tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28788436540612067522024-03-12T19:57:52.586-07:00Stacey's Brilliant London VentureUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-34107017658474806812008-07-23T18:22:00.000-07:002008-09-26T21:35:29.043-07:00Central Library, Edinburgh, Scotland<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJsaNoumZZI/AAAAAAAAC2I/lRQDIMtB8tY/s1600-h/Central+Library.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJsaNoumZZI/AAAAAAAAC2I/lRQDIMtB8tY/s200/Central+Library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231804213694457234" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The Commute to Edinburgh and Introductions to Carol Marr, Library Officer:</strong><br /><br />Following a tour of the Dalkeith Library on a Tuesday morning, two days prior to leaving for the mini break to Paris, France to meet my daughter (sigh!), I took a bus ride with a classmate to Edinburgh on the ‘number 3 bus’, walked directly to the <a href="http://www.elephanthouse.biz/">Elephant House </a>for lunch and souvenir purchases, to land at my final destination of the Edinburgh Central Library on Princes Street. <br /> <br />In a historic city that is built around volcanic hills, a literary and cultural heritage is revealed through a wealth of resources and records made available in Edinburgh libraries. The Central library is in an Old World Heritage site close to the Royal Mile and is known for providing worldwide knowledge through its wealthy span of resources that seek to meet the information, learning and recreational needs of patrons of all ages. <br /><br /><strong>Insight into the Library as a Communal Space, the Collection and Services:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJ3Ze7m_3bI/AAAAAAAAC9g/4MJu7aXJsVw/s1600-h/Central_Library.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJ3Ze7m_3bI/AAAAAAAAC9g/4MJu7aXJsVw/s200/Central_Library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232577467494948274" /></a><br /><br />My initial venture into the French Renaisssance style Carnagie library, built by Architect George Washington Browne, began by taking a few pictures and speaking with the security guard up front about the location and access to the library and the Resource Centre for the handicapped, given that is my research topic. As with all Carnagie libraries, above the entrance were the words 'Let there be light'. Once again in the front hall down the stairs, I read a large title made for the building, which read: <br /><br /><em>"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. <br />Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; keep her for she is thy life. <br />Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding and..."(</em>From the Book of Proverbs).<br /><br />I took a quick peek at the bust of Andrew Carnegie as I ventured up the main stairwell and came right back down. I read that Carnegie donated 25,000 pounds to the library which was doubled later! I stood in amazement and wonderment after thinking about Carnegie funding so many libraries around the world and once back to earth, was puzzled after climbing the sets of stairs as to how the disabled would enter the library or come upstairs. I later learned that there are areas of this library that are not handicapped accessible. I was relieved to learn that entrance to the Resource Centre for special needs populations was accessible from the ground level and was located next door to the library, being connected and not isolated from the library core. Items from the collection could be brought to the patrons from this point, after a request is made in the resource centre.<br /><br />With many different departments in this public lending library, similar to what can be found in public libraries in the United States, the collection at Edinburgh Central Library offers more than 850,000 items to browse through, with an option to borrow. The books available covered the gamut of many subject areas to suit all patron ages and tastes with free information and an enquiry service to assist all. Of profit for the patron community, one that expands well beyond the boundaries of the Scottish nation, is study space, Internet, email, PC services and access to the most current digital information reserves that are freely and abundantly furnished. The Central library also maintains collections of CDs, DVDs and audio books. Special services include guided tours, visits, talks and events with an offer of community meeting spaces. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJuWrZYVk8I/AAAAAAAAC4E/sBh9XsBrHBc/s1600-h/edinburgh+central+library.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJuWrZYVk8I/AAAAAAAAC4E/sBh9XsBrHBc/s200/edinburgh+central+library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231941064412468162" /></a><br /><br />The Edinburgh Central Library provides the city with local studies/research for local or family history information, with the contribution of census returns, Old Parish Registers, directories, local newspapers, free family history resources and digitized images on the “<a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Leisure/Libraries/Explore_your_library/Edinburgh%20Hidden/CEC_capital_collections_-_image_library">Capital Collections website</a>”. Of importance and added value to Edinburgh patrons, Edinburgh City Archives is publicly available to offer supplementary facets of how their ancestors may have lived to include records such as:<br /><br />• Education records<br />• Incorporated Trade records<br />• Dean of Guild Plans<br />• Town Council Minutes<br />• Parochial Board administrative and Poor House records<br /><br />My tour guide, Mrs. Carol Marr, stated that the lower level of the library offered the largest known special collections in the world! A wonderful offer is the Fiction collection, where literature written in all languages is known to be represented. Interestingly, Mrs. Marr stated that parts of the collection can be rented by scholastic and community groups and organizations to promote literacy and learning. The sizable offer of talking books were mentioned to be available for the visually impaired and other special needs population groups, with no charge to patrons for audio if registered as being disabled at the library. This is a special membership that is available to patrons, with the offer of a library card that indicates this designation. As we walked through the stacks, I noticed several long bookshelves of large print items. I also passed through a generous supply of travel guides, newspapers and teen book displays. Of importance for Mrs. Marr to mention was the fact that the Young Adult, Children’s and Adult sections of the library were blended, as plans for constructing a new building as a separate division for the Young Adult and Teen collections was already in advanced planning stages as we spoke. Lastly, we passed the ‘Learning Centre’ with a lavish supply of computers for patrons to access on a daily basis.<br /><br /><strong>The Resource Centre, for People with Additional Support Needs: Interview and Tour by Jim McKinzie</strong><br /> <br />After a general tour of the collections, Mrs. Marr set up an interview with the Disabilities Services Officer and Librarian, Mr. Jim McKinzie. Prior to entering the facility, accessible from the main building, Mrs. Marr informed me that the Learning Centre is connected to the Resource Centre for community education and information technology/computer education. Mr. McKinzie then informed me that he has been in this particular position for eight years. On a grateful note, Jim stated that he has at least one Library Assistant to help out in the Resource Centre each day! The assistants come to him with full knowledge of the software made available to assist patrons. The software includes Microsoft software to include programs such as Word Processing, Excel, Powerpoint and Access. The Internet is also made free for the public in this zone of the library. The offer of screen magnification and speech output software is available to assist patrons in using the computer facilities. Jim stated that licensing for the speech software is a necessity. Also offered is a selection of equipment to read aloud documents and books, as well as a CCTV magnifier to enlarge photos and text up to 60 times magnification. The offer of an assortment of computer mice and keyboards designed to help the disabled was another advantageous service to patrons. All one needed to do was ‘book’ one-on-one staff support for special assistance and also for equipment to guarantee the availability and use of the equipment. I also learned that the Centre was fully accessible to wheelchair users, with a handicapped restroom nearby for patrons. The Resource Centre offered its own distinctive hours, removed from the main library, and is in full operation Mondays through Fridays, from 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm. <br /><br />The Resource Centre thoughtfully advertised the services using politically correct terminology of helping those with ‘additional support needs’. Over the eight years Jim has been employed in this centre, the hours have expanded from the very limiting hours of 2 pm to 4pm daily to the lengthier present day hours. Jim stated that there was a measured need, so the time was responsibly expanded. Of the 26 community libraries in Edinburgh, Jim said that there is only one other Resource Centre to offer similar services as what is offered at the Central Library. When questioning Jim as to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the library (SWOT), he offered that a major threat upon services several years back was when the scanning software was totally wiped out due to a new provider installation! This service has yet to be re-instilled and stated that adding a new provider can be a big threat in coordinating with the special needs services offered. It is an ongoing issue between the Resource Centre and the Information Technology (IT) Department, with many hurdles to overcome in the future, with a lack of sufficient communication or coordinative efforts between departments currently to meet with the needs of the library’s special needs populations. He expressed his frustrations in that it was as though the services provided by the Centre were not approached as being as important and I saw this as an opportunity for his position to aggressively advocate the value of the services today and into the future. Jim expressed his concerns with obtaining software with speaking functions as well, due to funding issues and current problems with the IT Department. According to Jim, the software that the Centre maintains is not working as well as it should, but the future looked promising to him. <br /><br /><strong>Description of Special Needs Equipment Acquired, Designed to Serve in Unique Ways:</strong><br /><br />The library currently uses the <a href="http://www.kurzweiledu.com/">Kurzweil System</a>, which is scanning software for books and printed items such as letters, with <a href="http://www2.edc.org/ncip/library/vi/ocr.htm">Optical Character Recognition (OCR)software </a>to read the text out loud for patrons. The centre offers hard speech recognition software called “<a href="http://www.ddwin.com/dictate.htm">Dragon Dictate</a>”, but is seeking better software currently. Jim stated that when a patron gets referred to the Centre, an interview is conducted to understand more fully what the patrons needs are at the moment. The first thing that takes place when a patron comes in to use the services after being fully registered is teaching the <a href="http://www.typingsoft.com/typing.htm">"touch-type” method (FDSA type), </a>which makes it easier to work with the patron. <br /><br /><strong>Keyboards and Mice:</strong><br /><br />Of value to my tour of the Resource Centre and brief interview in Mr. Jim McKenzie’s office, he brought out some of the keyboards to demonstrate its use. There were <a href="http://www.ulva.com/images/maltron-right-hand785x581.jpg ">one handed key boards</a> for the disabled with only one functioning hand to manipulate the computer. Jim informed me that the odd shaped, ergonomic keyboard matched natural hand movement with a key arrangement that reduces strain and minimizes finger movement. This design is one that aids the disabled by alleviating the frustration of using a normal keyboard and thereby raising the speed when typing. Of interest to me was that there are left and right handed models used for touch typing. Another <a href="http://www.adapt-it.org.uk/images/keymonster_blackwhite2.jpg">keyboard</a> offered large keys that were either black or white for distinctiveness. Of aid to the visually impaired patrons, some of the keyboards had numbers and letters that were of opposing colours. Jim also showed me an example of a coloured keyboard in contrast to the black and white keyboard. He explained that for those patrons with vision disabilities, <a href="http://images.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover/images/keyboardbig20050505.jpg">this keyboard control </a>offered enhanced control with a built in screen reader called Voice Over. Other incredible options offered by this unique keyboard, was the ability to magnify the screen and spoken descriptions of what is on the screen! This keyboard was used in the Resource Centre for not only for those with low vision, but for the blind and patrons with learning difficulties. Another keyboard called the <a href="http://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/orbitouch.jpg">Orbitouch keyboard </a>was called the "keyless" keyboard by Jim, to be used by the physically handicapped minus the use of functioning fingers or those with limited mobility or hand injuries (i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome). On this keyboard device, two sliding domes or dials for the right and left hands replace the mouse and keyboard to allow movement in any direction (not twisting!), similar to laptop track nubs, and keystrokes are created to type letters! This tracker ball system offers a wonderful alternative for the elderly as well and is quite popular in the Resource Centre. <br /><br /><strong>Referrals to Edinburgh Central Library’s Resource Centre:</strong><br /><br />Because the Resource Centre is integrated with the Learning Centre and accessible by all Central Library patrons, oftentimes patrons feed into the technology zone to use the computers either by means of overflow from the main library or referred there by the library staff. Once inside, Mr. McKinzie and his staff may not initially know who has special needs as oftentimes it is not visible. He explained that the special needs patrons either come eventually to the staff to request more time or have many questions, which alerts them to the fact the individual has specific needs that the usual equipment or services does not provide them. Patrons feed to them in this sometimes indirect or direct manner and also feeds from the main library staff who refer them directly to the centre. Referrals also come from phone calls or email requests for more specialized assistance and service. Front house tours and classes at the library offer referrals to the Resource Centre as well. It is important to mention that many of the patrons that use the Resource Centre are elderly patrons. Jim stated that with two staff on board each day to assist patrons, more one-on-one service is valuably offered. <br /><br /><strong>Needs of the Resource Centre at Edinburgh Central Library:</strong><br /><br />The current needs of the Resource Centre is to obtain a new DVD player, obtain the equipment to make text conversion into Braille and to fix the Doorbell that connects the front desk amplifier with the street door entrance to the Centre. I learned that this door remains locked. Jim stated that he was not entirely sure of why it must be kept locked from this outdoor entrance (must enter the Resource Centre from the Main Library entrance that feeds into the Centre; a longer distance for the special needs individuals) other than the liability of having it open and just to ensure that only library patrons are fed into the Resource Centre with security guards at the front entrance to the main library. He also mentioned that theft of the special needs equipment and the technology in the learning centre was most probably a big concern of the library. Jim said that they need a larger facility, especially since the tremendous growth during his employ at the Resource Centre. Of the main barriers in access to the Resource Centre, he stated that limited space in a growing Centre was a big concern and the IT Department not completely networking the Resource Centre to the main computers (a big, ongoing issue! Protection software for dyslexics diffused currently). Other needs are for more accessible toilets with ample space for durable medical equipment ‘DME’ (i.e. wheelchairs, walkers, safety bars, etc.). <br /><br />On a positive note, Scotland’s National Disability and Information Service was updated to offer the library and other organizations that serve the disabled in Scotland membership packages of disability information, resources and an array of other supportive services for the organization in the offer of up-to-date and current disability information to clients. A helpline is made available as well as an informative website to assist with many questions concerning such things as equipment and local sources of advice and help for the special needs populations.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/staceyboo9788/EdinburghCentralLibraryEdinburghScotland"><strong>PHOTO ALBUM</strong></a><br /><br /><strong>Websites of Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/a-z/az_central_library">Edinburgh Central Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/leisure/libraries/your_nearest_library/central%20library/CEC_central_lending_library">Edinburgh Central Lending Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Leisure/Libraries/Getting_started/Computers_in_libraries/CEC_connect_library_learning_and_internet_centres_-_faqs">Edinburgh Central Learning Centre</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.update.org.uk/">Scotland's National Disability Information Service</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-29461929025566287782008-07-23T18:18:00.000-07:002008-08-24T22:43:14.875-07:00Dalkeith Library & Arts Centre, Scotland<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJshDzUHGpI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/A3fKMg5fuk4/s1600-h/dalkeith+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJshDzUHGpI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/A3fKMg5fuk4/s200/dalkeith+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231811741318847122" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Good Morning Dalkeith. A Jumpstart, but No Takeoff! Don’t Worry, be Happy!</strong><br /><br />The day began very early with an anticipation of getting a lot of work accomplished a few days prior to my departure to Paris! With two libraries to visit, I had just enough time left to do some exploring and touring in Edinburgh, do some observational research/field work and pack it all up so that I may leave Scotland for the next country on Stacey’s agenda. With so much on my mind, I woke up sometime after 5:30 am, which is something I ‘never’ do, but being in another country and having no one to depend upon/fall back on but yourself, this survivalist mode turned on naturally and set me in gear, full speed ahead. Yet, maybe a little too much on this day! But the sun was shining and I was ready to start my day and that I did. My friend and fellow SLIS classmate, Sheila, was to meet with me this morning to do a quick tour of the local Dalkeith library and Arts Centre on White Hart Street, just a few blocks away from the lovely County Hotel on High Street I had been happily staying at. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJs6CAuwKcI/AAAAAAAAC2g/5uMsXji1gdc/s1600-h/County+Hotel+Dalkeith.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJs6CAuwKcI/AAAAAAAAC2g/5uMsXji1gdc/s200/County+Hotel+Dalkeith.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231839198351206850" /></a><br /><br />The only problem is that I quickly learned after a brisk walk there to locate the library that it did not open until a very late 9:30 am, so I walked around the quaint, small town of Dalkeith, waiting for coffee shops to open while snapping pictures of buildings and as many flowers beds as I could. I was reworking in my mind the flower beds I have at home in Baton Rouge, as I took note of the lovely gardens and hanging arrangements in this historic town outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKEUYBMNYhI/AAAAAAAAC-4/oQVxfLBH5Eg/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKEUYBMNYhI/AAAAAAAAC-4/oQVxfLBH5Eg/s200/Dalkeith+Collage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233486644850287122" /></a><br /><br />I actually saw a few British Studies program students wandering about either alone as myself or in small groups looking for breakfast, yet they discovered as I had, that Dalkeith was not fully awaken yet! These very small towns have businesses and shops that are slow to open and quick to close at the end of the day. What that means for us students is to make sure to gather supplies and food when the opportunity presents itself during our scheduled days. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCUUB_ZdtI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/BFMmYYuEBug/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCUUB_ZdtI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/BFMmYYuEBug/s200/Dalkeith+Library+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233345838857156306" /></a> <br /><br /><strong>The Midlothian Library and Arts Centre in Dalkeith, Scotland:</strong><br /><br />The visit at the Dalkeith Library began by taking initial pictures (after introducing myself as a library student and getting permission to use my camera, which is something that is typically not allowed) and walking around the outer and inner perimeter of the library. I jotted notes of what I observed about the general layout and my initial exposure and responses to the surroundings, such as the physical accommodations for patrons, posted informational flyers and signage, available seating, and who was coming in or already seated in the library. Immediately, I discovered that there was not a public restroom there, having consumed several large cups of coffee earlier, and had to walk one block over to a public restroom in a questionable alley in the back of some office buildings that was near the library. Possibly, the town is so small that having a restroom in the library was not deemed necessary, as one could arrive back at home with a hop, skip and a jump in this small town? The adjoining Art Centre was not open, so I assumed that it had a restroom within, but did not ask because I did not want to appear rude after the staff allowed me to take pictures, ask questions and observe that morning! While this seemed a big inconvenience to patrons, I quickly made my pit stop out of sheer necessity and zoomed back to the library! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKB-yLRHk-I/AAAAAAAAC9o/Ym-hiJyavpo/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+7.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKB-yLRHk-I/AAAAAAAAC9o/Ym-hiJyavpo/s200/Dalkeith+Library+7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233322167487665122" /></a><br /><br />There were a number of more elderly individuals coming in and I noticed the “Live It Computer Zone” was busy enough for a small library, with mostly young adults who were quietly at work. Towards the back of the library I discovered that the Children’s Room nicely integrated with the Teen Zone, which was separated by shorter bookshelves to offer somewhat of a barrier. There there was a buzz about the library as the library staff looked as though they were in some steady preparation for a children’s event that was soon to begin. The parents and very young children and infants were trickling in. There was a small but fairly good representation of all patron age groups there that morning!<br /><br /><strong>A Town Profile to put the Library into Perspective of its Community: An Overview of the Library and Collections</strong><br /><br /><strong><em>The Town:</em></strong><br /><br />Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland that is nestled on the River North Esk and has a population of 11,566 residents according to the 2001 census. The name is Scottish Gaelic meaning ‘the valley with the wood’ and the town motto is ‘once the Keeper, always the Defender.’ The Scottish town has four distinctive zones: the historic Towne Centre and the historic core; Eskbank on the West that encompasses many large Victorian homes and newer constructions; and Woodburn on the Eastern side, consisting of the working class council estate. Dalkeith is 400 miles north of London and only eight miles southeast of Edinburgh, making this a convenient stay given good bus transportation funnelling students and teachers to and from Dalkeith and Edinburgh for our required class visits and touring needs. <br /><br />The economy is primarily based off of dairy, printing, bookbinding, wool-spinning, supermarkets, grain milling and cattle. What was historically a market town due to its thriving grain, horse and cattle market, has been built up over the years around the notable and historic 12th Century Dalkeith Castle (the seat of Scottish government under Oliver Cromwell, in 1650), which the majority of British Studies students stayed at during our brief stay.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJtNmcZ_5ZI/AAAAAAAAC3w/Xf1twKd7q1g/s1600-h/Dalkeith+castle.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJtNmcZ_5ZI/AAAAAAAAC3w/Xf1twKd7q1g/s200/Dalkeith+castle.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231860714976568722" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>The Library:</em></strong><br /><br />The Dalkeith Library is part of a branched library network that is managed by Midlothian libraries that offers an assorted collection to serve its community which includes a large reference section, digital resources, tools and Microsoft software, a learning centre, career information, periodicals and office equipment for the public to freely access and use. The library is made very accessible with full wheel chair access, enlarged keyboards for personal computers, screenreader software, hearing loops and magnification equipment. I learned while there that the adjoining Arts Centre was part of a modernization and renovation effort of the town centre by the mayor in a single story building with an outdoor patio adjoining to the library. The promotion of the arts followed the formation of the Dalkeith & District Arts Guild with an offer of arts events and activities, musical performances and exhibitions to name a few. Of benefit to the local and nearby community organizations is use the facility in promotion of the arts, cultural, and heritage interests that are open to the public.<br /><br />Upon entering the library that morning, I noticed that it was fairly small and very colourful, livened up with reds, yellows and blue colors, along with fairly modern library furniture. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKB_sfVf4CI/AAAAAAAAC9w/iIrZeZ4JH1Y/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKB_sfVf4CI/AAAAAAAAC9w/iIrZeZ4JH1Y/s200/Dalkeith+Library+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233323169307156514" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCAekM4SII/AAAAAAAAC94/qrcuEykgRug/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCAekM4SII/AAAAAAAAC94/qrcuEykgRug/s200/Dalkeith+Library+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233324029606643842" /></a><br /><br />The nearest library sections to the front door are the community information zone, the reference books and a huge large-print collection to service the large elderly community as well as the visually impaired. I noticed many stacks of chairs off to one side wall for library events. The reference books included many outdated items such as: encyclopaedias, Oxford English Dictionary (OED), a small section of government documents, Scottish Parliament Acts and other publications. I observed a sign in the reference area that said many of these books and registers are searchable in ‘KnowUK’ on the library computers and I was in hopes that the digital reference books were more updated. <br /><br />Following my initial conversation with the librarian about my research work, getting permission to use my camera and directions to the public restrooms around the corner, I asked a little later about the talking books on CD because the equipment to preview it within the library was partially removed. The very nice but uninformed library worker stated that she was unsure why it was removed and did not know when it would be returning, yet stated it had been well used in the past. <br /><br />Of interest was a Photo ID Booth in front of the library. It was certainly a unique addition to the library with the offer of a picture booth with curtains, yet I think that having it in a library is a nice and appropriate offer for a small community as it is centrally located for all to use without having to access in a postal centre with possibly lesser hours to access it. One of the greatest benefits of using this library was the free wireless/Internet access and other computer technologies, as well as the offer of a wonderful community meeting place where needed information could be obtained and entertainment needs could be met.