Culture amazing’ said Clare Duxbury, one of at the City of Stirling on 9202-3677.

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 5 CAMPAIGN 2004 @ YOUR LIBRARY

The 2004 @ your library campaign has seen the joining together of libraries from various sectors across WA. In an alliance that has been made to promote the role of libraries today, the campaign brings together the State Library of Western Australia, all university libraries, TAFE and school libraries, special libraries and almost all public libraries across the State.

The 2004 @ your library campaign’s main objectives are: to increase awareness about the vibrancy, vitality and real value of today’s libraries;

2004 @ your library to galvanize public support; and to encourage all to see libraries and the information they contain A state wide marketing as providing the essential building blocks to a better future. campaign was launched on 3 February 2004 at With the aim of involving the whole community in accessing libraries the Perth Concert Hall and to make use of the expertise of by the Hon. Sheila library staff, the 2004 @ your library campaign involves a series of mini McHale, MLA Minister campaigns including Just ask @ your for Culture and the Arts. library, Treasures @ your library, and Doing business @ your library that s McHale opened the launch will target specific markets including by acknowledging the local business, children, families, Mimportance of libraries, ’I have seniors and young people. always believed that libraries and librarians provide an invaluable Campaign activities will include service to the people of Western holiday workshops, performances Australia’. and special readings for children,

6 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 Internet classes for seniors and John Cloake : TAFE Libraries Rebecca Moore : Public Libraries seminars for business people on how Central TAFE (Perth Campus) Joondalup Public Library libraries provide low cost and time Locked Bag 6, NORTHBRIDGE WA 6865 102 Boas Ave, Joondalup WA 6027 efficient research facilities. Phone: 9427 1261 Phone: 9400 4735 Email: [email protected] Email: The results of the campaign will bring [email protected] a renewed energy to the promotion Maureen Cooper : Special Libraries K of libraries and librarians and in turn Office of the Auditor General Library positively impact on library useage, 2 Havelock Street funding and recruitment. WEST PERTH WA 6005 Phone: 9222 7500 Watch the 2004 @ your library Email: [email protected] campaign across WA. Susan Feeney : State Library of WA For further information you can contact Perth Cultural Centre one of the following 2004 @ your Perth WA 6000 library Steering Committee members - Phone: 9427 3339

Anette Ainsworth : School Libraries Mobile: 04257775789 Western Australian School Library Email: [email protected] Association PO Box 1272 John Frylinck : University Libraries WEST PERTH WA 6872 Curtin University of Technology Phone: 9378 8509 Perth, Western Australia, 6845 Email: [email protected] Phone: 9266 7629 Mobile: 0419 912 112 Carolyn Betts : Western Australian Local Email: [email protected] Government Association PO BOX 1544, WEST PERTH WA 6872 Julia Gross : University Libraries Phone: 9213 2044 Edith Cowan University Email: [email protected] Phone: 9370 6247 Email: [email protected] Margaret Butcher : Department of Culture and the Arts Michelle Ledger: Public Libraries PO Box 8349 Cambridge Public Library PERTH BUSINESS CENTRE 99 The Boulevard, Floreat WA 6014 WA 6849 Phone: 9383 8999 Phone: 9224 7390 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 7 CAMPAIGN JUST ASK @ YOUR LIBRARY

Battye Library staff on preservation and research issues, but this session was designed to encourage researchers to ask specific questions about something to do with Western Australia that they had always wanted to know, or just to see if they could ’stump’ the librarian. Should there be no immediate guidance to offer, staff would contact the questioner within 24 hours following further research.

A panel of five, Gerard Foley, Russell Hamilton, Alison Hocken, Glenda Oakley and David Whiteford, all with considerable experience in the Battye and State Reference Libraries, faced the audience. Brian Stewart and Jennie Carter, (with a magic wand to bewitch anyone who would dare to actually ’stump’ us), hosted the session. The only ammunition the panel had, apart from Jennie’s wand, was a link to State Library’s web catalogue, and what was in their heads.