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCTLEbxffI/AAAAAAAAC-I/hq2YyFBdrys/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCTLEbxffI/AAAAAAAAC-I/hq2YyFBdrys/s200/Dalkeith+Library+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233344585382591986" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>Community Resources:</em></strong><br /><br />The community resources on display offered many brochures, flyers, booklets and pamphlets near the photo booth and was free information for the public to access for a range of information that may assist with things as health issues, abuse issues, safety, education and technology training for examples. Basically, information was made available as services and programs through the library or community organiations to promote healthy and productive living in order to thrive in the Dalkeith community. <br /><br /><em><strong>Servicing Special Needs Groups and the Collection:</strong></em><br /><br />As far as the library offering a safe haven that provides handicapped persons successful access to the building and a supply of resources, I observed a front door ramp and electronic doors for entry. The tables found throughout the library allowed ample spacing for wheelchair access and manoeuvrability. Even in the smaller areas, as was found in the small periodicals section that maintained a collection of newspapers, magazines and journals of local news, Scottish history and health primarily, movement and free flowing turn around space was allowed for those on foot or in a wheelchair. Open spaces was definitely the theme in this small library that appeared to be working well for the library patrons on the day of my visit. I observed a wheelchair-bound man to manipulate his way through the library front entry to the outdoors with no problems. The electronic doors are a big plus for libraries and when working efficiently serves all patrons! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCV2HvntTI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/FF1iFxvuK-Q/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCV2HvntTI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/FF1iFxvuK-Q/s200/Dalkeith+Library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233347524028773682" /></a> <br /><br />Special collection tables highlighting local or award winning authors were found in several locations. Of interest to me was one on the Mallorca collection of suspense and comedy. I was very surprised to see such a huge collection of crime books. The rows of talking books were fairly extensive to serve special needs populations, as well as an alternative format that youth enjoy as well as travellers to name others. To service poor vision or blind patrons, ‘The Advertiser’ was advertised as a community service outside where patrons could request sample copies of the Midlothian Newspaper to take home on Cassette tape. All patrons needed to do was ask the library workers if there were any questions or just call or email for more information. <br /><br />The collection offered a small amount of CD’s that were on display tables near the centre of the library to include classical, folk & country, easy listening, pop & rock and jazz. Other parts of the collection I observed as I made my way through the library was the signage near the periodicals advertising the electronic database 'Proquest' as an offer of an alternative format for up-to-date news for the United Kingdom. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCWprBvBuI/AAAAAAAAC-g/g-1u1fkX0Lo/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCWprBvBuI/AAAAAAAAC-g/g-1u1fkX0Lo/s200/Dalkeith+Library+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233348409673320162" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Management Rules of the Library:</strong><br /><br />To become a registered borrower at the Dalkeith Library, patrons would have to be a resident, employed or attending a school or college in the Midlothian Council area. Individuals can apply to become a registered borrower by completion of an application. Visitors, such as myself, can borrow materials when producing identification and a home address. Children ages 0-10 can join by a parent filling out and signing an application for them. Those aged 11 -13 can fill out a teen application signed by a parent or other responsible adult to become a registered borrower. Those youth in secondary education also fill out an application with a parent’s signature for borrowing rights. The loan period is 28 days with extensions being given in person, over the telephone and by letter. Patrons can borrow audio, video, multimedia and other materials. There are fees for overdue items as determined by the Council. Lastly, no pets are allowed in the library, other than guide dogs for the blind. <br /><br /><strong>Live It Computer Zone:</strong><br /><br />This computer zone was a popular area in the Dalkeith Library and offered career resources and books as well as computer help guides on surrounding tables. The offer of a printer/scanner, large keyboard with big and colourful keys and ten computers was a plus for the patrons. I dared not stay in this section long, because I had no intentions of using the computers and did not want to disturb the workers! The computers looked in very good condition and I appreciated the fact the library offered large monitors for every work station. The offer of the Midlothian Library Catalogue was a plus and while I did not manipulate it/use it, I observed it to offer a simple database with author, title, subject, keyword and ISBN searches. <br /><br /><strong>Other Interesting Tidbits to Mention about the Collection and Services:</strong><br /><br />The largest part of the collection appeared to be Non-Fiction interestingly, with a generous amount of travel books. A part-time library worker informed me that as a member of the Midlothian Council and Library, patrons are offered a wider choice in selections to also include access to the Lothian libraries of the east and west. These patrons benefit as well by having access to the <a href="http://nuin.napier.ac.uk/F?RN=931565364">Napier University campus libraries</a>. <br /><br />As far as classification schemes for the collection, the Dalkeith library uses the Dewey Decimal System. Some subjects are simply alphabetised though, such as the romance books. Another exception is the adventure books which are organized and arranged on the shelf by subject (ie. Science Fiction, Fantasy, Crime). <br /> <br />The library does just a little weeding of the collection as needed and discards books for sale. These items are for sale at 50 pence per item. The library may also request/interlibrary loan items published by the Midlothian Council in the community. Items typically requested are language, large print, Braille (Dalkeith Library does not have Braille items)or audio. <br /><br /><strong>Insightful Information about the library from a Library Worker:</strong><br /><br />The library worker I spoke with, that I unfortunately ceased to write her name down legibly, stated the ongoing children's program that had just flowered in the Children's room with the offer of nursery rhymes singing that helps to promote literacy, is called 'Rhyme Time'. The children ranged from 0 - 5 years old. The parents looked to be having as much fun as the children! What a wonderfully creative avenue for parents to come together with their children and have some fun while building language skills through music at the library!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCRLSJzFYI/AAAAAAAAC-A/AA5fPmnBq5E/s1600-h/Dalkeith+Library+8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKCRLSJzFYI/AAAAAAAAC-A/AA5fPmnBq5E/s200/Dalkeith+Library+8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233342390042039682" /></a><br /><br />Other notes of interest that the library worker mentioned were the members of the Blind Institute being provided with resources through the library. She also mentioned that because the reference books are outdated and the collection fund is extremely limited, the library staff buys books from the Grocery, as it is quicker and cheaper than purchasing through library vendors! She also informed me that with such a large elderly and poor population, the collection caters to meeting their needs. There are three full time library workers and three part time library workers. There is only one head librarian in the library system and the rest of the library staff are considered ‘library assistants'. Dalkeith Library is one of 12 branches of the Midlothian libraries, with the main library residing in the town of Loanhead, which is west of Dalkeith. Sheila and I thanked the library staff worker for speaking with us and we were off once again to Edinburgh to visit the Central library and do a bit more sightseeing, shopping, eating and picture taking! <br /><br /><strong><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/staceyboo9788/DalkeithLendingLibraryDalkeithScotlandHistoricDistrictOutsideEdinburgh">PHOTO ALBUM</a></strong><br /><br /><strong>Websites of Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/Topic.aspx?TopicId=54">Midlothian Library Services</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.midlothian.gov.uk//Topic.aspx?TopicId=6">Midlothian Council: Learning and Libraries</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.dalkeithuk.com/att_detail.php?id=54&cid=565&f=Dalkeith">Welcome to Dalkeith! Information on Dalkeith Castle</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.countyhotel-dalkeith.co.uk/">Dalkeith County Hotel</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-61716185746505043812008-07-22T07:08:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:38.255-08:00Library @ The Bridge, Glasgow<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJRdv5YrWFI/AAAAAAAABso/sqLE0646gLc/s1600-h/libraryatbridgeheader.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJRdv5YrWFI/AAAAAAAABso/sqLE0646gLc/s200/libraryatbridgeheader.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229908144723548242" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Introductions to Steven Finnie and a Tour of the Easterhouse Centre:</strong><br /><br />The Bridge is a matrix shaped centre that offers patrons a leisurely environment where learning, training and arts is on the forefront in Scotland. The centre is the product of a union between the Culture and Sport Glasgow, the John Wheatley College, Glasgow City Council and the Greater Easterhouse Arts Company. The organizations together strive to ‘bridge’ opportunities for the residents/community of Easterhouse. The centre has won many awards for its innovative and modern facility that offers an invigorating and central hub where culture is the focal point bolstering improvement in lifestyle, living and education. The facility offers a art centre for the community that is engaging and is positioned to be between the activities surrounding the University of Strathclyde, linking the people to the public swimming pool and other services provided such as a workshop, recording studio, theatre, gallery, café and last but most definitely not least, the library. <br /><br />The “Easterhouse” is most certainly a ‘meeting place’ and as a primary goal, the Architect invigorated it with the offer of an improved facility that has been statistically identified as being a need for a community that wants to come together! With high rates of unemployment, falling area population, poor health, lack of transport, lack of formal educational qualifications, and rising numbers of dependent children without working parents, serious problems have existed in the community and the Bridge was especially designed to bring value to a community with so many needs. <br /><br /><strong>The Library at the Bridge: Defining Features</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJRzr_PQ3hI/AAAAAAAABsw/R8_GjY-QOnQ/s1600-h/bridge3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJRzr_PQ3hI/AAAAAAAABsw/R8_GjY-QOnQ/s200/bridge3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229932266831011346" /></a><br /><br />The library is in an open expanse of the building and has segmented rows within a unique open area of varying levels. There is an ‘Inquiry Desk’ up front, a well integrated collection and many ramps and lifts to ensure access for all. The facility has a tree house effect with varying levels and a rich use of woodwork throughout. ‘The Den’ is a meeting area on the upper level that offers a tree house effect and functions as a small community room with computers. <br /><br />The Bridge offers a joint use library to be shared in the community along with its services. It features a new service delivery model where the college and the library is joined to form where services are delivered and developed together. An offer of the Internet and technical support is a plus for all age groups in the general public and university community. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKEbC2k17UI/AAAAAAAAC_I/GqGpPthVGJA/s1600-h/LibraryBridgeCollage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SKEbC2k17UI/AAAAAAAAC_I/GqGpPthVGJA/s200/LibraryBridgeCollage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233493977804959042" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Benefits of the Library at the Bridge:</strong><br /><br />Of the many benefits offered to the Easterhouse patron community are:<br /><br />• Enhanced library services<br />• Access to support by professional library staff<br />• Greater activity base and spacing<br />• Flexible hours of operation<br />• Enlarged and improved meeting spaces<br />• Greater study space<br />• Broadened services, resources and level of expertise<br />• More efficient and effective use of resources<br />• Increased performance, accountability and awareness<br />• More funding opportunities<br />• The offer of a fully integrated facility<br />• Integrated activities<br />• Enhanced staff satisfaction levels due to challenging work, career development and wider opportunity<br /><br /><strong>Other Unique Features of the Library at the Bridge:</strong><br /><br />As the centre of the building, the library offers a wonderful zone for the community that is brightly lit and seems to bring the outside in with large windows encircling the facility. The layout is uniformly geometric with shelving in alignment that has the effect of drawing patrons directly into the stacks. Each area (Periodicals, Adults, Teens/Young Adult and Children) is separated by shelving that serves as walls or dividers, but certainly not barriers. Each section offers ample seating and tables for lounging and reading purposes. The fabulous design of the library, as a unified structure with a design that carries throughout the facility, is one that the community is proud of with generous accommodating facilities for dance, music, swimming and theatre as well. The sloping floor plane throughout the structure offers easy access for everyone and is truly an urbanized jewel for the Easterhouse community.<br /><br /><strong>Library Activities:</strong><br /><br />With a mission to cater to the community’s need for a library space that enhances learning through the offer of information and recreation, the Library at the Bridge provides a target patron community with a large percentage of vulnerable individuals that have special needs or disabilities, a place that addresses these issues. Those individuals Steven discussed consisted of the following population groups: ethic minorities; sole parents; unemployed; mentally ill; disabled; young; old; unemployed; disabled; homeless; and those with chemical addictions. With such a broad number of special needs groups that the library serves on a daily basis, many partnership activities have be formulated to address their specific needs through various activities:<br /><br />1. Healthy Reading Initiative (special collection of health-related books)<br />2. Health Promotion Initiatives with Greater Glasgow NHS (information service)<br />3. Easterhouse Writer’s Group<br />4. Big Plus and BBC RAW (Adult literacy and numeracy)<br />5. Get Glasgow Reading<br />6. ICT Taster Sessions (Introduction to computer classes)<br />7. Youth Progamme (variety of youth activities; ongoing during the tour!)<br />8. McMillan Cancer Information and Support Services<br />9. Careers Scotland (Workshops)<br />10. Riddie Disability Group (library community group of various partnerships)<br />11. Adult Literacy and Numeracy Support <br />12. Bounce ‘n’ Rhyme (Stories, Rhymes and Book sharing of parents and children)<br />13. Doors Open Day (Annual architectural event)<br /><br />It is clear to see that the offer of such a wide range of opportunities promote lifelong learning for all age groups that, as our speaker/tour guide informed us, is advantageously all housed under one roof!<br /><br /><strong>More Interesting Information to Add:</strong><br /><br />The facility in entirety offers over 4,140 square feet of space, yet that surprises me as I imagined the space to be larger due to the openness and high ceilings that encourage you to look upwards (such as you would when looking up to a tree house, which appeared to be a library design theme). I was also surprised to see that the library shelving, furniture and some of the library supplies are supplied by Demco, as this company must be an 'international' library supplier. Another interesting and astonishing thing to mention is that the cost of the facility is over a hefty eight million pounds! The library is open 64 hours per week, Monday through Sunday, with Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays offering earlier closures at 5pm. The collection at present generously offers 33,820 items. Funding comes through the Scottish Arts Council, the Glasgow Community Planning, Strathclyde European Partnership, Glasgow City Council, the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the John Wheatley College.<br /><br /><strong>Unique Things I learned about the Bridge:</strong><br /><br />While the offer of a café in the library is not altogether surprising, the offer of alcohol in a facility that houses a library was most unusual to me. Yet, this concept of a library within a community centre is most unique and incorporates a mixture of different services and the offer of numerous art/entertainment venues in addressing community needs. There is also a recording studio and we were told that all auditoriums offered links to the café. The facility generates revenue to sustain the costs of upkeep and development. With that thought in mind, the library nicely receives ample funding from very unique revenue sources to maintain and further develop its collection and services! <br /><br /><strong><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/staceyboo9788/LibraryTheBridgeGlasgow">PHOTO ALBUM</a></strong><br /><br /><strong>Websites of Relevance and Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Libraries/Librarylocations">Glasgow: The Bridge</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-66287248953971555932008-07-22T07:07:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:38.371-08:00University of Strathclyde, Glasgow<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJRH0M9fnNI/AAAAAAAABsg/cCziqTjVjMo/s1600-h/Strathclyde+University.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJRH0M9fnNI/AAAAAAAABsg/cCziqTjVjMo/s200/Strathclyde+University.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229884029441907922" /></a><br /><strong>The Largest School in the United Kingdom: University of Strathclyde<br /><br />Discussion of Research and UK Librarians</strong><br /><br />While in Scotland, the class took a tour by bus to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, an academic institution that began in 1796 as a place for useful learning for all, with a reputation for reasearch and technical education. Our main hosts/speakers were David McMenemy and Alen Poulter. As a special treat, we got to hear about their research work and as an extra perk, listened as well to the ongoing research of a doctoral student, Christine Brown. The first part of our tour would begin in the Saltier Center and end at the library at 'the Bridge' (Easter House) for the socially deprived primarily, yet for the community as a whole to use. The Bridge is run by the government and has merged with local public libraries, universities and art centers. For the overview of the academic institution, UK libraries and research, David was to offer helpful information concerning the background of libraries. Christine was to offer the social values of the profession and Allen would discuss forensic readiness. Allen Dawson would be the last speaker to discuss his digital research. <br /><br /><strong>DAVID McMENEMY:</strong> <br /><br />David McMenemy, the Course Director of the Science Department, gave the class an overview of the university. He informed us that he teaches about technology, with special interests in metadata and research. After walking through the building, the class came together in a large room upstairs to comfortably sit/listen to the different talks and watch a few powerpoint presentations. I took notice that the university facility was a modern one in stark contrast to the campus facilities visited at Oxford University. After listening to Mr. McMenemy, we learned the campus and the Library at the Bridge predominantly served the socially disadvantaged students. He let us know that the facilities are fantastic and that it is an impressive university center that is more of a learning space. <br /><br /><strong>Classification System:</strong><br /><br />As a review of classification systems used, Mr. McMenemy informed the class that the public libaries use the Dewey Decimal system. The British Library uses the Library of Congress’s subject headings and they make use of cards that are reusable and are of the British version (Silip). <br /><br /><strong>Crisis in the Library Profession and Other Interesting Information:</strong><br /><br />Mr. McMenemy let us know that the crisis of confidence in the United Kingdom is in “keeping it going”, meaning to keep people in the library profession. He said that in the United Kingdom, public Librarians are considered “managers.” The managers handle all of the professional issues, yet he said that the manager title philosophically damages the image of a Librarian as someone who is self absorbed and not patron focused, as can be associated with management. The public libraries in the United Kingdom use the “Starbucks” bookshop type model that has been taken over by business persons. <br /><br />There has been a movement of literacy he informed us about at his institution where there is a direct connect of patrons with tutors, given available service points to the students. There is also a movement of consulate libraries, where patrons feed in from other areas to be serviced. It was interesting to learn that bandwidth serves as a catalyst for public libraries, yet that the largest percentage of the population there did not use the Internet. There is little funding for technology and we were told it is very hard to keep up with the upgrades in technology. As a lifesaver for the library, it has been most helpful that the “lottery fund” provides a substantial amount of capital to offset many of these costs. Mr. McMenemy said that the public library as a goal strives to scale staff, upgrade technology and service people better. <br /><br /><strong>Statistics: The University of Strathclyde</strong><br /><br />In the year 2006, the Scotlands had the third largest university. In 1964, the University of Strathclyde moved up in rank as they merged with the Scottish College of Commerce. There are approximately 25,000 students, with 10,000 post graduate students. The university of Strathclyde has the largest number of postgraduate courses offered. For 60 years, the University has been teaching Librarian coursework, yet according to Mr. McMenemy, became more “librarianish” in 2007. The University of Strathclyde is the second United Kingdom university to teach library subjects after the University of London. A “MSc” is the Masters of Science in Library and Information Studies professional designation, not the MLIS or MLS as found in the United States. <br /><br /><strong>How Librarians are Governed: Impact of Devolution</strong><br /><br />There are 4,515 public libraries, 846 academic libraries and as of current, there are no statistics collected of how many UK school libraries exist. We were pretty surprised to learn that there is not a required statutory certificate requirement for teachers to get a library degree! We were informed that there are huge academic differences of the profession in the United States and the United Kingdom, with librarians historically being undervalued greatly in the United Kingdom. We were also told that there is not a lot of research found in school libraries there. <br /><br />In the United Kingdom, Mr. McMenemy stated that public libraries are legally obligated to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” public library service for anyone who lives, works, or studies in the community under: 1964 Public Libraries & Museum Act (England and Wales); and the Local Government (Scotland) Act of 1973. Scotland and Wales has a council over their libraries. <br /><br />Most library sectors are as Mr. McMenemy stated, “devolved.” All public library services are now governed by developed parliaments (school, academic, public, and health libraries). There is a very distinctive organization of librarianship. <br /><br /><strong>Key Professional Issues: </strong><br /><br />Mr. McMenemy stated that there are significant drops in borrowing figures/statistics. Librarians are having to attract non-users/patrons today. The Digital Divide is also a huge concern here as in the United States. Lastly, the deprofessionalism and how to measure library services effectively are other key issues of the library profession. <br /><br /><strong>CHRISTINE ROONEY (Doctoral Student): The Social Value of Librarianship</strong><br /><br />Christine is a doctoral student who gave us a talk on the social values of the profession and her ongoing research work. She works within the Department of Computers and Information Sciences. Of interest to our group, Christine is doing extensive research of the United Kingdom and United States libraries currently. <br /><br />For background information, Christine informed the class that the traditional role of the public library has many expectations and is not just about books, but the library is seen as an institution that offers something for everyone. The social value of the profession are those that have impacts that go above and beyond the book, as the library collection offers patrons self esteem, a means of communication, literacy and knowledge for examples. The library is more than just ‘book issuing points.’ An example of the services of the library is one for the elderly where the offer of books by a “Mobile Team” may help lessen loneliness in addition to offering a means of self expression, bolstering self esteem and increasing knowledge stores.<br /><br /><strong>Measuring Performance and Social Value:</strong><br /><br />Christine stated that in measuring performance, the economic value of libraries must be accessed. For example, audits and valuation studies are performed regularly. The social values of the field is measured by means of qualitative evaluation methodologies, where the social impact is measured using data collection methods such as self assessment. She stated that the good that comes from measuring performance impact on social values is that it is very important as it allows library managers to communicate professional values to the institution. The bad that comes from it is that there is a long term impact of devaluation of the field. She explained that this measurement is kind of a flawed method. Her personal research strives for meaningful evaluation to determine the ‘true value’ because there is a lack of meaningful consensus in measuring performance and value because social values are particularly overlooked. Christine stated that she will question what is social value in her research and will come up with a methodology to measure it in public libraries using a “Social Impact Audit.” This will involve a series of questions, interviews and focus groups. There is an encouraged dialogue that will be adaptable to provide “retro-data.” <br /><br /><strong>Stages of Research:</strong><br /><br />In Stage I of Christine's qualitative research methodology, she will identify the stakeholders and establish links in case studies. One focus of her research will be on how major catastrophic events, such as Hurricane Katrina, affects public libraries. She plans to collect data from New Orleans and was open to listen to our stories about Katrina, hoping to gain more insight and data. She seeks to look at the impact of such a disaster upon libraries and on the rebuilding of a community through things such as FEMA assistance, being dislocated and the information sources available. She is studying these impacts for the future benefit of libraries! <br /><br />Stage II of her research is more quantitative research. Christine is collecting data through a collection of statistics, reports, analysis, and questionnaires. The data is based upon gender, age and things such as social status. Interestingly, she found that compared with affluent libraries in her area, the socially deprived libraries offered a unique social space and communal hub for patrons where users are offered and demand a welcome environment with ample gateways to information, literacy and a means of escapism. <br /><br /><strong>What Research Should Do:</strong><br /><br />Christine stated that research from an international perspective should responsibly empower library professionals. Research in this area should also communicate the characteristics and roles of pubic libraries of the 21st century. Of importance to conducting research of public libraries, she added that research should promote an understanding of the social values and offer/produce a model.<br /><br /><strong>ALEN POULTER:</strong><br /> <br />For this part of the session, Alen Poulter told us that he is conducting research on computer misuses. He took a look at postgraduate courses on computer networking in his overview of forensic readiness. To discuss the frills as he called it, Alen offered a background of the “People’s Network.” To address the Digital Divide, what is offered to combat it is Information technology courses online. He also stated that libraries should have acceptable usage rates of computers that patrons must accept. Additionally, Mr. Poulter confirmed that there is some evidence of misuse that has been found on the Internet with privacy related issues. A lot of monitoring is what is going on currently with libraries and filters are being used, yet currently they are looking for an alternative. <br /><br /><strong>His Research:</strong><br /><br />Mr. Poulter stated that in his proposal outline, he developed a logging system to document low level actions as a monitoring system that offers a fuller range of measuring evidences of computer misuses. His methodology valuably offers literature reviews of computers misuses. What he has found so far concerning computer misuses is quite a bit of forgery and breeching acceptable use policies (AUP). Examples he gave of misuses are of pornography, chatting, using Bebo, and instant messaging in the library. As a means of data collection, Mr. Poulter has used interviews of small public library staff members. He found that the AUP were out of date, undefined and unacceptable. Unfortunately,there was no standard of recording that misuse either. <br /><br /><strong>Aim of Finding Tools to Monitor Computer Misuses:</strong><br /><br />Mr. Poulter informed the class that the use of windows software, no open use software and no recording of passwords for security of information is optimal. He thought about giving patrons the option to develop information on an encrypted network. He also stated that he would love to have local policies for checking and reporting misuses. There exists a tension between free access and not, but he stated that “logging” is an option. Unfortunately, the public library infrastructure does not support this. There exists only a random checking of patron computer usage at the present which he stated is not sufficient. <br /><br /><strong>ALLEN DAWSON: </strong><br /><br />The last speaker, Allen number two, works in the Centre for Digital Library Research. His research themes are collaboration and catalogues. He tries with his research to “bridge the gap” between research theory and practice through informative research. <br /><br /><strong>BUBL LINK:</strong><br /><br />Allen stated that the BUBL link is a Internet Catalogue of Internet resources. It has been around a long time. The interface is good and is very browsable and popular! <br /><br /><strong>CAIRNS:</strong><br /><br />Allen stated that CAIRNS is a catalogue of Scottish libraries that offers keyword searches. It is similar to a university catalogue. <br /><br />These two catalogues are used in his research, as he conducts research on digital libraries. Alen looks to the popularly used and well built up and maintained Glasgow Digital Library, which is a collection of people, events, groups, literature and images for example. Each is a collection in and of itself. The theme is how to keep each of these collections going maintenance-wise. It was explained to be a simple database that is cost effective and searchable because of its HTML format. Of importance, the digital collections supports: Teaching; Learning; and Research. We were told that the content is dynamically linked. Alen stated that he strives to optimize the subjects and links. Interoperability is extremely relevant and of importance to his research and was explained as not being a difficult process. He stated that using open access sources makes it exciting.<br /><br />Mr. Dawson’s ongoing research today is in “Digital Preservation.” At present, there is a huge four year European project in digital preservation he is involved with called “SHAMAN.” It delves into ‘Terminology Mapping’ by subject and terms in a subject scheme that is incompatable with other schemes (ie. MESH).<br /><br /><strong>Websites of Relevance and Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.strath.ac.uk/">The University of Strathclyde Glasgow</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-91371313927056022442008-07-21T07:02:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:38.936-08:00National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh<a href="http://www.nas.gov.uk/"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJMDOEmlKUI/AAAAAAAABsQ/hEQCQ2i9jxs/s1600-h/800px-National_Archives_of_Scotland.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJMDOEmlKUI/AAAAAAAABsQ/hEQCQ2i9jxs/s200/800px-National_Archives_of_Scotland.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229527132595890498" /></a></a><br /><strong>Starting the day with a Special Inside Tour by Mrs. McBryde:</strong><br /><br />Our first entrance into the National Archives of Scotland began with an introduction and tour of the facility and of the collection by the librarian, archivist and Education Officer, Mrs. Margaret McBryde. She informed us that her work was service related in working with the public, exhibitions, websites and other tasks. <br /><br /><strong>History, Service and Operation of the Organization:</strong><br /><br />The National Archives of Scotland is a governmental agency that offers employment opportunities to civil servants and is funded by government archivists. As an Archives, the library is the keeper of the records of Scotland. The agency sits under the ministry and is headed by the Records of Scotland. Mrs. McBryde informed us that there is a good working relationship between agencies and there are valuable partnerships formed. The mission of the organization is to preserve, protect, and promote the preservation of national records. Included in this mission is to provide the best inclusive and accessible archives for the nation. <br /><br /><strong>The Organization and the Staff:</strong><br /><br />There are over 160 library staff members at the National Archives of Scotland. Most of those numbers consist of Information Technology staff, with the inclusion of 30 to 40 archivists. The National Archives of Scotland (NAS)offers three separate buildings (Main Building, West Register House, and the Thomas Thomson House) in Edinburgh and operates five websites, headed by a Deputy Keeper. There are two main divisions of the National Archives to include: (1) Record Services Division; and the (2) Corporate Services Division. The Record Services Division includes the government, the court system, legal, private, and outreach services and records. The Corporate Services Division is over the accommodating services, finances, administration, information and communication technology, conservation services and reader services. <br /><br /><strong>The Three Buildings:</strong><br /><br />The historic main building is the General Register House, built in 1274 and opened much later for the public in the 1780’s. Today, it is a public space for all patrons. The West Register House is a public search room for patrons. It also serves a purpose in storage for the collection. This house was opened in 1971. The Thomas Thomson House is the third building of the NAS, built and set up under the direction of Mr. Thomas Thomson to function as an Archives and offers various programs for the public. This building is also a public access area. <br /><br /><strong>Organization of Records, Conservation and Digitization:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJMEYZk-XQI/AAAAAAAABsY/BJTJhDiEgv8/s1600-h/archiveboxesweb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJMEYZk-XQI/AAAAAAAABsY/BJTJhDiEgv8/s200/archiveboxesweb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229528409536617730" /></a><br /><br />Mrs. McBryde stated that the items of the collection come in as “raw” in form and then inserted in the collection after initial conservation, sorting, weeding, cataloguing electronically, and boxing/labelling. We learned that all items in the archives collection is tagged in the building. If items are moved, the system must be updated right away to reflect the change. The items must then be returned their correct positions to minimize errors from occurring as much as possible. <br /><br />When items are in their “Record Stage,” they are categorized. The “Conservation Department” is another department that dismantles the item, taking off the covers before digitization occurs. Our guide said that this is a very important and time consuming process that is very worthwhile in careful handling and preserving the items appropriately. <br /><br />With much pride, Mrs. McBryde informed us that all national records can be accessed because of digitization of each item. This digitized copy is offered to locals in their own local electronic archives and is accessible locally, nationally and internationally. The standard for modern archives in which items must meet in British archives is called: BS5454. <br /><br /><strong>Functions of Archives:</strong><br /><br />According to Mrs. McBryde, the main function of the archives is to select public records worthy of permanent preservation, acquire other list records, and to revert or transfer records to other more appropriate repositories. Another function is to preserve the original standards of all records. Also, to promote public access and increase access electronically by producing catalogues, exhibitions, and publications is another important function of the NAS. Other major functions of the Archives is to provide advice to owners and custodians of records, especially local authorities and the Scottish public authorities, disseminate information and facilitate access to such records. The National Archives of Scotland seeks to take the lead in the development of archives and records management practices in Scotland and deploy resources. <br /><br /><strong>NAS Holdings:</strong><br /><br />There are over 70 kilometers (km) of records dating back from the 12th century. Some examples of these holdings are: State/Parliamentary papers; registers of Deeds and Sasines; Church records; Wills & Testaments; Taxation records; Valuation rolls; Family & Estate papers; Court & Legal records; Government records; Business records; and Railway records. <br /><br /><strong>How do Patrons Access Records? Striving for Enhanced Service:</strong><br /><br />Patrons can access records through NAS “finding aids” such as: electronic; paper; and Website Catalogues. The NAS website as an online service to the public offers SCAN, Scottish Wills, and a self help guide to reading documents. The main website offers many relevant and helpful websites and links to additionally serve patrons. The online public access computer (OPAC) is searchable by person, place or catalogue. The OPAC was explained to be a bit confusing and extremely broad, so they are trying to better the system through an evaluation process by the offer of feedback from the public. <br /><br />The NAS is also very compelled to increase public palaeography skills (handwriting). In creating an original, there are available programs taught in schools by NAS to enhance handwriting skills. The offer of a variety of resources, workshops, video conferencing, and publications is seen to be a value added service provided by NAS in the community. <br /><br /><strong>Search Rooms: Historical Search Room & the West Search Room</strong><br /><br />We were told that once in the search rooms, one has to obtain a “reader ticket” and it is then that the patron can key in information into the electronic catalogues. The Historical Search Room opened in 1847, and has been offering patrons access to research materials. Only paper, pencils and laptops are allowed in these rooms. A patron can chat with a curator to see if they can help them with their research needs. It is a requirement that patrons present a driver’s licence and passport when needed in order to access materials. Interestingly, a reader ticket dually serves as a security pass once in the reading rooms at NAS! <br /><br />The West Room offers patron searching of government documents. It was good to learn that there are no charges for any historical research! As I imagined, the legal and commercial searches are for a fee. <br /><br /><strong>General Information:</strong><br /><br />For general information given to learn, Mrs. McBryde told our class that a “Keeper” is an Archivist or Librarian of good standing in the profession. We also learned that a fee for information services depended upon the search needs and purpose of the interview. Patrons are given two hour free access rights on the computer/Internet. It is a cost of 10 pounds per day thereafter. The library is presently offering a “Soft Launch” test which measures/evaluates the usage of the computer/Internet over a six week period to see how the system is handling its use. There is an Image Library being developed by NAS of all archival records that is currently being developed. It is an enormous project with the offer of a commercial web library for patrons. <br /><br /><strong>More Developments at NAS:</strong><br /><br />The National Archives of Scotland is developing enhanced access to Scottish Wills from the time period 1500 to 1901. The Church of Scotland’s records are also being digitized currently. There is a new electronic ordering system in the search rooms in place presently and is being evaluated at this time. Another important development at NAS is the Registers Archive Conservation Project. Additionally, a “Virtual Volumes” is being offered if patrons need to know for example a reference number to order a copy of an item. The costs of the service ranges from 5 pence (p) to 2 pounds (lb). The electronic ordering system for patrons is a nice service for ordering a digitized copy of an item. There is the availability of features such as cropping. Patrons can also search the system by parish and volume. An issue with this electronic system is that it is virtually impossible currently to index all records because the collection is so large, and other issues are the time and labor involved in such an extensive project. <br /><br /><strong>Adam Dome:</strong><br /><br />The last room to visit was a beautiful circular dome structure that is a new area that will soon offer broadened access to another reading room for patrons. It will offer an accessible collection there of a variety of books, registers and deeds. Currently, it is only open once per year to the public. <br /><br /><strong>Websites of Relevance and Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="www.nls.uk">National Library of Scotland</a><br /><br /><a href="www.nas.gov.uk">National Archives of Scotland</a><br /><br /><a href="www.scan.org.uk">Scottish Archive Network</a><br /><br /><a href="www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk">The Official Goverment Source of Geneological Data for Scotland</a><br /><br /><a href="www.scottishhandwritingforschools.org">Scottish Handwriting for Schools</a><br /><br /><a href="www.scotlandimages.com">Scotland Images Gateway</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-54379012096152970932008-07-21T07:01:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:39.201-08:00National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJLlEQTXN5I/AAAAAAAABsI/7phLAPGwjdM/s1600-h/John+Murray+Archive.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJLlEQTXN5I/AAAAAAAABsI/7phLAPGwjdM/s200/John+Murray+Archive.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229493978588985234" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJLkj4Qy_HI/AAAAAAAABsA/p_fGhH3AziI/s1600-h/National+Library+of+Scotland.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJLkj4Qy_HI/AAAAAAAABsA/p_fGhH3AziI/s200/National+Library+of+Scotland.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229493422379957362" /></a><br /><strong>Interpreting the John Murray Archive: Manuscripts & Accessibility</strong><br /><br /><em><em><strong>Introduction to Emma Farigher</strong></em> </em> <br /><br />Upon coming to the National Library of Scotland after our first evening in a historic district of Dalkeith, located just outside of Edinburgh, we were greeted by our tour guide, Emma Farigher, the Education and Outreach Officer. We viewed a slideshow that offered a background description of the library, collection and the staff prior to a tour of the exhibition room of objects, art, and manuscripts. <br /><br /><strong>Who are the Patrons? Collection Highlights:</strong><br /><br />The National Library of Scotland (NLS) offers its very broad range of “customers” the research tools needed in order to conduct research. It is a world renowned reference library and one of six legal deposit libraries in the British Isles that houses materials such as books, manuscripts, music and maps numbering in the millions. Primarily known worldwide for the collections of books and manuscripts, the NLS maintains a collection of other items such as sheet music, business directories, market research reports, government publications, photographs, posters, pamphlets, magazines, postcards, sporting programs, CDs and electronic materials such as maps, databases, e-journals, websites and microfilms. Nearly every subject is covered in this vast collection, with collection strengths in humanities and social sciences, in addition to extensive holdings of technical, scientific and business materials that have gained international importance. The NLS offers a historical collection that focuses on Scotland and the Scottish people, while charting their influence globally. It was learned that the library welcomes anyone interested in the services and collections. Mrs. Farigher further added that academic credentials are not necessary to conduct research there, so the collection is for everyone’s enjoyment and research needs. So therefore, it is of value for me to learn that this library generously offered something for everyone, with collections for past and present generations that represent world class collections and services comprising: printed collections; modern collections; serials; music collections; foreign collections; rare books; official publications; science information services; Scottish business information service; manuscripts and maps. Of additional importance to this collection is the late John Murray Archive. He was a world renowned British publisher, whose list of famous authors shaped many fields, offering an archive of historical papers, original manuscripts and correspondence.<br /><br />Mrs. Farigher informed the class that the staff as experts are very attentive to the customer’s research needs and offer help from the “Inquiry Desk” with using electronic resources, catalogues, or locating specific items in the varied areas of the collection. <br /><br /><strong>Background of the Library and Accessibility Issues on the Forefront:</strong><br /><br />Mrs. Farigher started the discussion by giving background information of the library and the collection and John Murray Archive. We learned that the John Murray Archive is a very important part of the collection. The collection in its entirety was funded with 32.5 million pounds from the ground floor and that there is a special “Lottery Fund” that supports community schools and offered the library a very supportive grand sum of 17.5 million pounds. The John Murray Archives channels profits from this support into development of the collection. The heritage funding is designed to ensure accessibility to the collection by patrons. Accessibility is deemed very important and making the collection very searchable is just as important an element in the design of the collection. An important focus is on catering to the special needs groups in order to offer a collection in a way that speaks to everyone through design and display in the galleries. The collection is put together in a way that all age groups can access it and gain something unique from it. The collection is portrayed in a way so that through access, all may be able to conduct research and gain confidence in their skills. <br /><br /><strong>The Staff:</strong><br /><br />Some of the main goals of the library staff is to educate and teach patrons how to conduct independent research through a collection that is portrayed in a manner that offers quality educational tools for everyone in a variety of outlets. The numbers of staff and other joint team members from the outside who collaboratively work together to make this exhibition all possible is a very large number of very committed individuals to include: the curatorial staff; external exhibitionists; specialists, consultants and artists. <br /><br /><strong>Special Concerns and Design Elements of the Exhibition:</strong><br /><br />Mrs. Farigher informed us that one issue of a practical nature is in bringing in more bright lights to illuminate the displays in the exhibition galleries. A concern is also in ensuring that the rooms offer ample spacing and flow for patrons to roam the collections comfortably without any obstructions or barriers in access. Height was also a very important element to obtain with the exhibition. Bringing in these elements helps patrons to freely float through the collection with an open mind of interpretation of the collection. <br /><br />Of the main special design elements of the exhibition are: Objects; Art; and Manuscripts. The objects of the exhibition must be easy to understand. The labels must be indicative of age and purpose. The purpose is for patrons to use the experience to understand the object. The Art is supposed to emote an emotional response from patrons. The art was discussed as being a gateway to understanding and gaining insight into the meaning of the collection. The aesthetics of the art serves an important purpose in touching upon the senses and opening one up to the meaning of its portrayal in the exhibition. The manuscripts offer ideas held within the content and are offered to provide one an understanding of the object’s value. An example would be why it was written and to offer the context in which it was written. Oftentimes the manuscripts can be difficult for some “visitors” to use, so there are some risks involved with the offer of manuscripts. If the textual information is too heavy with large amounts of text, then some groups are not reached. <br /><br /><strong>What makes an Archival Exhibition Engaging? </strong> <br /><br />Mrs. Emma Farigher explained that the John Murray Archive Exhibition at the National Library of Scotland is displayed in a very theatrical way, with creative and emotive displays. The thematic objects that tell part of a story in a unified and orderly way, enrich the exhibition of each display with label poor content. Information is gathered from the objects and how they are displayed physically within the display and electronically through related objects, tell more of a story than the display labelling. This type of interactive and theatrical display is very engaging and involves the use of light and shadow to create an appropriate atmosphere. According to Emma, the displays are very robust and durable for many visitors to handle and manipulate over time. The stories of each display are told through various means of the communication processes. She explained that the collection strives for all of the engaging elements in the archive exhibition discussed in terms of “accessibility,” which is the key! <br /><br /><strong>The Importance of Market Research:</strong><br /><br />The visitors are continually asked for feedback on the exhibition as evidence that the collection is reaching the public in an appropriate and efficient manner in order to test accessibility issues. Of some of the feedback given that has offered understanding of barriers to access for some are the varied political issues and struggles of some cultures that may impinge upon their interpretation and use of the exhibition. With global visitors, the objects in the collection need to be narrated in some manner in which the message crosses all cultural barriers. Of importance in learning was that every item in the exhibition has an audio format for enhanced accessibility to the collection! <br /><br /><strong>Learning Outcomes of the John Murray Archives:</strong><br /><br />It was explained that the collection offers certain very specific learning outcomes which are: Knowledge and Understanding; Skills; Attitudes and values; Enjoyment, Inspiration and Creativity; and Activity, Behavior and Progression. Emma explained that these elements are important because visitors can become readers, encouraging literacy, and actually utilize/use the collection for research and recreational needs today and into the future. <br /><br />To explain learning outcomes, a circular diagram was displayed to explain it further. The manuscript (ie. Archives) was explained and illustrated as the core of the collection, with known additional layers of interpretation. The context of the collection is the world or background. The process was the sales and how the objects/displays of the exhibition were produced. It is important that people are represented in the archives and that it is developed in such a manner that understanding is obtained so that visitors are lead through the archives in an organized and meaningful way. The exhibition is intended to tweak the interests of many so that they will come back again “to develop a relationship with the archives.” <br /><br /><em><strong>Meet David McClay: Second Exhibition Presenter:</strong></em><br /><br />The second presenter of the exhibition offered insight into the archives. Mr. David McClay stated that the collection covers eleven authors of seven generations, including scientists, poets, and novelists. I was amazed to learn that this collection is the most expensive and important archive in the world! Valued at 45,000pounds originally, it is now more closely valued at over 200 million pounds today. It was explained that it is very expensive to preserve, conserve and catalogue each item as well as employ sufficient numbers of experienced staff to tend to an archive of this magnitude and importance/value. Of the main challenges David understood to exist, above and beyond the cataloguing, preservation/conservation and staffing issues, is in making sure that the collection is ‘brought to the public.” <br /><br />At present, there are over 30,000 items in the collection. Of importance to this collection are over 50,000 images in the collection of “Charles Babbage” alone. I wish I had more time to preview this specific collection, as I have read so much about the famous Mr. Babbage in my library coursework and felt privileged to have an opportunity to view such items, bringing his life and works into perspective beyond the library textbooks! <br /><br /><strong>Outreach: A Traveling Exhibition</strong><br /><br />Mr. McClay said that the staff is looking to new, interesting and innovative ways to present the collection and that digitization is one option. A “Traveling Exhibition” was discussed by both presenters, Emma and David, as a means to bring the exhibition to the community to expand upon the visitor “audience.” Not all people can come in to view the collection at the National Library of Scotland, so this was another avenue to touch upon other sectors of the community and broaden accessibility, which is the mission of the library. A challenging goal was in providing similar thoughts and thinking in this type of exhibition as in the main collection. With outreach exhibitions, they have discovered new ways to introduce the objects and art. The library is seeking new partnerships to expound upon this type of visual and artistic outreach venue, with goals of offering half books and half manuscripts. All items/objects will be well linked as in the main collection. <br /><br /><strong>Other Educational Programs:</strong><br /><br />The exhibition offers many objects with other exhibitions, such as found with Charles Darwin, Britannic’s, and the 19th century Archaeologists. To encourage more access to all of the exhibitions found in the collection, educational programs and workshops are offered in addition to the travelling exhibition. This helps to build a relationship of the people with the objects to ignite interests! The Website is another very important and valuable avenue of access to the digitized collection and offers statistics on the number of visitors viewing the collections. Analyzing or evaluating the number of hits or visits to the collection from all streams of access is very important to the library because so much money is put into the collection. <br /><br /><strong>Cataloging the Collection:</strong> <br /><br />It is important that the library catalogues the collection well for future interests in the collection. Archiving the collection in this digital format is fairly new and began approximately three years ago. Since this time, the usage statistics has risen!