In the allocated time, seven questions were asked and I can honestly say that we were not stumped! We were able either to direct the questioner to a source that would answer the question or to guide them to likely sources. With Battye Library Director, Dr Ronda Jamieson, taking the role as ’gopher’ we actually got some people started on their research. The questions varied greatly in their themes - from ’how best to identify individual Perth skyline buildings as viewed from the South Perth foreshore’, to ’the closure of Stump a the Belmont railway station’. Information was sought on W Hynes, aerated waters manufacturer circa 1900. Probably the hardest question librarian!!?? to answer was that about the original boundary between the New South As part of the Just ask Wales colony and the rest of @ your library campaign, unclaimed Australia. the Battye Library held a This was the first time that the Battye Library had ever opened 45 minute ’Stump a itself to such questioning - although Librarian’ session in the staff do answer such questions daily Alexander Library - and it was an interesting and effective forum for displaying Building on 16 March. research strategies and resources. And to the credit of staff, the 24 ost of those who attended hour clause was not called upon! also attended workshops Well done to all involved. Mhosted on the same day by K 8 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 RARE BESTSELLERS STORY RUSSELL HAMILTON RARE BOOKS Rare Bestsellers Donation of rare and significant items to the State Library When the official account of Captain Cook’s last voyage was published in 1784, it sold out in three days. The three volume edition was reprinted 5 times in that year alone, and was soon translated into French, German, Russian, Dutch, Swedish and Italian! hen the official account of has an Australian connection. William T.S. Eliot that ’We cannot fully enjoy Captain Cook’s last voyage Dampier provided the earliest or rightly estimate a hundred years Wwas published in 1784, it description of Australian Aborigines of English poetry unless we fully sold out in three days. The three by an Englishman. During his voyage enjoy Dryden’. Samuel Johnson volume edition was reprinted 5 times around the world from 1679 -1691 wrote of this translation that it ’satisfied in that year alone, and was soon he cruised along the W.A. coast from Dryden’s friends and silenced Dryden’s translated into French, German, Shark Bay to Roebuck Bay and enemies’. Russian, Dutch, Swedish and Italian! stopped in the Buccaneer Archipelago from January to March 1688. (The This very handsome folio edition - a Art historian Bernard Smith wrote Archipelago was named in complete one-man translation of that right up until the invention of commemoration of Dampier’s visit). The Works of Virgil - was published photography it was the engravings This four volume edition of his much in 1697. Dryden, having lost his in those three volumes that formed reprinted A New Voyage round the positions as Poet Laureate and the basis of the European view of World, was published in French in Historiographer Royal, was relying the South Pacific. 1711. on his writing to support himself. Therefore the work was published Fortunately, due to the generosity of Two other volumes donated by the by a subscription method: intending the Gibson family, the State Library Gibson family will be of interest to purchasers paid a deposit in advance, of Western Australia can now make scholars. The rare 1587 edition of and then paid the balance upon this rare 1784 edition available to all Holinshed's Chronicles was the publication. (One hundred and one Western Australians. Dr. Peter Gibson source Shakespeare used for his notable subscribers paid extra to have and Mr. And Mrs. David Gibson history plays Macbeth, King Lear their names and coats of arms recently presented this and several and Cymbeline. Sir Walter Raleigh inscribed at the foot of the engraved other rare and interesting items to considered Shakespeare fortunate plates accompanying the text). the State Library. The items had been in that the ’Chronicles of Holinshed, Dryden’s Virgil sold well and served acquired by Dr. Arthur Gibson in unlike more modern histories, are as an example of how to publish England in the 1930s. dramatic in essence; they leave without the support of a single patron. constitutional problems on one side Amongst the gems is another and make the most of striking events In these times when libraries are interesting Cook volume. A new, and characters’. Upon publication struggling to provide clients with authentic, and complete collection of this work enjoyed immediate success access to expensive online databases Voyages round the World……. was and popularity. Readers today will it is extremely fortunate that through originally published in 80 weekly parts as likely delve into the Chronicles the public spirited generosity of donors for the ’many thousands of Persons for genealogical data as for the such as the Gibsons, the State who would wish to peruse the geographical descriptions and Library’s collections of rare and Discoveries .and view the astonishing character studies. interesting items are still increasing. fine copper-plates’. Now Western These bestsellers of the past will Australian readers can follow those Finally, amongst these donations now be preserved and available to accounts and study the accompanying there is a personal favorite of Dr. Western Australians in perpetuity. 150 fascinating engravings. Arthur Gibson - Dryden’s translation of the works of Virgil. Dr. Gibson Russell Hamilton, Librarian, Social Another of the Gibsons’ donations would surely have concurred with Sciences K