<br /><strong><br />Two Special Collections/Archives and Gallery Digitized Displays:</strong><br /><br />The John Murray Archives and Printing Collection are two distinct special archival collections, that have been integrated along with the regular collection. The digital displays in the galleries of novelists is a specialized collection in a user friendly format that is engaging and fun to use. The Jane Austin display offers information on her life, her books, the sale of her books, and the women of her time for examples. The digital objects were displayed on a touch computer screen and offered an organized and thematic object keys that linked to the display, textual and audio content. Other displays of novelists and inventors/scientists were of May Sommerville, Charles Darwin and Lord Byron for some examples. Charles Darwin’s display was very interactive and fun, offering information in varied access modes of his scientific works that were based on close observation of the natural world. The perk was the audio content and zooming features on the digital screen that enhanced the experience for me. I discovered through this specific display that the Origin of Species has never been out of print to this day! <br /><br /><strong>Publishing Made Easy! Creative Educational and Tactile Displays </strong><br /><br />Like a child, I found myself playing with as many of the engaging displays that taught one about the publishing processes, breaking down each step in an organized manner. The digital table where visitors could design and publish a book was a popular display and once I reached it for my turn after a little wait, I designed three different books. Of the interactive features in this display were in choosing: Subjects; Keywords; Creating Titles; Creating Covers; Choosing Colors and Fonts; Marketing/Choosing Audience; and Choosing the Style of Book. <br /><br />The hands on displays were offered for all age groups, with some of them clearly geared for the youth, yet still fun for the adults with an interest in learning about the publishing process. There was a good balance of popularity and practicality in the displays that catered to all audiences. The design systems of the digital displays allowed for updating of the systems systematically, with basic HTML programming open to interpretation of the Information Technology staff to offering basic design work features. <br /><br /><strong>Feedback from Visitors:</strong><br /><br />Mr. David McClay stressed the importance of feedback in the form of focus groups, discussion sessions, survey and mail outs as sources of how the collection is serving the public’s needs and in measuring impact and accessibility. It was also very important to measure if the exhibitions are successfully made handicapped accessible. We were told that the very exhibition were walked through on this tour has only been open to visitors for approximately one year, so we felt grateful to have been able to view it!<br /><br /><strong>Websites of Relevance and Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="www.nls.uk">National Library of Scotland</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-31608905420182548052008-07-18T02:15:00.000-07:002008-08-25T00:47:22.442-07:00Shakespeare Centre Library & Archives, Stratford-Upon-Avon<a href="http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=4466&rendTypeId=4"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=4466&rendTypeId=4" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong><br /><br />To Shakespeare’s Birthplace We Go! Stratford-Upon Avon</strong><br /><br />A bus ride to Stratford-Upon-Avon was the best mode of transportation from London Central that brought the class to our places of interest for the day: Shakespeare Library and Archives & the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Our tour guide was Clare Maffioli and her colleague Joane Wilding. The quaint town offered many beautiful houses and gardens. To list some of the historic, Tudor homes and buildings that I either visited later in the day or passed by as I strolled down the streets of town or travelled past was the family cottage of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden, Nash’s House which is Shakespeare’s final home and also owned by his granddaughter Elizabeth, and the Harvard House museum of British Pewter, the Elizabethan home to Katherine Rogers who is the mother of John Harvard of which Harvard University is named. All of the houses and gardens come together beautifully in this town to tell a story of Shakespeare, as you try to imagine, see and hear his works come to life! <br /><br /><strong>The Tour of Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive:</strong><br /><br />Putting Shakespeare into context, what better way to study the history of his works than by visiting the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive, as our first stop for the day. The end of the day treat for our class will be to see the Shakespeare play, Taming of the Shrew at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, in the evening prior to coming back home to London Central. <br />The Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive offers an array of Shakespearean resources, to include original materials that offer historical insight into 16th century Stratford. With official records dating back from the 12th century and papers that relay information about families in the local area, insight is given of the period in which Shakespeare lived. Of importance to this library is the offer of the United Kingdom’s rich source of Shakespeare plays, biographical information on his plays and historical accounts from the stage for examples. Also included in the collection are many books that patrons can preview from the reading room. Of value to this collection and to the patrons are video and sound recordings of all the plays. To access these recordings, patrons may set up an appointment for viewing. In addition to reviewing plays, poems, books, videos and sound recordings, patrons can do some genealogical research for the Stratford and surrounding regions at the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive through access to original parish records, copy registers of Warwickshire villages, directories, electoral rolls and census returns. With a collection of thousands of images of Stratford to date, the collection offers patrons the ability to not only conduct research using important items, but to capture an image that helps to bring history to life. Shakespeare’s global reputation is well represented through the library collection and reveals the growth and development of the small town of Stratford-Upon-Avon into a international tourist dive. The full range of Shakespeare’s life and complete works are represented in the collection and the library services are free of charge. The Shakespeare and local collections includes the museum and educational department that offers services such as special educational programs for universities and schools. It was clear to me that this library offers a primary source of research information on the world renown cultural figure of Shakespeare. <br /><br />Clare Moffioli introduced the group to the library, starting off in the reading room. We were then given an introduction to the cataloguing and research room. She told the class that the collection is segmented into two unique collections: (1) Local collection; and (2) Shakespeare collection. The local collection relates to Shakespeare’s local history and all about the places, people and events that tell many stories about where he lived. The Shakespeare collection offers insight into his time and works. An example of some of the items found in the local collection consist primarily of books and maps concerning Shakespeare. The Shakespeare collection offers the Royal Shakespearean Company (RSC) Archives of Shakespeare’s works and additional Shakespearean works. Included are critics and commentators of the plays themselves. The history of the performances, texts about lighting and props used every day, as well as programs, video and musicals copies are all represented in this collection that give patrons an insight into the daily Shakespearean performances. Clare let us know that this collection is of national and international interest. <br /><br /><strong>WYKTKA-A What You Need To Know About the Archives:</strong><br /><br />From the reading room, the discussion lead to the archival books. Clare informed our class that most of the archives rest downstairs for conservational purposes and is considered the “strong room.” The temperature and humidity levels are very controlled for preservation purposes. Controls alert the staff to water levels. Archival materials are stored in archival quality. She also told us that copies of materials could be found upstairs (ie. Prop books) and that patrons are allowed to look at what the collection offers. <br /><br /><strong>Miscellaneous Information and Library Statistics:</strong><br /><br />During a question and answer session of our class members and Clare, she let us know in relation to the availability of an electronic collection, that this library is so small a library that there are not any electronic catalogs made available at the time. Of interest, there are approximately 3,000 readers that use the collection each year. There are many people that access needed resources in the collection by email and phone reference requests to cap off at around 5,000 patrons per year. <br /><br /><strong>Who are the Library Patrons? Popular Items Requested & Digital Image Archives too!</strong><br /><br />Interestingly, the majority of library patrons are the school children locally, which gives insight into the usage of the library collection and the local community in which Shakespeare lived and worked. Of popular interest to the patrons locally, nearby or at a distance for research, are directories of houses/residences and buildings, local genealogical records of birth and death (ie. where someone is buried) and the history of houses and their uses over time. Of very popular interest in the collection is obtaining information on Shakespeare performers, producers and histories, reviews, illustrations, portraits and videos to view how the performances were portrayed for some examples. Clare stated that in order to provide photos and prints, funding had to be generated to offer this service. While the library does not offer a digital collection of primary sources (ie. Books), Clare did inform us/show us the Archives Catalog. It is an image database that is user friendly and very searchable by projects of RSC performances. One can search by a title, character, date or other key words examples. In order for the library to offer such a service, the Librarians must obtain permission and request it from the publishers, actors or others. They are charged a product fee, but if they have the book then it is of course free!<br /><br /><strong>Special Collections and the Online Catalogue:</strong><br /><br />In the past, Clare informed my class that local artwork offered distinctive and unique art work to include herbal paintings and oddities such as four-footed beasts and other creatures for just a few examples. The items are lumped into the special collections the library maintains. Items such as these can be located in the card catalogue that the library updates. There is an enormous index catalogue that offers the bibliographic information on each item up through the year 2000. It is clear to me that the online catalogue database available from the library website is fairly new. This tells me that possibly lack of funding, staffing or a large collection may be roadblocks to providing more access via the online catalogue, yet I was tremendously impressed with the amount of work that had been done, with the help of volunteers as well! All items in the collection after year 2000 can be accessed through the online catalogue. Help in this area is oftentimes charity run, with profits coming from the local historical houses and private grants to help with this major project. <br /><br /><strong>Collection Development, General Library Services, Staff & Interlibrary Loans (ILL):</strong><br /><br />It was on this day that I learned the library seeks to continue developing the collection in the offer of foreign language texts, with a storehouse of some pre 17th century books on up to modern day items. The library employs twelve library staff members to include library assistants, library specialists and library volunteers who help out tremendously with the database/image catalogue and conservation each week. I was very surprised to hear that the volunteers were doing a bit of real library work, so I understand them to be extremely valued. There are some interlibrary loan services offered, where borrowing is agreed among similar libraries, institutions and colleges. When asked if there were any consortia agreements with other libraries to share collections, Clare mentioned COPACT. <br /><br />For more information about the collection, Clare stated that the library offers approximately 50,000 books. Outreach is pretty extensive as the library is always seeking new opportunities to bring the collection and services to the people for educational and recreational purposes. Outreach is typically for school and university groups with literature programs coordinating with library. <br /><br /><strong>Preview and Aim of the Broad Spectrum of Collections: The Folio’s</strong><br /><br />The Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive offers an expansive display of Shakespearean and local collections. Our Librarian tour guide let us know that the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was formed in 1847 with aims to collect around Shakespeare. Items are saved for the nation by the trust and seek to further develop a relevant collection of Shakespeare’s lifeworks during his lifetime, along with his contemporaries. The collection offers a boastful collection of over 50,000 books and pamphlets, with many coming from the Royal Shakespeare Company and Memorial Theatre. Two of the collections the library offers are built around folios. The First Folio was published in 1623 by two of Shakespeare’s colleagues (“Kingsmen”) as a memorial to him after his death. This folio is very valuable as it is the closest to his original work/plays and had been printed upon a single sheet. Clare said that a Folio is printed on paper and placed into a folder of related works. A Quattro is similar and less expensive to compile. The first Folio was sold two years ago for a large sum of 2.1 million dollars. She also informed us that 750,000 copies have been printed. The number of copies that are known to have survived are 228 in number and have been bought by very wealthy individuals for the library. An interesting story on the side was told about Durham’s Folio, a wealthy individual who had bought one of these precious folios, and how it was famously stolen and showed up in Washington and appeared in many tabloids. The library currently houses 30 of Shakespeare’s folios and they are very valuable! One of the folios is on display near the birthplace/visitor center. Two of these folios have been purchased for the library by trusts. One of them is in good condition and others of theatres are facsimiles. <br /> <br /><strong>Royal Shakespeare Library: Other Special Items in the Collection</strong><br /><br />The Royal Shakespeare library has been in Stratford since 1964. The Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive has taken over the collection of administrative type records there, such as records, reviews, posters and photographs for example. Black and White as well as colorized photographs and slides of productions have been acquired, as well as video records that go back to the turn of the century. <br /> <br />I was not surprised to learn that local schools must study Shakespeare and perform drama, so they frequent the library to do a bit of research in preparation for their roles and the performances and to learn all about Shakespearean history. <br /><br />Clare told us about the Play Bills, which are early posters of major Shakespeare productions. The library has an extensive collection of these posters from productions!<br /><br />There is a special collection of approximately 800 books from around the year 1700 of minutes and herbalites. Clare said that there is a gap in what they understand about Shakespeare’s life during the time following the plays. They are not sure exactly which book sources he may have used himself. An example of an item/book in this special collection that the class was given a special opportunity to view is the play, <em>A Midsummer’s Night Dream </em>from 1619. Another is <em>Herbals</em>, an early medical book of Shakespeare that was published in 1597. According to Clare, Shakespeare was quite a naturalist and talked much about nature and health. There were some interesting spells and concoctions for ailments found in this book. One example is the use of thyme, yet he spelled it “time”. Shakespeare’s medical interests and influence in writing about medicine may have come from his son-in-law who was a physician. <br /><br />The special collection also included three adaptations of A Midsummer Night’s Dream from the years 1661, 1692 and 1716. Another item from Shakespeare’s personal collection is a pocket atlas with original binding. A map with handcolors communicated the theatres and things such as the dress of the day and of the characters. There was an amazing black and white photograph of Richard Burton who starred in a Shakespeare play! I also previewed a poster from 1874 of the first production of the play, <em>Much to do About Nothing</em>. Of importance and value to me on this day, a special viewing of the first page of Shakespeare’s highly valued folio took place! We were told that there were most probably actual drawings of Shakespeare’s within and that the folio offered plays and not poetry. It was interesting to see that even though there were 36 title plays in the table of contents, only 35 were within and one was left out!?<br /> <br />The end of the tour was a visit to the book stacks with the oldest book being the folios dating back to 1579 and containing prints and pictures. Downstairs were more of the oversized items that had its own classification scheme. There were many boxes that held each item in the stacks, with some coming from the Victorian Theatre. We were told that items from current plays are kept in plastic boxes and house such things as Henry VI props. Lastly, the class viewed the numbered room with the video collections and red boxes for programs. <br /><br /><strong>Helpful Websites:</strong><br /><br /><a href="www.shakespeare.org.uk/content/view/19/19">Shakespeare Birthplace trust: Library and Archive</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-8548381505186022522008-07-17T10:26:00.000-07:002008-08-25T01:25:40.368-07:00University of Oxford Bodleian Library<a href="http://hometown.aol.co.uk/doctorcrichton/images/bodleian+library,+oxford+university,+england%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://hometown.aol.co.uk/doctorcrichton/images/bodleian+library,+oxford+university,+england%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />“The train is rolling down the track,<br />Listen to the wheels go clickety clack,<br />Over the bridge, around the bend,<br />Taking me for a ride.”<br />Phil Rosenthal, The Green Grass Grew All Around<br /><br /><strong>On the Road Again: From Paddington Station to Oxford we Go!</strong><br /><br />An early morning walk to the underground train (the Tube) at Waterloo station nearest King’s College’s Stamford Street dormitories to make a quick transfer from the Northern line to the Bakerloo Line brought the SLIS class of 14 directly to Paddington Station (15 with teacher!). Once there with ample time to browse for a short spell, we spread out to do such things as get coffee, shop, and take pictures of the well known Paddington Bear Bronze statue for about fifteen minutes prior to meeting up in front of the train station for departure. Paddington Station is named for the famous Paddington Bear created by the English writer Michael Bond half a century ago. The fictional story of the famous Paddington Bear whose story began when the bear was left at Paddington Station and taken from the ‘lost and found’ is of a bear that wears a duffle coat and a shapeless hat and lives with the adoptive Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens. There was a precious little commemorative Paddington Bear gift shop that many students stopped at to either buy travel gifts for the younger ones at home or just to preview the cute little stuffed Paddington bears and other miscellaneous Paddington items. Most everyone grabbed a coffee or a quick breakfast to fully fuel up prior to what seemed to be a full day ahead. <br /><br />Once the group met up following the brief leisure time at Paddington station, the train tickets to Oxford were dispersed and we headed towards the train to mount. The smooth sailing, hour-long journey was a scenic ride through the countryside. Arrival at Oxford came swiftly after chatting with my next door dorm neighbour Sheila and reading over the informational handout nicely given to us by our professor that offered a history of Oxford with additional information on Oxford tours and walks available to us following our scheduled library visit. Reading about Oxford has given me a preview of a city that is very famous for its university and historically for housing and educating students.<br /><br /><strong>Origins of the ‘Old and New’ Bodleian Library: Continued Growth and Union with the Radcliff Library Collections</strong><br /><br />The Bodleian Library at Oxford University is the chief deposit library as it opened in 1602 and incorporated in the book collections of the Duke of Gloucester from the earlier library in the fifteenth century. Serving students and scholars worldwide, Oxford University’s Bodleian Library is the second largest library in the United Kingdom and is centrally located in the academic heart of the campus. The library was initially funded by Thomas de Cobham, the Bishop of Worchester. It moved to a new space as a gift to the University by the younger brother of King Henry V, the Duke of Gloucester. The library was given his original manuscripts and classical text volumes. The overcrowding this created dictated the construction of a new location in 1444, north of the campus, above the Divinity School that was completed in 1488. This Duke Humfrey’s library survived for over 60 years as it was until books were purged that had traces of Catholicism and superstition as ordered by King Edward VI. Because the university funding to restore the collection was lacking for the library, Sir Thomas Bodley donated large sums of money in 1598 and his new collection of 2,500 books to the library. Of importance to the re-building of the library collection was that in 1610, Bodley arranged a contract with the Stationer’s Company of London to receive one copy of every book published in England and registered with the Stationer’s Hall. Because this created a challenging situation due to the space needed to store such an ever expanding collection, Bodley funded and carefully planned the first extension of the medieval building in 1610, called the Arts End. There were numerous other extensions to follow that came about after his death, most notably the will mandated an enormous amount of money would be used to create a storage site for books on the third floor and also became a photo gallery and museum for the institution. The later Seldon End extension to the library came about in 1634, following a large book donation to the University by the attorney John Seldon. He donated over 8,000 books to an ever-growing library collection. It was because of this extension that the library was able to accept other book and manuscript gifts. Some notable donations were made by those such as the third Earl of Pembroke in 1629, Sir Kenelm Digby in 1634, and William Laud-Archbishop of Canterbury in 1635. Of interest is that this library is not a lending library and that even King Charles I was refused borrowing rights in 1645! <br /><br />Following a drought in University funding of the library in the early eighteenth century, collections development disappointingly slowed until a very successful Dr. John Radcliffe, an English Physician, donated a tremendous sum of money to purchase land for a new building on the southern side of the campus quadrangle, with enough money to pay a librarian and buy more books. What came about is the construction of the classical circular domed building that opened in 1749. What was then called the Radcliffe Library grew to incorporate a collection that sparked a new interest in its patrons with items on the subjects of sciences and natural history following a waning period of non-use and lack of readers. Because the Bodleian collections continued to grow due to gifts and ample funding, ground level lecture rooms were taken over for library use and storage in 1788. A union of the Bodleian and the Radcliffe libraries were united in 1860, with a reading room on the upper level and the stacks on the ground floor. By 1914, the collection was growing beyond the million mark per year. An underground storage area was a critical formation to help with the storage issues and was called the underground book store that was known to be the largest in the world at the time. In 1931, an enormous extension of the library took place, with a new building, the New Bodleian, being constructed in 1937. It is not open to the public, is more urban in structure and houses stacks, reading rooms, offices and a specialized library. The collection at the Bodleian Library maintains not only books and manuscripts, but pictures, coins, medals, sculpture, scientific objects and objects of other historical or eclectic interests. An underground tunnel with a conveyor helps to transport the books and other items to the library for reading and research purposes within the patron reading rooms.<br /><br />With a mission to maintain and develop the collections and services offered by the library, it was Sir Thomas Bodley’s goal to support the teaching and research needs of the University and scholarly patrons nationally and internationally. The Friends of the Bodleian Library proudly aid Oxford University in continued restoration and growth efforts by raising the funds to enrich collections and other items that the library would not have been able to afford otherwise. In turn, these efforts strengthen the library’s opportunities to acquire outside funding sources, such as grants. <br /><br /><strong>A Tour by Mr. Sydney Hicks, Bodleian Library Docent:</strong><br /><br />After doing some extensive reading on this library, the tour given by a Mr. Sydney Hicks was a nice introduction to this academic and deposit library at Oxford University. He told our group that the library was 400 years old and founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley with a goal of serving scholars around the world. For statistical purposes, he told us that over 5,000 readers use the library daily, with only 5 percent living outside of the United Kingdom. He let us know he would introduce how the library is surviving in the new age of digitization. Introducing the library as a reading library, it offers nine separate reading rooms throughout Oxford.<br /> <br /><strong>The Collection:</strong><br /><br />Of surprise to me was the fact that the Bodleian Library provides documents signed by Queen Elizabeth I and electronic resources. It is one goal of the library to extend the electronic collections through purchase agreements with other academic institutions and other publishers. According to Mr. Sydney Hicks, the much broader digital goal is to “digitize everything” in the collection! The collection comprises over nine million printed books, over one million maps, over one and a half million pieces of ephemera (ie. Postcards, leaflets, pamphlets) well over three and a quarter million prints, and more than 10,000 pieces of music. So far the library has digitized over one million books, mimicking the huge digital project in order at GOOGLE. Mr. Hicks stated that the library will digitize the collection jointly with other like institutions to broaden access to the collections for research needs.<br /><br />The Bodleian Library is a legal depository and is entitled to receive, as I have stated in the background history, a free copy of all published works in the United Kingdom. Of popular interest, the library has all of the Harry Potter books and related books with Latin translations, housed in the Infirmary Room. With religious influences in the collection, the library motto is “the Lord is my Light”. <br /><br /><strong>Highlight on the Value of Digitization Efforts: </strong><br /><br />Mr. Hicks offered the pro’s of digitization of the Bodleian Library collection. He stated that the library was concerned with advancing the accessibility of the collection and all of its advantages. Of notable mention is the desire for a more searchable database with enhanced resolution that is useful for patrons. More information on digitization is forthcoming and will follow the new Bodleian library discussion in this journal entry (See: Digitization Continues).<br /><br /><strong>The Building up of a New Bodleian Library:</strong><br /><br />The core of the building was explained to having beginnings with the Divinity School. The School was built in 1420 and for 50 years was a lecture theatre. Historically, the funding to build the library took much time with the ongoing war to complete the building plans. Formerly, the college offered subjects on divinity/theology and housed a library above, pre-dating the Bodleian Library. The collection maintained recommended European manuscripts. The intricately elaborate interior ceiling of what was the Divinity School has undergone some alterations as well as other parts of the room, including the replacing of the smashed stained glass windows that occurred after the Reformation. The many unique heraldic symbols found on the ceilings in the interior of what was the Divinity School offered initials and religious images. Examples of the very ornate and well intact/preserved symbols are the Holy Trinity, Coats of Arms for those individuals such as found for the Kemp families, the Bishop of London, pagan and secular images, and a Mother Mary and Christ Child carved boss over a crescent moon and surrounded by sun rays. According to our tour guide Sydney Hicks, the donor John Kemp, who gave a tremendous sum of money for the library and is even today, still mentioned in Church services! This Divinity School room was a classroom that had wooden desks and a large pulpit remaining. I was very surprised with the good condition that the furniture was in over the course of time. The ceiling itself remained intact and survived as the result of its flat construction, with the pressure from the library above diverting the pressure/weight onto the arched posts along the edges of the room. The symbols found on the ceiling had some damage during the reformation, as the crucifix was taken off by the extremists/reformists. The carved boss of St. John was testament to this, as he was beheaded. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJyTxUrsvsI/AAAAAAAAC5U/fBWzeWxZnc8/s1600-h/Barbican.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJyTxUrsvsI/AAAAAAAAC5U/fBWzeWxZnc8/s200/Barbican.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232219342672543426" /></a><br /><br />The room leading into the Convocation Room (meaning “congregation” room) was an authentic parliament room that used to be the main governing body and housed 1630 furnishings. Mr. Hicks told our group that today this room houses the election of the University Chancellor. The size of the room is too small for larger numbers of people such as needed for the members of the Parliament or the European Committee. Interestingly, we learned that Nelson Mandela received his degree there, and oddly a wedding party and disco party was held in the room, having rented it out the room for the special events. <br /><br /><strong>Up-Up-Upstairs and Away: More about the Bodleian Library Collection and Building</strong><br /><br />The venture up to the Bodleian Library upstairs was quite a climb up the steep stairwell! Our tour guide let us know that it is the oldest university research library in the country and second to the British Library. He told us that with the growth the library has seen with benefactors, many books, documents and letters from the 1640’s/ Civil War period was acquired from their own collections and that new purchases were made for the library as well by the benefactors. Over 3,000 new books come in a week currently and according to our guide the increases in the CD collection are mounting amazingly to over 20,000 per week. I wondered if I wrote or heard that number incorrectly! <br /><br />The group was lead to the East End that was opened up for books years ago. The items are chained to the lecturns (bookshelves) interestingly and even King Edward VI who accessed the collection was unable to check them out as the items were bound to the building and not accessible to patrons with lending rights. Yet, it was the king whom later dictated that some of the religious books (Catholic) were to be either dispersed, destroyed (burned), or given to the government. Some of the bindings were sold, but many were destroyed, so the collections were depleted. It was then that Bodley as a former student there, later a lecturer, linguist and ambassador for Queen Elizabeth I, had a desire to do something for his country. He was a wealthy and successful merchant with family money (two fortunes), so with the will and desire to help, he decided to rebuild the ceiling/roof of the Library and all new bookcases were put in. Additionally, Bodley purchased over 2,000 volumes of scholarly books in many languages. According to our guide, Bodley decided to think globally with the library. He started a catalog to make the collection more accessible for patrons from all over and may be why scholars came from all over Europe to use the collection. It was about this time of renovation that the books had to be chained to the lecterns in order to protect the library collection. As an aside to illustrate the oddity, yet importance of chaining books to the bookshelves, Mr. Hicks told the group that it was about 1610 when Bodley bought 1,000 books and correspondingly 1,000 chains! Books were chained at the Bodleian Library for over 200years! In a positive light, this chaining of books in turn encouraged the benefactors to give more money! <br /><br /><strong>A Glimpse of the Collection and Services:</strong><br /><br />Patrons are allowed to request items in the collection for research work but may not check them out. Request slips are used by library workers to help locate items pulled from the shelves. We located some of these very slips sticking out from the stacks to mark to spot of insertion for the library staff that will bring the item back. We were told that as of today, there are now over 30 reading rooms for patrons. In the book stacks that are housed in the underground room across the street, a conveyer belt is found that can hold over three million items to transfer to patrons from the requesting locations. Due to the size of the collection and the location, it can take up to three hours to receive an item, so a patron must be patient and agreeable to wait. Our guide mentioned that a very valuable and precious item in this underground collection is the Magna Carta!! It is stored on the J floor. The New Bodleian Library is a storehouse of many precious items such as this, yet other parts of the collection are stored in other facilities because there are too many books and extensions have to be continually built. <br /> <br /><strong>Digitization Continues:</strong><br /><br />To finish up with digitization, this elderly guide was surprisingly taken with the topic and how the Bodleian library of modern times is handling and keeping up with modern library access issues given the Internet. The Bodleian library is involved with digitization through the American Institute’s Folger Library to digitize Shakespeare plays for conservational purposes to align with Bodley’s mission to advantageously make the collection globally accessible. Of items that will or have been digitized are books of plays that have shown high use with considerable wear and tear due to reader interaction that indicates something about its age and popularity. The goal is to digitize all collections in order to meet with the library visions, but since the library receives free copies of all published works in the UK, this is a daunting task! <br /> <br /><strong>Storage and Preservation:</strong><br /><br />A more reasonable goal is one that strives to build a new depository to hold 8.2 million books. This depository aims to offer robotic assistance in collecting books! The storage space aims to offer an environment conducive to preservation with an offer of a very low oxygen content to slow the decay of materials, lessen the chances of fire and deter insects in the felt. All items in this room will be placed into preservation boxes to protect the books.<br /><br />Tyack, G. (2005). The Oxford Bodleian library. Oxford: University of Oxford. <br /><br /><strong>Websites of Interest:</strong><br /><a href="http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/"><br />The City of Oxford</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodley">Bodleian Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.paddingtonbear.co.uk/en/1/home.mxs">Paddington Bear</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.allposters.co.uk/gallery.asp?aid=878891&search=bodleian%23&LinkTypeID=6&LinkID=92&PosterTypeID=4&DestType=5&Referrer%20=http://affiliates.allposters.com/PosterStore/431418_PosterStore.htm">The World's Largest Print Store: Posters, Prints & Frames/Search: Bodleian</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-35030403697557917932008-07-16T12:31:00.000-07:002008-08-25T01:57:25.492-07:00Greenwich National Maritime Museum, Caird Library<a href="http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/products/journals/aag/AAG_April03/figs/aag_44235_f1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/products/journals/aag/AAG_April03/figs/aag_44235_f1.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><strong>A Boat Ride to Greenwich:</strong><br /><br />It was at a lovely morning to ride on the City Cruise down the River Thames from Central London to Greenwich on our way to the National Maritime Museum Library. With my iPod music to enjoy, I leaned over the side of the boat to absorb the wind in my face and the views of the city. There were many spectacular sights of buildings as we sailed ahead, such as a stream of high rise buildings, museums, churches, towers and other famous sites, some under construction and others standing in all of their glory and grandeur. Of special interest to me was the well known and debated construction, the Gherkin. I have learned that many locals have historically found this structure distasteful and quite an eye sore, most probably giving the building its nick-name from the Gherkin, a pickled cucumber, due to its odd shape. I have also read much earlier that this building may have been given its name for its phallic appearance. I find the building built by Sir Norman Foster in the main financial district of London quite striking, and can completely understand how it was voted the most admired new building in the world in 2006 in a survey by the world’s largest architect firms, according to my brother the Architect in New York city at the architectural firm Skidmore, Owens and Guidry. Other exciting structures to view from the cruise down the River Thames was Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and the London Bridge. My next walking tours will hopefully be the London Bridge and Jack the Ripper!!<br /><br />To get back to business, we exited the boat and I was once again in Greenwich, having visited there once prior on my very first London Alive tour. It was just as I had left it one week ago, the beautiful London Borough of Greenwich revealing its wealth through interesting buildings, monuments and touristy sites as a product of its Royal connections. There are many famous sites here in Greenwich, such as the Queen’s house, originally a part of the Royal Palace of Palentia, as well as the Greenwich Park, the Old Royal Naval College, the Old Greenwich Royal Observatory which is the site of the prime meridian (0 degrees longitude), St. Alfeges Church and the Trafalgar Tavern as but just a few examples of structures of historical and architectural interest. <br /><br /><strong>Through The Caird Library Reception to the Rotunda within:</strong><br /><br />Our initial tour guide was Hannah Dunmow, whom is the Archives and Manuscripts Manager of the Caird Library. The reference library that covers every aspect of maritime history imaginable was named after Sir James Caird, a very wealthy Scottish industrialist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He acquired the core of the collections at Caird Library and donated other monies to ensure its development. With the enormous wealth he acquired from his industriousness, a personal collection of historical artifacts, rare books, nautical instruments, globes, paintings, works of art and amazing ship models became a significant part of the museum and library collection.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jamescairdsociety.com/pix/Sir_James_Caird%20biggish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.jamescairdsociety.com/pix/Sir_James_Caird%20biggish.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />In the travertine stone Rotunda, a marble bust of Sir James Caird was stationed in the direct center of the room in honor of him. This beautiful, small, and round rotunda made of one of my favorite stones is closed off from the library, but is an entry way/direct connect to it, aiming to have patrons reflect and respect the founder as one passes through. Now sitting in the library near the Registration Desk on bean bags, Hannah introduced the class to the library as the largest maritime museum in history with a core collection of:<br /><br />•Navigation<br />•Piracy<br />•Astronomy<br />•Lists of shipping companies, agents and wrecks<br />•Horology<br />•The Royal and Merchant Navy List<br />•Heraldry (for searching for information about families and ships)<br />•Lloyd’s Registers (Captain Register)<br /> *Microfilms<br /> *Master’s Lists<br />•Lloyd’s Registry of Facts<br />•Annotated List of Warships<br /><br /><strong>More about the Collections:</strong><br /><br />Many of these items are a part of the special collections found at this library, to include rare printed items, maps, charts and atlases dating back to 1430. The collection of manuscripts consist of papers and illustrated diaries, records, papers and logs as well as periodical files such as a few listed above (Lloyd’s, lists) offer value to an already very valuable collection that properly registered patrons may be able to access for research purposes. The Caird library offers research guides, collection websites, curators, library specialists and manuscripts staff to assist patrons in carrying out personal research. With a collection of over two million items, it is of value that trained library staff are available to help with all research needs. Of further value is the offer of an online collections database as an ongoing special library project that is expanding in access to provide more than 12,000 items.<br /><br />For more specifics of the breakdown of the collection, there are approximately 100,00books, from 1850 on up (considered the modern books!) and over 20,000 pamphlets. Some of these are catalogued, yet most are not as the collection is too large and would be a cumbersome, laborious project! Of interest, Hannah let us know that close to 200 are considered current, all of course focusing on maritime history. Let me not forget to mention that the periodicals include many journals and magazines and the rare books were explained to range in date from 1474 to 1850. The “working collection” are those items from 1850 forward. Some of these items are not displayed, but securely stored for retrieval. Hannah stated that there are no special retrieval practices, other than that all staff retrieve items for registered patrons. They do ask for a two week notice for manuscripts and objects. <br /><br /><strong>The Patrons, Registration, Patron Access and the Staff:</strong><br /><br />The patrons do not have to be an 'academic' to use the library. All that is needed to use the library is a visitation at the Registration/Reception Desk to get a Registration Ticket and show some identification. Once this is completed, patrons can enter the library. A comprehensive catalog is provided and accessible from the Registration room from a series of computers made available to provide Internet access. The museum object database is nicely adapted to fit into the archives and manuscript database. The manuscripts still in the catalog today are being separated out now to be included in this database. Presently, this is an ongoing project, as stated before. <br /><br />For statistical purposes, our tour guide informed us that on average, between 3,000 to 4,000 patrons come into the library each year. There are up to 20,000 information requests at the reception/inquiries desk per year. Approximately 2,000 library items are retrieved and 5,000 manuscripts are retrieved. The items are stocked by professional librarians, archivists and library specialists. Everyone that is library staff is considered a library specialist or archivist. Each staff has time with the public and they rotate out time when dealing with the public. There are six full-time staff members to consist of three specialists, two technicians and one information specialist. In addition to that number, there is one head librarian. <br /><br /><strong>Ancient Books: A special viewing by Rene and Mike</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/img_200/F2538-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/img_200/F2538-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The special collections included old books that were spread out on a table in a Board Room for our viewing and handing with care. With two group discussions going on at the same time, the class was divided and completed in time for the board members and staff waiting outside to come into the room for a meeting. Renee Oir the Digital Services Librarian discussed the rare books for my first introduction to the rare book collection. She gave us insight into the essays found in a rare book in the special collections on navigation from 1748. The writings were of a period of instrument making during this time. It was of original binding and published by the Dutch, with a cover of Dutch Gilt or flowered papers. Items such as this one, were Dutch imported, confusingly originating from Germany or Italy. There was a religious motif on this item with flowering textures. It was spine labeled for preservation purposes so that the label itself was like a bookmark in that it marked the spot, identified the item, and did not stick to the book. This collection of essays concerned the improvement of navigation and of the many advances relating to instrument makers and instruments of this time period during a period of many transitions in navigation that dates back to the mid 18th century. <br /><br />Of interest in this collection were also accounts of the Pirate William Kent. There was a transcript of what was said by this privateer from the year 1695 on up. He was hanged on the 23rd of May and left a hefty sum of money which was confiscated. This money was eventually left to help fund the school for girls in Greenwich around the corner from where this library is located. <br /><br />Examples of other items of interest during this sample presentation of rare books in the Caird library collection was a rare ship bounty book owned by a surgeon dating back to 1779. A Sea Grammar book of John Smith was also reviewed to offer information from his lifetime experience and personal accounts as a guide for young sea-men on such things as how to build a ship, how to begin fighting, and how to throw men overboard for examples! This account really brings the literature and pirate movies to life as well as offers a historical account of colonization and religion from a man who was an advocate of it as well as publishing his seafaring experiences to make a living. <br /><br />Mike Bevan, a librarian who works on the manuscript team, followed with the other half of the introduction of the rare book collections. The documents were found to be preserved by enclosure into sleeves with the documents divided by surname and alphabetized. We were shown another selection of rare books, with some on privacy issues relating to the spying that took place on the Spanish Armada! In this particular item, information was relayed of specific places and people.<br /><br />The tour ended with ample time given to tour the museum independently. There were many items relating to navigation to include one of the world’s finest collections of 3,200 fantastic ship models that were owned by the wealthy Sir John Caird with many images/photographs, films, charts, maps and navigational instruments that offer historical items relating to navigation, seafaring and time measurement. Of additional value are the digital archival collections, consisting of over 9,000 objects and 20,000 images that are searchable in a database alphabetically by type.<br />What I found to be very helpful about this library is the fact one can use the library to conduct research by accessing a variety of research guides related to maritime. I am particularly interested in the historical accounts of the events surrounding the Titanic and after reading the physical displays and the library website digital guides, I found some interesting statistical facts about the ship itself such as the passenger crew, number of lifeboats and tonnage for examples and a timeline of significant dates. I learned that the 2,228 people boarded the Titanic when the vessel left Queenstown and that there were losses of 1,523 passengers and 688 crew members. Of help for patrons in need of more research on the subject from the collection or principle records maintained by the special collection for tracing family histories or in depth research, the National Maritime Reference Library offers a full range of maritime historical materials to preview. <br /><br />Bold, J., Bradbeer, C., & van der Merwe , P. (2002). Maritime Greenwich a world heritage site: the Official guide. Greenwich: English Heritage. <br /><br /><strong><br />Helpful Websites:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/nav.2997">Caird Library</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenwichwhs.org.uk/">Greenwich</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nmm.ac.uk/">Royal Observatory</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-77808094622568254342008-07-15T12:24:00.000-07:002008-08-25T02:28:03.626-07:00National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJyRAcDY1RI/AAAAAAAAC4s/hw_Ylz8OuAo/s1600-h/V+%26+A+Museum.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJyRAcDY1RI/AAAAAAAAC4s/hw_Ylz8OuAo/s200/V+%26+A+Museum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232216303814104338" /></a><br />(Outdoor Gardens, Pond and Fountains)<br /><br /><strong>A Beautiful Day to Visit the National Art Library:</strong><br /><br />The class made a quick trip via the Northern Line to the Jubilee Line and then to the District Line, with a jump off at the South Kensington stop. The National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum was our destination and once there, discovered a beautiful facility, yet it was almost a shame to leave the gorgeous blue skies to be inside for a few hours. We were all very thrilled to take this tour though, and get a taste through a hands on experience and tour through a special presentation of the collection. <br /><br /><strong>The Victoria & Albert Museum and the Tour:</strong><br /><br />The entrance into the Victoria & Albert (V & A) Museum from the subway or “Tube” as I should more correctly say it in British terminology, was a grand one. The building was fabulously ornate with all of the woodwork, decorative trim and mouldings that just took my breath away. I only hope that my videos I take can capture a part of what I am viewing today to share with my friends, family and others. I am still very disappointed that my camera is broken and I have to reply 100% on my flip video to embellish my blogsite. I just hate the thought of purchasing a camera here in England that equates to over $500. Arrrghhh!! <br /><br /><strong>Welcome Francis Warrell, Assistant Librarian: </strong><br /><br />Our tour guide was surprisingly a very young librarian who had been employed with the Victoria and Albert Museum for six months. Regardless of her short time there, it was obvious she knew the collection and all there was to know about the library! My only concern was her soft spoken voice and the fact that like myself, not everyone would catch everything she said. I am another individual who has a soft voice, so it is something that I am concerned with at work, as I have to project my voice quite a bit. Because I teach 6 computer classes at the public library presently, I have to turn on that radio personality and pump up the volume. With three hours per class taught, my voice is tested! It is something I have had to learn and comes with working with the public. While I recognize the fact she is a young Librarian and I am not, possibly this may come with age, maturity and experience?? Anyway, I wish she would have turned up the volume and I did not want to be rude and ask her to do so!