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 9 NEWS HISTORICAL RECORDS

industries, ethnic and indigenous peoples, family historians and those with a general interest in Western Australian history. The aim of the HRRC is to seek the funding to rescue precious material held in the JS Battye Library in the interests of current and future generations. ’The consortium came together in 2003 because we knew that if we didn’t get support and act quickly it all might be too late’ said Dr Pamela 'This is a worldwide problem because collections are deteriorating faster than staff can do the preservation work'. Rescuing our historical records

The Challenge Statham Drew, President of HRRC. he JS Battye Library of West Discussions are already underway Australian History collects, with Lotterywest, (which has previously Tpreserves and makes available supported smaller preservation to the community material on Western projects), and they have already Australia’s heritage. These priceless provided funds for a consultant to help historical records include books, the HRRC determine community newspapers, photographs, private priorities in this important project, papers, films and oral histories, some find other project partners and apply dating from before white settlement. for a further grant.

Despite the dedicated effort of expert Why help is needed staff, some parts of the collection So much needs preserving and will be lost because of the materials traditional fund raising efforts will used in creating the items. Dr Ronda only go so far in meeting urgent and Jamieson, Director of the Battye on-going needs. The Consortium Library, has noted that we are not needs community help to prioritise alone, ’This is a worldwide problem and support the need to restore the because collections are deteriorating most at-risk material. In other words faster than staff can do the preservation the first of the at-risk material to be work’. In other countries private saved must be the most in-demand. sources are being used to supplement The community needs to say what government funds to accelerate this is. preservation programmes and in WA special funding is also required How you can help to help save the most endangered Comments and support from as many materials. Ronda added ’The good people as possible are needed before news is that if immediate action is the end of April as the Consortium taken much of the material can be intends submitting a proposal for saved and made available on line special funding to Lotterywest for through the internet’. consideration. All interested are invited to answer the questionaire Action so far set out on the HRRC website In response to this need the Historical Records Rescue Consortium (HRRC) To contact the HRRC has been set up consisting of Tel: 1800 675 421 between 8am representatives of community groups and 3pm or A/H 0409 290895. that use and value Battye Library Check out the website link at resources. The Consortium, includes http://www.success-works.com.au academic and professional historians, Write to us c/f Friends of Battye, PO teachers, mining and business Box 216 Northbridge WA 6865 K

10 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 DEREK KEENE CONGRATULATIONS CLAIRE NEWS

Congratulations Claire!! On 24 March 2004 Acting CEO and State Librarian, Claire Forte, graduated with the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from UWA , Graduate School of Business.

his brought to an end two years of Derek Keene very hard work by Claire. The TEMBA degree is done by A pictorial record of a coursework, and is targeted at senior managers with at least 5 years senior Kimberley town. work experience. Entry to the program is highly competitive and the course The Premier, the Hon. Dr Geoff Gallop, attended a involves completion of 12 units covering a broad range of management fields meeting of the Friends of Battye Library on Tuesday 9 including accounting and financial March to receive a collection of photograph albums of management, strategy, negotiation, Halls Creek from photographer Derek Keene. workforce planning, organisational behaviour, change management and he collection is an amazing archival materials and glues which corporate governance. chronological record of a will ensure the collection’s longevity. Tspecial place and its people. In 2002 Derek completed his last The program cohort comprised 18 senior ’In the future these images will be a annual album and is now concentrating managers from across the private and wonderful source for research, on rehousing and describing earlier public sectors. Claire was one of two particularly for the Indigenous historic photographs that he has women graduating from the first cohort. community of Halls Creek and their collected over the years. The course was conducted over a number family histories’, Dr Gallop said. of weekends with a requirement for All Derek’s albums will be preserved completion of individual and group It all began in August 1986 when in the Battye Library and eventually assignments, plus a major research Derek decided to capture ’today’s be made available for the public to project, all based around workplace history’ and started to photograph enjoy. A selection of images will be situations. people, places and events in his digitised and placed on the library’s Of Claire Forte’s performance, Professor home town of Halls Creek at yearly website. Gary Stockport, Director of the EMBA intervals. Over the 16 years devoted program, said: ’Claire has consistently to his project, Derek took over 25,000 The Premier returned to Parliament produced work of a very high standard. photographs of the district and its after the function as it was a She has worked diligently throughout people. Images include portraits of parliamentary sitting day. According the 2 year period and all assignments mothers and children photographed to Hansard, he told members of the have been submitted on time. She has over several years, showing how Legislative Assembly that he was demonstrated that she is a team player families have grown and changed. ’privileged to accept’ the collection and within the Program and she has continually Other photographs capture sporting spoke of the ’wonderful generosity’ added value to her syndicate group as events and important town of Derek Keene. Dr Gallop concluded well as the cohort more generally. Claire celebrations to create a marvellous by saying: ’On behalf of the Government has proved that she is a committed person pictorial and historic record of the and the people of Western Australia, and will finish something that she starts. town and the East Kimberley region. I thank Derek for his generous donation, which will be preserved in Claire has always adopted a positive Derek Keene’s passion to create a the Battye Library to be enjoyed and approach to her study. She has also visual document of Halls Creek used by future generations’. provided praise both to me, personally, involved him in much personal as well as to the Program more generally expense in producing the photographs Jennie Carter and this has been well received.’ and presenting them in magnificent Manager, Battye Archival Collections Well done Claire - we are proud of you! leather bound albums. He has used K

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 11 OBITUARIES PROFESSOR LESLIE MARCHANT PAT COOK

We were saddened to hear of the death of Professor Leslie Marchant on 8 March 2004. Vale Professor Leslie Marchant eslie Ronald Marchant, earned of the Battye Library and State Records a place in the history of Western Office extensively and generously LAustralia for his seminal work donated his papers and other on French maritime exploration in collections to the library for the benefit Australia, France Australe. In France of future researchers. he was recognised by conferment of the title Chevalier, Ordre National In recognition of his work and his du MØrite. He was also made a support, he was appointed State member of the Academie Des Sciences Library Visiting Scholar. In October d’Outre-mer. The State Library of 2003 he was acknowledged as one Western Australia’s successful of Western Australia’s living treasures Freycinet exhibition held early last by the Friends of Battye Library who year owed much to Marchant’s work honoured him with the society’s relating to early French exploration ’Gem of Time’ award. His family of Australia. report how much this very overdue honour meant to Leslie Marchant Professor Marchant was also noted and to his wife and children. for his research, writing and teaching on Australian maritime history, Chinese Staff of the State Library of Western history and on the history of Aboriginal Australia and members of the Friends Affairs administration in Western of Battye Library offer sincere Australia. His impressive body of condolences to Professor Marchant’s work reflected his wide ranging wife Gunhild, his children and interests and passion for history. grandchildren. Professor Marchant used the resources Vale Pat Cook - enthusiast, collector and benefactor Pat in the UK shortly after retirement in 1976 at Cook was Principal Lecturer a start’. From nothing in 1980 RCCL in Library Studies at the old WA now holds over 10,000 Australian PSecondary Teachers’ College titles and is one of the largest and in Nedlands. Her specialty, and best organised collections in the nation. passion, was children’s literature. Not Pat Cook played a very important role only did Pat inspire her students and in the early years of this development. enthusiasm she also built her own Her advice on titles and sources was substantial collection of children’s books. very much appreciated.