<br /><br /><strong>A Tour Through the Library: Levels 1, 2, & 3</strong><br /><br />The National Art Library offers the national collection of documentary art, craft and design and the largest of its type in the United Kingdom. The library offers a research collection that is open for patrons to use as a reference library. Mrs. Warrell quietly lead the class into the Reading Room and warned us to keep as quiet as possible as there were many studying and working. At the other end of the room was a Registration Desk, where we were told that people can register as a patron for up to three years or for one month. She let us know that there are two main public areas, of which we were in one. There is a fairly large special collections base at this library and a staff member can simply collect items for a patron by showing a form of identification. At the Inquiries Desk, a bit further down in the same room, a patron could get assistance and access reference resources, art indexes in digital and book format, and databases of museum objects with the assistance of a staff member here. Francis stated that patrons have access to a copier or “reprographic” for 15 to 20 pence per copy. Photo prints can be obtained from a special printer and are helpful when using large books and journals. Francis said the journals date back to the 1930’s. <br /><br /><strong>Retrieving Items for Patron Use:</strong><br /><br />Next, we entered a new room that stemmed from a public access area. This zone was for staff purposes only and was used by “Retrieval Staff”. The staff retrieve items and make available each hour and half hour by placing in a designated area that is really a historic holding system for items. The use of the Dewey Decimal System is put into place with this collection to help organize items in the collection. To start the retrieval process, a “Triplicate” form or Slip needed filling out. These slips held up to six items at a time. The slips come through a wooden open shelving area that was a go between the staff area and the public area. This is the historic area of the library I was speaking of that has not changed and still serves an important purpose even today. The staff retrieves the ticket and then the item(s), to placed with the slip upon arrival in the "open hatch" as our tour guide coined it. <br /><br /><strong>Periodical Stacks:</strong><br /><br />The next room visited was the periodical room, which was a comfortable and cool one. There are over 8,000 titles, with over 2,000 items that are current. Most of them are bound, mostly hard copies used for exhibitions and for curator use. This binding serves a purpose in preservation and keeps the items in good condition. The librarian told us that presently the library is not binding everything due to budgetary constraints, as is a common problem with libraries in the United States. She explained that by keeping some of the periodicals individual, not bound in the typical annual bindings, this actually helped to better show the piece at exhibitions! <br /><br /><strong>Our venture Upstairs:</strong><br /><br />The upper level of the library was installed in the year 1966, and initially served as a storage space. There were many filing cabinets and cases and per Mrs. Warrell, required the challenge of managing/using a host of keys in locking each unit. The collection stored here offered items dating back to medieval manuscripts of the nineteenth century. We were informed that the arts books are the largest collection in England! Artists such as Mulan and Forester (a great friend of Shakespeare) were revealed in this collection through historical art works. Shakespeare’s folios are also represented! This library also has original proofs of most of Dickens novels!! <br /><br /><strong>Up to the Balcony we Go and What is found in the Collection:</strong><br /><br />The view from the balcony was a good one that overlooked the three galleries. The collection above was a special collection as it offered items dating back to 1850 of the Great Exhibition. Other items in the collection of over two million items also include: Art & Design; textiles; sculpture, catalogs dating back from 1851 and items from Asia for some examples. The collection was established in 1837 and was earlier stored at the Summerset House. This was the facility across the Waterloo Bridge, north of our dormitory home on Stamford Street. The beautiful Summerset House was the location of a lovely welcome party for the British Studies students by King’s College. Everyone dressed in their finest clothes brought on the trip for the event!<br /><br /><strong>The West Room:</strong><br /><br />It was in the next room that we entered that we observed and learned that this room was being cleared out for a new space to house 20th century books and artifacts. The aging collection found left on the top shelves are partly the Gilbert collection from the Albert House. The items were mostly grouped by subject, but not so much anymore, as they are stored in what the young librarian called a boiler cabinet(?). Basically a hidden wooden bookshelf with moulding for a door. Below was pointed out a crypt of books as another mode of storage of the ancient collection that is not accessed as often. There are actually two hour runs for these items, but this does not occur very regularly. When asked about preservation of the well used, somewhat tattered ancient items found on the book shelves above, Francis stated that there is less budget to conduct adequate preservation and that students and a conservation department is involved in repairing books. <br /><br />We were directed to look at the shelving area where staff is allowed to bring home reference materials. This was another behind-the-scenes room where one could find many boxes. Francis discussed what on site access entailed, that of circulation, interlibrary loans and visits. She explained that off site access is what is found in the three boxes found in this room. <br /><br /><strong>Cataloging and Acquisitions:</strong><br /><br />It was of interest to me to learn that the library had access to quite a bit of money to spend on acquisitions and she said stated, the library must “keep buying to keep the budget up.” All items in the collection are retrievable as each item is catalogued and therefore well organized. The requests for catalogued items are done by a data order. <br /><br />At the end of this room, we came to an area where there were many boxes that we learned were gifts to the library. We were told about the Exchange Program with other Art museums around the world. Interestingly, the British Library donates to them. Upon reaching this room, posted on the wall was a list of four library values that our teacher Dr. Welsh observed:<br /><br />• Generous<br />• Coherent<br />• Rigorous<br />• Imaginative<br /><br /><strong>A Steep Climb to the Tippity Top: Floor 3</strong><br /><br />On the third floor was “the stacks” that housed exhibition catalogs (75%) predominantly, which was considered an expansive collection and dated back to the 18th century. This collection was originally organized by: country; gallery; and year. More recently items, are organized by size, as it appears to be a common theme in the libraries we have toured so far. A large percentage of items cover all languages, yet mostly German and French. <br /><br /><strong>Prints & Drawings Study Room: For Our Eyes Only</strong><br /><br />The special collection books found in this room were a special display for our viewing on this tour and was meant to highlight very special items in the collection of historical and some of literary significance. The items offer an account of the history of the library and museum. To list some of the wonderful items displayed and allowed to view/touch were:<br /><br />•Diary with maps/illustrations<br />•Jonathan Swifts copies of Gulliver’s Travels<br />•Islamic volumes, only beautiful binding remaining dating from Victorian period<br />•Sales catalogs<br />•Sketch books<br />•David Copper$ proofs (Dickens writings)<br />•Artists books, made from Rabbit Pelts<br />•Detroit Book, innocent pink cover with gun as bookmark and reference to body parts within; a book of murder and crime.<br /><br /><strong>Preservation/Conservation:</strong><br /><br />The preservation room is a separate area where library staff try their best to keep the collection in its present state, yet with budgetary constraints and the size of the collection, this was a daunting task. Mrs. Warrell showed us a conservation box that would be considered the first phase of conservation, where individual items are place within. Depending on the item and its size, placement could be placed in a number of different holders to preserve the item (second phase) such as: dust jackets and ties, envelopes with plastic covers for paper sleeves. There were many letters to be preserved and some were even pasted into a book, yet that is not a practise carried out anymore. It was interesting to see that microfiche was another storage medium that used to be used (1920’s) to store items, but that is not carried out anymore. My favourite item to actually hold and relish was Leonardo Da Vinci’s facsimile of 1 of 3 volumes of notes, that consisted of his writings, diagrams and drawings! <br /><br /><strong>Websites of Interest:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/nal/">National Art Library at the Victoria & Albert Museum</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-16435818310976788572008-07-14T12:07:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:40.071-08:00Museum of London<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGLFY7AMkI/AAAAAAAABqQ/c9VHhDVDjxM/s1600-h/mujseum.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGLFY7AMkI/AAAAAAAABqQ/c9VHhDVDjxM/s200/mujseum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229113567059391042" /></a><br /><strong>Week Two: Tour of the Museum of London</strong><br /><br />I would have to dub this day the prettiest one we have had in London! The skies were blue and there was a light wind swirling around that was very comfortable for the walk about London. The morning was perfect for a stroll towards the Museum of London. By now, the class as a whole is maneuvering around London with much more ease and feeling quite a bit more confident in our travels on the Tube to wherever our destination may be. Arriving at the Museum, somewhere very near to the Barbican Lending Library toured last week, it was obvious that the building was modern and I wondered to myself about the type of historical collections and displays that we would view. The group was lead into a room to meet our tour guide and it was apparent that there was going to be a private introduction before touring the collection.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJyR2LJtz0I/AAAAAAAAC40/Vm88p83U6Zs/s1600-h/Museum+of+London.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJyR2LJtz0I/AAAAAAAAC40/Vm88p83U6Zs/s200/Museum+of+London.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232217226990178114" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Meet Jon Cotton, Senior Curator:</strong><br /><br />Mr. Jon Cotton, the Senior Curator over pre-history at the museum showed the class a slideshow put together in order to offer us a bit of an understanding of the gallery through a description of the thinking that underlies the gallery. He informed us that this gallery is the “London Before London Gallery” (450,000 BC – c. AD 50). <br /> <br /><strong>Background History of the Museum:</strong><br /><br />In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the prior Museum of London building was bursting at the seams, so a newer and larger building was in order to offer ample spacing to grow and spread out. A newer building was a need and Mr. Cotton stated that the museum “aimed to be a one-time stop shop" where the main collection of London history would be housed. I learned that the Museum is one part of two institutions: (1.) The Guildhall Museum; and the (2.) London Museum. The Guildhall Museum originated in the 1920’s and deals with the city of London. The London museum is a private institution and originated in 1911. Both of these organizations came together in the 1970’s at the current site. Mr. Cotton stated that London libraries are statutory, yet museums are not, so there may be some existing tensions. <br /><br />In the year of 2000, the museum came into its second site. Jon went on to discuss the story of London as a Roman port. Out of interest, he stepped ahead in London time to also mention a famous London story and display of Jack the Ripper to tell the story of London in the 1880’s. He mentioned how this gruesome display offered photos of the victims and mortuary in London.<br /><br />The third site of the Museum of London (LAARC) houses the archeological archives of London with over 5,000 site records of primary data such as drawings, records, and information on the great fire of 1666. This site is the oldest of the three sites, with reference to the collection. <br /><br /><strong>Marketing the Prehistoric London Collection:</strong><br /><br />The Museum of London is the world’s largest urban history museum. Jon explained that the urbanism aspect of this library is to send out the message to “come and visit us.” Urban is to a settlement as in Roman times. Our tour guide said that in his work he deals with everything prior to the Roman times, so it is interesting to him that he deals with the archeological archives of London with this collection. <br /><br /><strong>Visitor Patrons/Demographics: </strong><br /><br />The majority of the patrons who come to visit the Museum of London are foreign tourists, mostly English. The numbers of Londoners attending the museum though, are steadily increasing. Approximately 40,000 visitors attend each year, with 50% being Londoners and school children, about 10% are British non-tourists, and 40% are tourists. When thinking of what people love to see when they come to London, Jon mentioned things dealing with Victorian Life and Roman Life. He then proceeded to show us an image of the Rose Theater, the precursor to the Globe Theater which burned down. The Rose Theater can today be found and is preserved in the basement of an office block! The present Globe can be found immediately around the corner. :) <br /><br /><strong>Key Thoughts on when Pre-history begins and what it deals with:</strong><br /><br />Mr. Cotton then discussed ‘pre-history’ conceptions by many patrons and when asked for initial responses of what prehistory means to them, he typically discovers that people think dinosaurs for one response fit that category. Yet, the Museum of London does not cover the period when dinosaurs existed, but the time before written records, before Romans arrived. Mr. Cotton confirmed what I had already assumed that prehistory is relative to where one is in the world. <br /><br />Two key thoughts our tour guide told us to keep in mind as we go through the museum is to think of pre-historic as “people”. He analogy of the television personality Ray Miess who survives the wild and trains others in survival techniques is who we were instructed to think of when we think of prehistory in terms of the collection at the Museum of London. The items in the collection reveal people as individuals who are adaptable in response to environmental elements for one. These are the kind of people that are reflected in the collection. <br /><br /><strong>The Landscape of the Collection and what it May Reveal:</strong><br /><br />In 1998, the former director wanted to do a display on the changing faces and bodies of prehistoric and modern Londoners. Some examples of the collection dated back to 3,000 BC. One item was a pot found in the Thames River. The pot itself gives ideas of man from the hand decor, as there were holes, thumbprints and pinch marks used to decorate it. A mold of the hole in the pot was made and revealed the finger of what was thought to be a woman, as women did this sort of work. It was thought that it was her pinky or index finger because it was slender. There were some preconceptions that were amazingly made of man from this time period due to the discovery of one little pot with hand decor. This is the nature of the work of finding out the secrets of man through self discovery in located objects in London. Mr. Cotton astutely stated that the landscape can move or effect us and offer the power of place. A prime example is Stonehenge which evokes many feelings in us. Seahenge was another remarkable piece of landscape, with a circule of ancient (early bronze age) timbers projecting from the sands North of Norfolk, that still generates “heat, interest, and feeling” as does the collection at the Museum of London. Seahinge was excavated and is a very remote and special or sacred area. Interestingly, there is quite a bit of conflict that revolves around the excavation at Seahenge, as the locals want the archaeologists to leave it alone so that it may decay naturally over time. <br /><br /><strong>The Thames River: How it ties into the Collection and the Building</strong><br /><br />The Thames River is a major London landscape feature. It is a sacred River that runs North and south of the region. Mr. Cotton stated it is odd how the behaviour and segregation of the London Northerners and Southerners is so unique and distinctive that even today (as it was historically) some cabbies will never cross the boundaries! <br /><br />There have been many gifts that the River Thames has given to London. Many objects have been thrown in the River long ago or been buried, such as Hindu objects that was thrown in expression of a sacred ritual or offering to the River. The river has always been important to the region and is used basically today in the same manner as it was in prehistory. It was then that I recognized a theme ongoing with the museum. The River Thames is truely the core of the collection, as it tells a story of man that brings us from the prehistoric time to today. It is for this reason that I think the new building is reflected in an urban or modern building and displays. The old and the new are tied together by the River Thames. The River Thames is centered in the building with the landscape surrounding it like an envelope. The materials used in the gallery are of new materials that encase the historical objects. The gallery is truely a union of the prehistory and modern times and was quite beautiful! Mr. Cotton stated that the River Thames acts as a central focus of activity. This theme carried over in the gallery.<br /><br />Following through the slideshow in the orientation and a description of the new gallery in 2002, we learned that the gallery was given an art gallery retail approach, which is a ‘radical’ departure from common London museums. The new and larger space offered an area to nicely spread out the collection and not place important items in corridors, as so commonly found in other museums and art galleries. We learned about the four key messages found in this gallery:<br /><br />1. Climate<br />2. River<br />3. People<br />4. Legacy<br /><br />Surely, man was a product of his climate as life revolved around it and the River was a great resource for thriving. Our guide saw “people as more than surviving but thriving.” In relevance to the legacy of prehistoric man, he had his own language and his own way of doing things (man as a term to include Women!). <br /><br />The outlay of the Museum of London and its prehistory collection is of straight lines and displays. The three landscape elements of the building tell an old story on the edges of the walls with poems, quotes and informational signage (that offered more condensed information than in the past). The three elements included the River, Landscape and Archeology. The wooden displays were of ethnic oak. The idea was to look to spirituality for inspiration of the spaces. The quotes and poems in the displays promote ‘reaction’. Jon said that they want people to learn and remember!<br /><br /><strong>Inside the Gallery:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJySGVwcC8I/AAAAAAAAC48/T2zxGu3inyE/s1600-h/Museum+of+London2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJySGVwcC8I/AAAAAAAAC48/T2zxGu3inyE/s200/Museum+of+London2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232217504714853314" /></a><br /><br />The common thread of the collection is the River Thames and natural sound effects carried one through the collection. There was a great display of flint tools throughout that dated back as far as 450,000 BC. The collection was one that lead you through chronologically in time and told a story!<br /><br />The Museum of London is one that has been transforming over the years and is in an exciting period of revealing all of its new and interactive exhibits that chart London’s changes. The gallery is evolving as I write this and will reflect so much more in the future, to offer an even more inspirational and diverse collection that engages Londoners and other visitors. It was just amazing to explore London as it may have been a half million years ago, when animals, hunters and farmers roamed the London landscape. A journey that takes you into an unstable time is what the Museum of London offers and tells one about the many changes of a landscape brought about by natural and human forces and how man adapted to it in his community. The Riverwall, the Landscape Wall, and the Wooden Plinths all offer displays and messages to carry back with you. It is a story of how the land was shaped with climatic and sea level influences on the landscape and people. What resulted were communities that appeared where people carved out homes and utilized the resources found within. Patterns of habitation emerged as there were obvious climate and social tensions. <br /><br />The tour offered an avenue into the past as one wondered how much we have changed over time. The 5,000 year old Shepperton Woman whose bones were discovered was reconstructed to offer a way to see how Londoners may have looked in comparison to people of today. A historical Account of the Great Fire in 1666, that I wish I could have spent more time perusing, offered another way to see how Londoners dealt with the tragedy and further shaped society. Romans also greatly influenced London and left its permanent marks on a city that can be seen even today. More interactive displays to be completed in 2009, will explore in more detail how Medieval and Victorian Londoners and the city is ever evolving. The Museum of London is a must see and one to learn about the city through stories, text, photographs, video and sounds to promote an emotional response!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJySZ5ym8eI/AAAAAAAAC5E/jyAnYfo7I2E/s1600-h/Musuem+of+London2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJySZ5ym8eI/AAAAAAAAC5E/jyAnYfo7I2E/s200/Musuem+of+London2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232217840805147106" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Weblinks of Relevance:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/">Museum of London</a><br /><a href="http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/"><br />Stonehenge</a><br /><br /><a href="http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/aburnham/eng/seahenge.htm">Seahenge</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.riverthames.co.uk/history.htm">River Thames: History</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-38580756803012308922008-07-13T14:20:00.000-07:002008-08-25T03:13:42.651-07:00Marylebone Library, London Borough of Westminister<a href="http://www.librarytechnology.org/photos-libraries/26918.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.librarytechnology.org/photos-libraries/26918.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><strong>My Visit to a Public Library in Westminister: Getting There</strong><br /><br />The city of Westminister libraries seemed to be more ‘uptown’ or more accessible from London central. This library was housed in an old historic building that was quite beautiful from the exterior. I ventured on the ‘Underground’ crossing over three different train rides with ease and was a swift trip. By now, I am not afraid of using this mode of transportation and am intrigued with it. The unknowns of traveling in this fashion is coming above ground to a world unknown to me and trying to locate what may be a small or large library in a sea of tremendous buildings and a whirlwind of people and cars screaming past on busy streets. I was starved to death, but made my way past many eateries on a mission to find this library. I came straight to Madame Tusseauds Wax Museum. I thought about taking a quick tour through this touristy hot-spot, but there was a long line of noisy groups of children and I just had to leave! I could hear my father’s voice in the back of my mind telling me to make sure to visit the wax museum and wondered if I should lie about visiting or come back again. I moved quickly past that thought and headed for what I believe to be a police officer who was embarrassed when I asked him where the library was. I hope I did not give him a “are you crazy; you don’t know where your library is!” kind of look. I walked ahead and saw a man sweeping the street and figured he was a local, so I asked him and he definitely knew. Not only was I on the wrong side of the street, but I walked out of the station and headed in the wrong direction. But, I did not travel far and was now on track! All I had to do was wait 20 minutes now for the library to open, as it opened at 1:30 pm on Sundays. <br /><br /><strong>The Stranger:</strong><br /><br />The library was next to a fantastic court house. I sat on its steps and an older gentleman engaged in some conversation with me. I could tell he was lonely and could feel his presence and need to speak with me before he finally made the decision to approach me. I suppose it is body language I can read. I was a bit leary at first, but realized he was alright and I was on a very busy street anyways with other patrons waiting outside as well. This gentleman told me he was a retired substitute teacher and that he was about to receive his pension. He told me about his career and asked me about my own and where I was from. We discussed his travels to America and our educational system. I understood him to be someone of little monetary means. He did not at all want to teach again and told me how difficult it can be. Some things are just universal I think. He talked as though he was concerned about money and came to the library, especially on Sundays, because there was not much to do and that he basically had to spend his money on things other than entertainment. He is one of those patrons that I meet that use the library leisurely for entertainment and to feel a part of the community. He was a very nice man, yet I made sure to leave right at the strike of 1:30, say goodbye, and it was lovely to meet him and I wished him well. Why am I discussing this gentleman? Upon entering the main level of the library (there are 2 levels), I came to a computer with a catalog that offered access to other online resources, such as the Community Information Database, as we have at the public library I work at. I wished I could have located this elderly gentleman to show him some of the resources I found for the elderly, as there were many. I am not sure of how computer-savvy he is, but I would think that based upon his age that he may not know how to access information in this manner. I felt like there may have been services, programs, or local groups found at this library that he could get information about. I was glad to be here and glad that I feel a need to help others with information. It is really good medicine for me anyway!<br /><br /><strong>Downstairs:</strong><br /><br />The bottom floor of the library is the lending part of this public library. I examined a wonderful piece of equipment that basically allowed patrons to independently: <br /><br />• Borrow<br />• Renew<br />• Return Items<br />• Pay Fees<br /><br />This equipment was box-like with four buttons for each feature. The middle of the equipment offered an opening space to place/insert items or scan them and I observed each patron to receive a printed receipt of each transaction. I would love to see this type of innovative technology made available at home as it saves the time of the patrons and the staff, seemed to be quite efficient, and just makes good since! It offers another means of servicing patrons and offering them an avenue to work independently. Some patrons are afraid of asking the librarians questions or fear they may be bothersome with their questions. This at least offers the patrons a mode of servicing themselves and if any questions are lingering, the staff is available to them. <br /><br />The collection on the bottom floor offered DVDs,CDs and books on a variety of subjects, similar to what you would find in the United States. Of interest to me were topics on parenting, the body and belief. The Children’s Library and the Teen Zone were placed together in the back of this level. There was a large Inquiries Desk with a mix of younger and older library workers who were nice and helpful when approached. The Catalog that was reviewed to peruse the Community Information Database also offered eLibrary access to the collection, eResources and the library Gateway to Resources. The catalog was browsable by subject, and searches could be conducted of the children’s collection, ‘My Account’, and online reference materials.