Pat continued her interest long after In 1981 Pat made her first donation her retirement to Augusta and in 1978, of books from her own collection - a on behalf of the Children’s Book Council number of early Australian titles. Pat (WA Branch), she made a submission had determined that State Library was to the Library Board proposing the to be the recipient of her collection foundation of a central collection of but she found it very hard to part with children’s literature for use by books that had been her delight and Pat passed away peacefully in researchers, student teachers and companions for many years. There September 2003 and will be librarians. With advice from Robert were several donations of one or two remembered by several of us at State Sharman, State Librarian, the Board titles but Pat finally found the courage Library with gratitude and affection. agreed to the proposal and the Research to part with her ’treasures’ in 1986. Pat’s idea of heaven would be sitting Collection of Children’s Literature The collection, chiefly of 19th and with a group of enthralled children, her (RCCL) was born in 1980. early 20th century English books eyes sparkling, as she reads one of included a remarkable collection of her favourite stories. I’m sure she is Robert Sharman instructed ’the need variant editions of Alice in Wonderland there! for such a collection is urgent, because and books about Alice. it daily becomes more difficult to make Patrick Moore K

12 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 BATTYE BATTYEABOUT BOOKSABOUT BOOKSBOOKS BOOKS Battye about Books

Paddy's Road: life stories of Romantic Retreats: ninety-two of Patrick Dodson the best-kept secrets in the The Mighty Mount Eden: the South-West of Western Australia. Kevin Keeffe story of a legend Christine Forbes Smith & Geoffrey While Patrick Dodson's bearded image is Peter Sweeney Thomas well known, the remarkable history of this Mount Eden was to trotting as Phar Lap outstanding Aboriginal leader has never was to racing. More popular in his home Romantic Retreats is the ideal guide for before been told. In Paddy's Road, Kevin state than any human, this is the story of an romantic couples travelling to the South-West Keeffe brings us stories of Dodson's life amazing horse that shared an amazing of Western Australia. The book details 92 woven from interviews, government archives relationship with his master, Jack Miles. retreats catering for a wide variety of and family stories. preferences and budgets, with a ‘Things to Campbell Sweeney, West Leederville WA, Aboriginal Studies Press, ACT, Do’ section listing places of interest and [2002?] 2003 activities St George Books, Osborne Park WA, 2003

The Kimberley (new revised edition) James Stirling: Admiral and David McGonigal founding Governor of Western Ghost of the Alkimos Australia Jack Wong Sue and Barry Sue This is the third edition of this most Pamela Statham Drew The collection of anecdotes, yarns and comprehensive guide to the Kimberley's history, memories accumulated here concerning the geography, Aboriginal people, early settlers, This ambitious biography, seven years in the ship Alkimos, wrecked off the WA coast in communications, primary industries, national making, breaks new ground in documenting fully Stirling's path from birth into one of the 1960s, will fascinate readers of maritime parks and wildlife. Contains 160 exceptional Scotland's oldest families, through to founder lore and the legends and myths that develop photographs and detailed maps. Australian Geographic Pty Ltd, Terrey and Governor of the Swan River Colony around what appear to be ‘doomed vessels’. and, ultimately, to Admiral and British naval Hills NSW, (3rd. ed.) 2003 Jack Sue WA Skindivers Publications, chief in east Asia. Midland WA, 2001 University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands WA, 2003

Plants of the Kimberley Region of The Barque Eglinton: wrecked Western Australia (revised edition) Western Australia 1852 R. J. Petheram and B. Kok. Piercing the Ground Photography by E. Bartlett-Torr Christine Watson Myra Stanbury An important resource for pastoral managers Piercing the Ground stands as a highly This report presents the background history and rangeland advisors in managing vegetation original and groundbreaking elucidation of of the barque Eglinton, wrecked off the coast and land-use issues, this revised edition will Kutjungka painting and a significant addition near Wanneroo in 1852, as well as the also be a valuable reference for students of to what is known as the ‘anthropology of art’. archaeological work undertaken on the site, ecology and range sciences, as well as A fitting tribute to her indigenous mentors, including a description and evaluation of the appealing to nature lovers, conservationists and this book should change the way people artefact collection. travellers in the Kimberley region. regard contemporary acrylic painting. Australian Institute for Marine Archaelogy University of WA Press, Nedlands WA, Fremantle Arts Centre Press, Fremantle Inc, Fremantle WA, 2003 (rev. ed.) 2003 WA, 2003

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