<br /><br /><strong>Community Information Database:</strong><br /><br />Of specific interest to me was the community database mentioned before because it really caters to the community, with very valuable information resources such as descriptions of services with an offer of contact information for people on a host of subjects that is available to print and accessible online given a library card and password. Of relevance to special needs populations, the subject heading of 'Housing' offered patrons a list of many resources through the following subheadings: Disabled; Accommodations; Grants; Homeless; Family Services; and Housing Advice. For 'Life Events' the following subheadings offered a rich supply of resources: Bankruptcy; Mental Incapacity; Unemployment; and Retirement for examples. For 'Social Issues': Advice; and Equality. For 'Community and Living': Special Needs; Charities; Interpreting; and Mediator. For 'Jobs and Careers': Job Centers and Clubs; Employment, and Job Advice. For 'Policy and Public Safety': Emergency; Victim Support; Public Safety; and Crime and Police. For 'Leisure and Culture': Literacy Groups; Information; Older People and Libraries. For 'Social Care Advice': Health & Safety; Social Services; Social Care; Health Centers; Social Advice; Health and Medicine and Home Help. <br /><br /><strong>Upstairs:</strong><br /><br />Upon entering the second level of this public library that was labelled 'Information' from the entering door, I observed many computer stations. There was an area for printers and copy machines, with an offer of a large table and chairs. Non-Fiction was located on this level and offered many subjects that were very clearly labelled and spaced upon shelves with the offer of ample space for patrons to walk past and wheelchairs to move through. The only subject that I could not figure out was O.U. I should have picked up a book from this section, but moved right past as I figured it must be something local that is understood among residents? The Help and Advice area offered an Exchange Group Training. No one manned this desk and a sign stated to ask the librarians if there were any questions. I do not know if the Exchange Group is an outside group or library staff, but it advocated to “empower people” and the signage stated that it was a free service where confidential advice is given and can be done so in sessions. The “Ask Staff for Details” was located in several areas of the library. This training center that must be closed today posted that it was for people of all ages and social sectors. I found an area with pamphlets and flyers. There was a listing of classes upcoming, so I collected as much as I could on the training center and other services and programs of the library and related/cooperative service organizations. Of the programs I took note of were: First Time Online; Are you Looking for a New Job?; and National Test & ECDL Tests. Also, there were signs nearby that were posted on the walls that PC usage was free for one hour. <br /><br />This library had many resources for business and job related training. I belive that this library offers a storehouse of many great resources for the public! The Periodical section offered large wooden sitting carrels that were private for reading. Newspapers were in full stock, as well as a range of magazines to suit the tastes of the young and the old. As in the rest of the library, everything was well labeled. I even thought that maybe everything was “over-labelled!” Movement was assured around this section and I could envision a disabled person having no problems moving about here. Next to periodicals were wall postings and tables of more community and library events in the form of posted flyers and free hand-outs. The walls were decorated with posters advertising various library services. On my way out of the library, I took note of more signs directing patrons to the staff for help with the Internet. Weekly sessions or Drop In Advice Sessions were posted as taking place on Wednesdays at the Marylebone Information Service Desk. The library also offered the public the opportunity through creative advertising to: get confident; get ready; and get back to work! Through sessions at the library on Tuesdays, to gain knowledge when patrons are unsure what to do, the 'First for Work' program seemed a helpful service.<br /><br />Other services the librarians offer patrons here at the Marylebone Library in the Westminister borough of London, is gaining resources to help with problems such as: tax credits or benefits; problems with your children’s school; debts out of control; treated unfair at work; problems with the landlord; and living on a low income or benefits. While the librarians are not there to actually solve patron problems, they have nicely gathered and organized resources and developed services and programs that strive to give advice or keys to solving issues. This advice is offered to patrons Monday through Friday from 9am to 6:30pm. (<a href="www.communitylegaladvice.uk">www.communitylegaladvice.uk</a>) <br /><br />Handicap accessibility by ramps was made available for patrons to the library and the various zones within, yet only a stair lift was offered inside. Special software for the visually and hearing impaired was offered with special Zoom features to enhance the size of the text. There were also special keyboards with larger keys to aid as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-71178036329660945422008-07-10T12:17:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:40.263-08:00Barbican Lending Library: Music Library & Children's Library, London<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGN3l48ApI/AAAAAAAABqY/yPAeBowI9Ek/s1600-h/DSC01748_edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGN3l48ApI/AAAAAAAABqY/yPAeBowI9Ek/s200/DSC01748_edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229116628557103762" /></a><br /><strong>CHILDREN’S LIBRARY: Mrs. Ann Holden/ Children’s Librarian</strong><br /><br /><strong>Introduction:</strong><br /><br />What an exciting and rewarding position it is to work in a children’s library where each day brings new events and an influx of new people. I see it as a gift to be able to teach children about reading and offer all sort of games and activities that encourage literacy on a day to day basis. While I understand the complexity and chaotic environment of a children’s library by observing this type of department afar from my present library position in the Reference Department at the Public Library system, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I see daily how hard it is to keep librarians in the children's department because it takes a strong willed individual with much energy to handle the constant planning and creativity that stems from this type of librarianship. I see children’s librarianship as an avenue to tap into creative thinking and it requires an individual who has a big heart, a love for helping children learn to read and discover the fun in learning. Yet I know this position is so much more that what I describe and offers constant interaction with children and their parents and requires a good deal of thought into exciting activities to offer throughout the year. While I believe myself to have those qualities or characteristics, I may not have the huge energy stores I used to have just a mere decade ago. I ponder my abilities and willingness to handle such a position as Mrs. Amanda Owens, the children’s librarian at the Barbican Library holds. She personifies the type of individual that could handle such a task. Mrs. Owens, as the children’s librarian for the Barbican Children’s Library, a city of London library, manages the collection, services and a broad span of free activities and programs for children ranging from ages of 0 all the way through 14. What may seem like a daunting task for some seemed to be a nice match for Mrs. Owens. She offered a description of the collection and summarized each service, program and activity with ease, as if it was perfectly etched in her mind. <br /><br /><strong>Description of the Children’s Library:</strong><br /><br />Mrs. Owens started off describing two rolling exhibitions that had a two year waiting list for participation that included evening events and private viewings. She explained that the library offered RFID software in reference at three public stations found at the ‘Inquiries’ or Reference desk. The Barbican Library is one of three lending libraries in the city of London (aside from Shoe Lane and Camomile Street branches) that offers the city library services through the local government in order to provide quality services to workers, residents and those who come in as visitors. To become a patron is free if you happen to live or work in London, but includes those who study in London as well. All that is needed to ‘join’ or to become an active patron is to provide identification and proof of your home or study address. The children’s collection consists primarily of board books, puzzle story and picture books on compact disk and audio cassette for beginning readers, as well as reference materials to serve children and families such as encyclopaedias and dictionaries. <br /><br />The layout of the library located on the top floor, was explained to additionally consist of a ground floor which housed the Music Library. Mrs. Owens seated us in what appeared to be a story time section of the children’s library. The step seats framed the center of the library as a stadium type seating to offer a comfortable seating arrangement and provide a ground stage where many activities could take place. She commented that the floor gets used a lot since there is such limited overall space in the Children’s Library. She pointed out that new signage had been placed throughout the entire library to help better identify through enhanced visibility important zones of the library, as the lighting was kept at minimal levels, possibly to conserve energy as that seems to be a big issue I have read about in and around London through advertisements and posted in many places such as restrooms and kitchens for examples. The Children’s library offered very colourful displays that nicely and clearly advertised or identified services and programs for the public to view upon entry. The position of this library was well placed at the end of the Barbican library so as to help buffer the noise. We were introduced to the lovely full-time library assistant by the name of Julie who basically is Mrs. Owens right hand assistant that helps manage the work flows and responsibilities of six other library assistants. <br /><br /><strong>Collection Development, Basic Library Services and Patrons:</strong><br /><br />The collection consists of 24 thousand items collectively, with 15 1/2 thousand that remain on the shelf for viewing. The remaining 8 ½ thousand items are stored in the basement. The collection is one that has been carefully and thoughtfully built up in order to serve the age groups of 0 – 14 and contains a variety of items to serve the following categories: (Under 5); First Reader (short chapter, pictures); Stories (ages 5 – 10); More Serious Children’s Literature (ages 10+ [ie. Harry Potter]); Young Teens (ages 12 – 14); and (YA and Adult) with not much overlap found here and Reference shelves soon to be integrated with Fiction. <br /><br />Mrs. Owens explained that she collects books on CD and Cassette, as well as downloadable books on MP3 Players. The later is an expensive format, so therefore only the outer boxes are found on the shelves. When a patron is ready to check out the item, the MP3 is redeemed at the Children’s Inquiries desk. The loan period for items is three weeks, with the exception of CD’s that check out for only one week. Library borrowing is a free service as it is in America. Patrons are offered an option to make reservations of items already on loan. The following I found to be interesting and make perfect sense: children that have overdue items that were checked out on their library cards do not have any fines, on the contrary a parent that has overdue items from the children’s collection that were checked out using their library cards do have to pay fines. <br /><br />The children’s library allows up to 8 borrowed books per patron at a time, in contrast to the 50 that can be borrowed at the East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library in which I work. I think it is understandable to limit the number of items borrowed by the youth with their cards and as they age and mature, the provision of more items to be allowed. Of course the parents can check out more of the children's books and are held accountable for late returns through library fines accessed. <br /><br />The majority of library visits are from area schools, with the Islington borough schools having weekly visits. She informed us that currently only three quarters of the schools in London request visits. The majority of class visits are in the afternoons. Some are from nurseries and play groups with the offer of storytelling, singing (Julie loves to sing to the children) and playtime with a large assortment of toys. The Barbican Children’s Library generously supplies book loans of up to forty books each time for differing subjects. <br /><br />As far as the main services, programs, and events ongoing at the Barbican Children’s Library are: Rhymetime; Babytime; Outreach; Reader’s Group; Carnagie Awards; Children’s Book Week; World Book Day; Book Start; Reading is Fundamental; Summer Readers and Plus Serve. For a very brief synopsis of each, Rhymetime is a program for toddlers from 18 months to 3 years that is held on Mondays. Babytime is a program for infants on up to toddlers (0 – 18 months) and is held on Fridays. Moms have an advantage to visit with one another, as a community of mothers comes together to share/socialize with one another during this time. Mrs. Holden stated that there are not very many places for young mom’s to visit like this so these programs are very successful and greatly appreciated. Outreach is an excellent avenue for the Children’s Librarians to go out into the community and maintain contact with the children who do not necessarily have the means to come in at all or often enough. Mrs. Owens stated that the new outreach services are going well currently. The Reader’s Group offers two sessions for older children and last up to 45 minutes each. The shadowing group is given a list of books that is “whittled down” to a short list. From there the reader’s group votes on the best book. According to Amanda, this is a great way for kids to discuss books and has been successful. The best book that is chosen has some input into the Carnagie Book Award, so the program is beneficial on several levels. The reader groups meet each week and are typically a group of approximately eight individuals ranging in age of 10 to 14 years of age. There are regular Saturday events that last one hour and involve crafts, puppetry and the ballet. The Children’s library keeps a scrapbook and the staff members really enjoy dressing up for the occasions. All in all, it sounded as if the library staff workers were very enthusiastic about the program and the children were getting something special out of it. The Children’s Book Week offered is a one week event in October of each year. The events are useful in promoting reading/literacy. Classes are invited and there are three day sessions. The World Book Day is another special event at the Barbican Children’s Library that last but just one day and offers a much smaller version of similar activities as the Children’s Book Week. <br /><br />It would be irresponsible for me not to mention the government funded inititatives for the Children’s Library, as it offers children important resources to promote literacy. Basically, the government is the corporate body that provides full funding for the program 'Book Start'. Each child is given three packs as mandated by the government of the City of London Libraries. The age groups are: ‘naught’ (0) – 18 months; 18 – 36 months (golden pack) and 36 – 48 months (treasure chest pack). The local libraries are responsible for distributing the packets and ensure that each pack has library registration and related information inserted into them. Mrs. Owens stated that the Book Start program has run very well. <br /><br />Another sponsored program is called 'Reading is Fundamental'. I was proud to learn that my favourite coffee company, Starbucks, is funding a literacy program for children in the United Kingdom. I will make sure the let the Children’s and Young Adult department know about this in the ‘States’! <br /><br />The Summer Reader is another program offered by the Barbican Children’s Library and offers booklists for the children to encourage reading. The motivation is for the children to read all of the books on the list and receive a metal. The Governor gives a lovely reception to hand out awards and I could read from Mrs. Owens' expression/beam and pride about the program that ‘everyone’ benefits! <br /><br />Lastly, the Plus Serve program is one that is based upon national standards. This is a program that I did not gather enough information about, but understood it to be one where adults and children work together to boost reading levels and measure satisfaction levels. <br /><br />************************************************************************************************** <br /><br /><strong>MUSIC LIBRARY: Mrs. Liz Wells/Music Librarian</strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>Introduction:</strong><br /><br />The Music library is on the bottom floor, directly below the Children’s Library. I observed a computer screensaver that innovatively advocated the services and resources of the Music Library. For a brief description, the Music Library is one of the largest music collections that is made available to the public and offers a full range of musical resources such as books, videos, DVD’s, scores and recordings. In addition to a broad book collection about musicians and music in general are over 70 periodicals that date as far back as the 19th century. Electronic resources include a very unique 'Song Index' of the popular music of today in addition to the classics. At the front of the Music library one will see an electric piano and to the back of the library, eight listening booths. <br /><br /><strong>Background Information from Mrs. Liz Wells:</strong><br /><br />Mrs. Liz Wells is the very lovely Music Librarian I met today. I was very impressed with her knowledge of her resources and how well she presented herself and the collection. Not only was she soft spoken and relaxed, she handled herself very professionally and welcomed questions from the group. I understood from this tour that she very much welcomed our visit and was not only happy to talk about her library, but interested to meet and learn about who we are and what our plans were in the future on a professional level. <br /><br />On our way into the library, I observed the 'Skills for Life' informational display for Adults that offered literacy and numeracy skills. Books were on display here. The funding for this program was one that Mrs. Wells stated the library received through donations I believe and was partially funded by the BBC. There were many good displays found of musicians. I also took notice of a nice DVD display and a computer station that offered a music catalog. <br /><br />For just a bit of background information on the Barbican Library as a whole, it was described by Mrs. Wells as the second largest public library in London. The Barbican Center is itself an Art Center, which is why the library spaces are so very large. There are other relevant specialization areas that have been built up at the Barbican Library and the collection was built from scratch in the 1980’s. The strengths of the collection is that it is a modern one with newer publications, therefore the patrons may benefit from the more current information found in musical books, DVD’s and CD’s. <br /><strong><br />Who are the Patrons for which the Collection Serves?</strong><br /><br />According to Mrs. Liz Wells, the majority of the patrons are those who live, work and study in the London borough. Yet, the library honestly serves a much wider range of individuals because virtually anyone may use the library. I learned from Liz that the majority of those who work in London visit the Barbican Library due to the convenience of location and of course all of its available tools and resources found in the center of the financial center of London. I was so very surprised to learn that less than 10 percent of the population found in London are residents! <br /><br />Other patrons that use the library and are in close proximity geographically to the Barbican Library are the Guildhall Library of School and Dance, the City Library, King’s College and Music Conservationists. <br /><br /><strong>The Barbican Music Library Collection:</strong><br /><br />Of interest is this library’s sizable CD collection, with over 16 ½ thousand in number. This amount is considered quite extensive in the United Kingdom libraries and offers many wide ranges of musical genres. It is common to locate jazz, country, musicals and folk music for some examples. The genres offer a categorization scheme which is further organized alphabetically, depending upon the format or even the sex of the artist for another example. Liz let us know that the system that is used to categorize and organize the music collection is a simple one that works. Of course, the stock must be weeded regularly to allow space for adding to the collection. She made sure to point out that the weeding is necessary with the music collection because it is not an archival collection! <br /><br /><strong>The Library Budget: a Boost from Sales </strong><br /><br />The summer sales of the music collection generate a substantial supplemental income for the Barbican Music Library. I was surprised to hear Mrs. Wells say that the CD charges were a substantial sum of 40 pounds, with DVDs varying radically at only 2 pounds, 75 pence per piece. Yet, I do understand how expensive it is to supply CD's.<br /><br /><strong>More Information about the Collection:</strong><br /><br />I learned that the Pop DVDs and the tutorials were very popular items in this music collection. The collection is considered quite exclusive as it includes items not even found in the video stores! While this is wonderful, the Barbican Music Library has an assortment of its own unique challenges, such as currently Mrs. Wells is seeing a drop in loans within the CD collection. She thought this may be a result of the fact patrons can now download their music, so the library has an eye out for a new method of delivery (i.e. online). <br /><br />Of convenience to the patrons, the music collection can be accessed online with a library card and a password to authenticate the patron’s account information. The librarian spoke of the fact that because of Wifi access throughout London, the music collection and resources can be easily accessed outside of the music library! As an additional note, the popularity of the music online is of reference and the printing of downloadable music. <br /><br />The book collection basically covers all areas in the music collection. The items are classified by the Dewey Decimal System 18 – 22. The books circulate for a standard period of three weeks in this collection.<br /><br /><strong>Special Collections, Resources and Services for Patrons:</strong><br /><br />As mentioned in the introduction, there is an electronic piano that has proven itself very popular in the library. Patrons can use a set of headphones to drown the sound so that the other patrons in the library are not disturbed.<br /><br />The music periodicals number 70 in number and are kept on a display shelf individually for one year prior to binding. The Barbican Music Library collects many journals of individual British composers. <br /><br />After the binding of the music journals takes place, the journals are actually considered a special collection in that there are only a few libraries in the country with similar collections. After binding, the journals are more easily identified, handled and stored/preserved. Interlibrary loan services are provided and the libraries have access to a union catalog to search for specific items in a host of music collections. Liz stated that the library advantageously uses the ILL statistics to “select stock”. Typically acquisitions such as this is used to choose ‘the top 20’. Qualified librarians and a few library assistants with an interest in music are commonly involved in the selection process for this library. There is also a suggestion book for input by patrons of the collection.<br /><br />Of importance, popularity, and interest to the special collections is the online 'Gramophone' which is an index that is used to select music. Study scores are also another special item in the collection that is plentifully out of print. There is little weeding here as it is hard to conduct interlibrary loans and some items are never returned. <br /><br /><strong>Classification of the Collection:</strong><br /><br />As far as classification scheme of the collection goes, the music librarian stated that using the Dewey Decimal System is not a good system for music. McColvin & Reeves is the current system used to categorize and break music down by how it is performed. <br /><br /><strong>Other Important Miscellaneous Things to Know:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Item 1:</strong> Mrs. Wells told us about Yammel, which is an international body that coordinates music around counting.<br /><br /><strong>Item 2:</strong> Binding journals that are hardbound is very expensive, yet it enhances preservation of the item and therefore extends its life.<br /><br /><strong>Item 3:</strong> The Music Periodicals are used for Interlibrary Loans and are non-circulating.<br /><strong><br />Item 4:</strong> If a patron does not know the exact name of a book that a song is found in, the sizable Song Index can offer options through the intuitive and navigitable database that is now made available from the library’s website. This resource offers a help in cataloguing CDs and scores and offers searches by title and ISBN for example. <br /><br />Mrs. Liz Wells said that with the eight listening booths made available in the Barbican Music Library, (6 for CDs, 1 for cassettes, and 1 for LP player) a free service is provided patrons with no time limit. Lastly, lap top connections are conveniently made available in the booths in addition to Wifi access inside and outside of the library.<br /><br /><strong>Web Links of Relevance:</strong><br /><br /><a href="www.musicpreserved.org.uk">Music Archive of unique Audio and Video Interviews and Live Performances</a><br /><br /><a href="www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/barbicanlibrary">City of London Libraries: Barbican Library</a><br /><br /><a href="www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/librarycatalogue">Barbican Library Online Catalogue</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-12177570899434940842008-07-09T12:14:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:40.418-08:00Holborn Reference Library, London Borough of Camden<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGOc5wL5dI/AAAAAAAABqg/jHexyuBMt9I/s1600-h/image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGOc5wL5dI/AAAAAAAABqg/jHexyuBMt9I/s200/image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229117269544265170" /></a><br /><strong>RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY!!</strong><br /><br />“Rain rain go away,<br />Come again another day.<br />Little Johnny wants to play;<br />Rain, rain, go to Spain,<br />Never show your face again!” <br /><br /><em>Co-written by Gloria Shayne Baker and Noel Regney; part of a children's rhyme dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, with lyrics stemming from the invasion and defeat of the Spanish Armada in part by the stormy weather. </em><br /><br /><strong>I finally made it! Over the River Tims and through the Wet Streets, to Holborn Reference Library I Go. The bus driver knows the way to carry the passengers through the steady downpour of rain, O!</strong><br /><br />Upon entering the Holborn Reference Library, my first independent research library visit, I noticed that there were three levels. This public library resides in a residential or borough region right outside of London Central. The borough is called Camden and the library is very near another borough called Islington with it’s own set of reference and lending libraries. The weather was just terrible on this day and as I entered I was dripping with water, so I decided to stay for a spell, do a bit of research through note taking, data collection, observation, and hopefully a formal or informal interview with a library staff member. The entrance to the library had steep steps and a long ramp for wheel chair access. I walked right into the library from the main floor to get a taste of what the entrance of the library offered. What I was immediately directed to was what I call the Reference desk, but more appropriately termed “Inquiries” here in London. There was a longer desk next to it and it appeared to be the check out desk or circulation. There were many younger persons working behind this desk. It was obvious who the Librarians were, as they were either seated behind the Inquiries desk or walking throughout the main floor with name and title badges on to my surprise. This is something that you rarely if ever see in the public libraries in America, at least in my home state of Louisiana. <br /><br />I spoke for a few minutes with a reference librarian at the Inquiry desk for a few minutes. It seemed as if it were like the type of entry interviews that are conducted at the British Library to “become a member”. I told her the basis of my research and that I was a library student in the United States that has come to the UK to take a few classes at King’s College through my university’s British Studies program. I also asked her if I could walk about and take notes, get temporary access to the Internet, and observe the staff and patrons for a few hours. She said “absolutely” and let me know that if I had any questions to ask any of the staff. She let me know that in relation to my research topic on special needs populations in public libraries in the United Kingdom, Holborn had certain accommodations available for the blind, deaf,and physically disabled:<br /><br />• Lift<br />• Portable Induction Loop<br />• Lift access for walking<br />• Ramps<br />• Learning Center with special keyboard for Children<br />• Special Software<br /><br />I proceeded to collect free resources in the form of pamphlets, flyers and brochures at a large display center for the community. This display was for the eldery and there were many resources available that I collected, read and took notes on for my research paper. Some examples of the resources I collected were: resource centers for the elderly; living skills and transportation; helping with sight loss; reference groups; maps and bus guides; care homes and elder abuse. There were also very resourceful guides made available with reference to: <br /><br />• looking after yourself during hot weather/health information<br />• accommodation options for older persons<br />• shelters<br />• moving information<br />• retirement<br />• housing<br />• care homes<br /><br />Programs that I found relevant to the poor and the elderly in this section offered information on abuse and adult protection with contact information. Local agency information was displayed for the community and I found an elder abuse response program offering a call center with trained workers who listen, locate resources and offer options. Other brochures and guides offered health related resources on staying active and independent. There was also information on obtaining mobility aids and other useful equipment for getting around. Financial help and contact information was all found in this display and was a free hand out at the Camden public libraries. Holborn did an excellent job of having many resources available to its patrons. <br /><br />I looked around and noticed that this was a very busy library and well utilized. Almost every computer was in use and there were many individuals reading or working. I was seated next to a gentleman who was working on a graphic display and kept looking up to me and wondering what I was doing because I looked around at everyone and took notes. I suppose he was suspicious of me, so I just smiled when he looked up at me only once and thereafter pretended not to notice. A smile is usually the cure for almost anything! <br /><br />I observed that for those with struggles to read or visually impaired, the RNIB talking books was made available and a program for living with sight loss helpful. There were over 12,000 titles to access. This was an impressive number and I am sure this population is grateful for these resources.<br /><br />Venturing over to the computer stations on the main floor of the library, I observed the online reference library collection that offered a digital collection with encyclopedias, dictionaries, databases such as newsbank and language works, reference books online, literacy resources and biographical dictionaries for just a sample of this collection. These digital resources could be of service to those who may not be able to access to library due to a lack of transportation due to poverty conditions, a physical impairment, or age. This reminded me of a program I read about called “Well and Wise” where healthy living skills training is instructed to the elderly who may have issues getting around and to help learn new venues to obtain health information as well as recreational. I thought it was interesting how this program offered information on signs of hearing loss and what to do if you think you have it and how to get help. I thought this was very responsible and helpful information to offer the elderly and thought it was wise to make this information available at the public libraries in Camden.<br /><br /><strong>The Building, the Collection and other Special Features:</strong><br /><br />Other building features that I took note of was the open and automatic doors, clearly marked shelving with larger letters for clear viewing/reading, even for someone who may be visually impaired. The main floor I toured initially was for adult fiction items of the collection. A clear view of the top level of the library was made available, where I could see the non-fiction collection, more computers and tables. There was quite an extensive collection of large print books up ahead, past the non-fiction items that were alphabetized. The talking books that consisted of CDs were similarly alphabatized. I came across music and other CD’s, DVD’s and videos. Some of these formats/items could be well used by those who may have hearing impairments. <br /><br />For patrons who may either be somewhat illiterate or want to enhance literacy, I came to the collection that offered special books for summer reading and new books. Since I had made it to the back of this level of the library, I headed to the front once again and decided to stop at the lift for persons with a "push chair or shopping trollies" as the sign said. It was a very small glass room that instructed one to press a large red button once inside and keep depressed after closing the entry door. I found that if you let go of the button, the lift would stop automatically and one could get stuck between floors. After being alarmed at the thought of being stuck in this lift, I read the rest of the interior signage that stated you simply needed to hold the 0 or 1 until it stopped, bringing you successfully to the level of your choice and since there were only three levels, the distance travelled was not far! You could either go up 1 or down (0). <br /><br />After getting permission from the Inquiries staff to use the lift, I made it upstairs to the adult non-fiction part of the collection. There were many well labeled shelves of books that were broad in range. Nothing was very surprising subject wise other than a large selection of books on the paranormal. I took the lift once again to reach the bottom floor, which housed the Children’s Library and the Learning Center.<br /><br />The Training Center there offered 12 computer stations up ahead and was a glassed in room, visible from the main hallway. There was no one inside, staff nor patrons, so I assumed that there were not any classes at the present. I looked for a posted computer training schedule here, but surprisingly there was not one. Therefore, I kept moving on after walking through an empty and boring computer classroom with nothing quite unusual from what you would find in America equipment, layout and space-wise. Actually, the room reminded me so much of the computer lab where I teach Introduction to the Internet, Introduction to Computers, Getting started with Gmail, Microsoft Publisher, Powerpoint, and sometimes Excel. The Children’s Library up ahead was also void of library staff or patrons and offered a colourful room with small tables and interactive displays. The reference collection was a very good one with Compton’s Britannica for one example. Of interest, there were fun bean bag chairs for children’s programs stacked in one corner of the room. Because there was no one to speak with, I moved ahead to the Learning Center after careful observation and notation of what I found in the Children's Library. The Learning Centre was a more exciting zone that was populated at the time of my visit with half a room full of patrons and two library staff workers that were engaged in conversations with the patrons. The Centre offered resources and technology for adults and teens. Within this room was another glassed-in, smaller room with free refreshments, coffee, tea and vending machines that incorporated seating for discussion and study. I noticed information on literacy support, adult numeracy and resources for the poor such as job placement and training, computer classes and building literacy skills. There was also information on area schools, colleges and vocational/technical ("Vo-tech") schools. The computers offered a three hour limit for patrons in the training center. I think this was a space that is inviting as it is filled with many computer work stations within a large, open space. The service areas employed several attentive library workers who were very much engaged in discussions with patrons during my brief stay there. I sat in the glassed in snack and study zone to observe, collect data and drink a diet coke while I had the opportunity! <br /><br />Websites of Interest:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/libraries-and-online-learning-centres/holborn-library/;jsessionid=9F8DDF98DABE54CFDCE822826A69D110.node1">Holburn Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.camden.gov.uk/">Camden Council</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.londonlibraries.org/servlets/libraries/public">London Public Libraries</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-16330836129778805422008-07-08T06:54:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:41.283-08:00British Library, London<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGPFdxf5GI/AAAAAAAABqo/LB0JAu_dGYA/s1600-h/rijanfeb04library1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGPFdxf5GI/AAAAAAAABqo/LB0JAu_dGYA/s200/rijanfeb04library1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229117966408213602" /></a><br /><strong>Meet Kevin the Tour Guide: An Introduction to the Library</strong><br /><br />Upon entering the British Library, the United Kingdom’s national library where every published work must come first, the class lingered in the library foyer while waiting on our tour guide to guide us through the library. Of interest upon entering the gigantic library was a bronze sculpture by Bill Woodrow entitled “Sitting on History”. This 'bronze book' served as a sitting area for patrons and was bolted to its present location by a heavy and very large chain with an enormous bronze ball attached. Of course, we all had our turns at sitting on it, as it was a combination artistic piece and allowed public seating area. Another interesting point of interest located in the library foyer was a digital standing tabletop user display on a stand of a small sample of the library collection's digitized historical books made available to manipulate by touch. One could turn the pages, rotate the page, make the text pop out for better visibility or reading purposes and turn on audio for some examples. What fun to experiment with this interactive digital touch display of a some popular items in the collection and what an excellent idea to make this digitized format accessible to all that could stand and manipulate it by the touch of a finger. It was very visible, intuitive and navigitable option to preview materials that many could use foe educational and entertainment purposes. It was a nice 'taste' of the collection in the foyer, prior to entering the library! <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJix_8d7FnI/AAAAAAAABtQ/bcG-rHtMCDc/s1600-h/sittingonhistory.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJix_8d7FnI/AAAAAAAABtQ/bcG-rHtMCDc/s200/sittingonhistory.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231126679312340594" /></a><br /><br />Mr. Kevin Mehmet was our tour guide for the day and he approached us not too long after our wait in the library foyer. He has worked at the British Library for 25 years and stated that he also is a Librarian/Donations Officer for the library collections. His job was explained to be one where he sifts through all items and keeps it all. The British Library was explained to be a “working library” with a role to deliver. The library obligations were that of acquiring items for the collection, retaining items, making them available, and maintaining a catalog entry for each item. Kevin told the class that there were up to 3,000 employees there. Of great importance in learning was that the library acquires the entire national bibliographic items. Everything published must be sent to the British Library. Not all items have serial numbers and not one item will ever be disposed of. Kevin labeled this non-disposal of the collection as a “ball-and-chain” effect, as with the bronze book sculpture in the library foyer entrance that has a ball attached to the book signifying its attachment and permanence as a part of the British Library collection! <br /><br /><strong>A Tour of Floor One & Introducing the Collection and Storage:</strong><br /><br />It was learned that the collection was stored below ground for the St. Pancreas location, yet the entire collections that gross well over 150 million items are stored upon shelves in other locations spread across London and in Yorkshire. The number that was stored below ground at the British Library numbered in the 35 million with there being lots of shelving for proper storage. The entire space where the items are stored was explained to be a huge, open space. In 1961, the collection was subdivided, with musical books being separated from the artifacts. This diversification of the items in the collection made the way for a new building that severely needed re-modification. It was then that the books were legally separated from the museum to a new building in 1980. All records were finally placed under one roof in 1997, and Kevin explained that the new building was then completed for the final move! Of interest was that this move was the largest move in the United Kingdom, with over 20 million items in the collection being transferred to the new location. Wow and Whew!! <br /><br />Moving past the main entrance/foyer of the British Museum, the class stopped in front of four busts of important individuals mounted on a side wall that Kevin Mehmet, our tour guide, decided to quiz us on to find out how much we knew. To his disappointment, not a one of us knew who the chocolate colored bust was, but we were informed this was Sir Hans Sloan, the scholar, Botanist, collector of manuscripts, physician and traveler who brought chocolate to the western hemisphere to make the ever famous “Hershey Bar” (<a href="http://www.britannica.com/bps/classic?articleId=118152&topicId=80284&searchTerm=British-Museum#tab=active~additional-content%2Citems~additional-content&title=British%20Museum%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia%20Britannica%20Classics">Sir Hans Sloan and the British Museum</a>). It now made since as to why the bust was brown in color. Kevin taught us that Sir Hans Sloan believed “knowledge should be shared”. When Sloan died, the government took over his large collection and his home (the 'Montague’ house) and is the location of the British Museum today. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJjZIbem1VI/AAAAAAAABtw/1VgC7M3XdOw/s1600-h/P7070707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJjZIbem1VI/AAAAAAAABtw/1VgC7M3XdOw/s200/P7070707.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231169706029143378" /></a><br /><br />The core of the British Library is the largest philatelic collections and encompasses approximately a quarter of a million items (a collection of stamps, postmarks and related materials). In order to catalogue such a collection requires that the individual frames be pulled items, which is quite a cumbersome task. Kevin pointed out a wall display surprisingly found in a busy corridor that was in essence an index as well as an actual display of some of the very valuable and ancient stamp collection. Of interest contained in this collection is the most valuable stamp in the world, priced at over four million dollars and was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1847. It looked just like any paper stamp and I stood in disbelief and amazement when looking at it! I squinted hard to get a good look at the details and to locate the quality and detail found on it. As there were only fourteen of them in the world, it was made as a commemorative stamp.<br /><br />Moving to another area that leads straight into the Reader Registration area was a foyer containing a large glassed case on a large platform. A model within the case that took on the shape of a large vessel such as a cruise ship was that of the library. The architect who designed it was in the Navy and it was presumed that is why it was artistically designed in this manner. Of interest was the tail end of the library that closely resembled the back of a cruise ship with a swimming pool that is commonly found in this location on such a luxury vessel. I thought it was very interesting that below this model was a cross section of a shelving tank that collects water to shift water away from the collection. Kevin told our class about huge freezers that can be found below ground that keep the books dry for preservation purposes. Interestingly, we were told it was meant to look like a prison block.<br /><br />The collection is one that grows on average approximately 8 miles per year! What that may equate to is undetermined, but rest assured it is a grand number. This collection is the largest collection in the United Kingdom and the third largest collection in the world! We learned on this day that the Library of Congress is the second largest collection in the world!<br /><br /><strong>Accessing the Collection: Reader Registration</strong><br /><br />The British Library ensures that they know who patrons are and where they come from prior to their accessing the collection. It is also mandatory that patrons know what they are looking for prior to accessing the collection. There is not a subject index and Kevin explained that the British Library is not particularly a user friendly library. One must know a little about what they are seeking prior to coming in. There is an online application system available or a “reader registration” system in place. Following application, an interview with library staff takes place to discuss what the patron is researching. A mechanical dispatcher point is a process where an item requested is transported to the immediate location of the patron. The item in the collection is sent back to the dispatch room so that the item can be brought back to the patron within a timely manner. Once a patron has a “pass” for reader access, it is given for all reader areas in the library. As a class, a smile was found on each student’s face as Kevin told us “it is easier to get to heaven than to books”. After receiving a pass, a patron can then order the material needed. A print out of a ticket is the next step that includes the patrons’ name and what is needed. Lastly, the library workers take the ticket (two tickets per book) to the mechanical dispatcher room to locate the item. One ticket marks the spot where the book was retrieved from the shelf and the other ticket stays with the book. It takes up to one hour to deliver the item(s) to the patron and Kevin informed us that the government dictates this. It helps to keep the library workers on their toes, as they are busy bodies, having to keep a very tight schedule. As our tour guide stated, it can be a challenge if one “fiddles around”! To review, the process of checking out an item from the collection entails scanning the item, bar coding it into the software, putting the requested item(s) in the book retrieval computer system queue. Following this initial work, the ticket is placed in a bar coded basket, pushed in a tray on a conveyer belt to be sent to the appropriate section of the library through a door that opens upon turning on the conveyer. Amazingly, an optical scanner directs the basket to the correct room. The reader pass system takes it to four unique systems internally that work cooperatively. A light goes off at the department when it is ready. I think that we were all taken back with this entire electronic process and I tried my best to envision the entire elaborate labyrinth of intake and retrieval that required specification, compartmentalization and efficiency for this mechanized process to work! <br /><br /><strong>Cataloguing & What You Need to Know About ("WYNTKA")...Special Collections</strong><br /><br />Something new that was learned during this tour is how the United Kingdom catalogs its collection using a classification that is all together different from that of the United States. While the system used is a close cooperative cataloguing system to the Library of Congress, the United Kingdom uses the Anglo American Cataloguing System. This system works close to the Library of Congress in that there is a division by language. There are 26 items that are catalogued in a record. As with the organizational system used at the St. Paul’s Cathedral library, “Size” was of importance and is central to this cataloguing system. To explain the organization and location of items in the collection, a grid reference (classification mark) is assigned each item on the binding and designates the point of location, the correct floor and quadrant of the building. The cataloguing process entails a record that includes items such as the date of publication and who the publisher is. The British Library has to have a copy and comes in the form of a “die stamp”, with a minimum of three per every plate. It is necessary that cataloguers check the Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) data when cataloguing items, so cataloguers retrieve a copy as done in the United States by copy cataloguers and those who are checking for accuracy (i.e. Retrieving CIP from LOC or other catalogs). After this information is gathered, the item is retrieved. <br /><br />Kevin let us know that circulation is down as the collection is considered 'low use' in relation to its gigantic size. There will always be spacing concerns for an ever growing collection!<br /><br />There are many famous works in the collection at the British Library, such as Codex Sinaiticus (a fourth century manuscript of the Greek Bible; a sacred text) and Beowolf! With such a treasured collection, the British Library is known as the most popular national libraries in the world! I learned that nearly every language in the world is represented in the immense collection and for each language there is a curator that can speak it fluently. The special collections base of over 90 thousand items stems from King George III’s ancient book collections of subjects such as math, science and religion. This special collection is encased in visible glass walls on the second level, actually within a glassed in tower that can be viewed from any almost any point in the front of the library, as the books are stacked from the floor to the ceiling upon shelves along with a statue of King George III in front of the “King’s Library”. I gasped when viewing this expansive collection and learning. The statue was designed by Peter Turnerelli in 1812. I just could not believe the wonderful condition that the books appeared to be in and could only dream of having one in my hand to thumb through!! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJi-njFX9mI/AAAAAAAABtY/Z0w9WY7SZ2c/s1600-h/kingslib.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJi-njFX9mI/AAAAAAAABtY/Z0w9WY7SZ2c/s200/kingslib.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231140553832789602" /></a><br /><br />An Atlas of the World is another special collection item that was given to the British Library by the Dutch to mark the restoration of the Protestant Church. It is an item of tremendous size and was preserved back in 1956. The library kept as much of the original binding as possible, as Kevin stated it tells a story, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. The elaborate cover of the Atlas was hugely expensive in that only someone like the King of England could afford. The cover of the atlas has the national emblem, the fleur de le theme and was bound in leather and given to the British Library by King George in 1820. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJqSHfx4pvI/AAAAAAAAC1g/_P_DW1yKL4c/s1600-h/1820.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJqSHfx4pvI/AAAAAAAAC1g/_P_DW1yKL4c/s200/1820.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231654574631724786" /></a><br /> <br />Another part of the special collections includes the Maps Seminar Room. To get to this area, the class followed our tour guide very quietly through staff office areas. Once there, everyone was allowed to look over the reading room from above and what a spectacular view it was which served as an excellent photo and video opportunity! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJqRDOyVqJI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/USbKxr30Lac/s1600-h/British+Library.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJqRDOyVqJI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/USbKxr30Lac/s200/British+Library.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231653401839118482" /></a> <br /><br />Mr. Kevin Mehmet made a point to discuss some trends that have been discovered that he seemed to be a bit alarmed by. He predicted that greater than 40 percent of the collection by the year 2020 would be 50 percent physical copies and 50 percent electronic copies. Kevin stated that paper is being phased out. He also stated that there is more influx today of collection items with approximately 75,000 items per day coming in!! A problem he foresaw is that it will be much harder to keep up with electronic access as technology evolves faster than what seems to be a blink of an eye. I thought it was interesting that our guide said that a new filtering system will be a necessity where all may be able to access the collection with ease and efficiency. I also learned from Kevin that safeguarding copyright and digital media will continue to be a media and liability issue. With technology swirling ahead with advancements so swiftly, processing by format have become an additional issue for the library, as file formatting systems become smaller and smaller. These concerns were most definitely serious ones that hopefully advancements in technology will sort out.<br /><br /><strong>Library Budget:</strong><br /><br />When asked about the library budget, our tour guide was quick to offer up an amount of about 20 million pounds per year. To enhance the budget, Kevin gave us some wonderful avenues to embellish what already seemed an unfathomable amount to me. Some examples are of digitizing sales or generating revenue by selling the catalogue to the world. The British Library already receives 100 million pounds from the government. Part of this budgeted amount goes to preservation alone, so the budget will always be of primary concern.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bl.uk/">British Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bl.uk/heservices.html">British Library Digital Services for Library Professionals</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bl.uk/collections/early/georgeiii.html">The King's Library: King George III Printed Books</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bl.uk/conservation">British Library Centre for Conservation</a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJqTWZOFRsI/AAAAAAAAC1o/Y3eJQcpIwUk/s1600-h/Collage.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJqTWZOFRsI/AAAAAAAAC1o/Y3eJQcpIwUk/s200/Collage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231655930080609986" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-67940748917586754672008-07-07T16:07:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:44:41.778-08:00St. Paul's Cathedral Library, London<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGQ4mJJebI/AAAAAAAABqw/gxNQkNznpRU/s1600-h/200px-City.of.london.st.pauls.arp.500pix.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJGQ4mJJebI/AAAAAAAABqw/gxNQkNznpRU/s200/200px-City.of.london.st.pauls.arp.500pix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229119944339847602" /></a><br />The St. Paul’s Cathedral library was the first library the class visited. Initially, we met in the courtyard at 9:00 a.m. at the King’s College dormitory. The agenda was to meet and travel the distance to this library together by means of the London underground transport called “The Tube”. Travelling the distance together was one way to offer me another avenue that tested my comfort levels with this means of transport throughout London. A world away from the noise and hustle-bustle of the busy London streets, yet immersed in another realm of London’s chaos of commuting work force and other locals and non-locals that includes individuals like myself travelling from afar to this land, I headed on our planned route north of the River Thames. While the majority of younger students here at King’s College appeared well acclimated to the Tube remarkably only a few days into the program, I on the other hand felt quite the opposite, leaving me feeling like a young school girl with all of the inclusive insecurities that oftentimes are so connected with that time in life. Yet with each day in London, I have felt more at home in this very famously breath-taking and colossal European metropolis. A ride on the Northern underground train line from Waterloo Station, through stops at Embankment, Charing Cross, Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road, offered a quick transfer to the Central Line going east, through the Holborn and Chancery Lane stops or interchange stations where direct and swift connections dictated a very successful arrival at our prime destination point of St. Paul’s Cathedral. And not to forget, as one exists the train to "mind the gap" as you exit. The walk was not far from a destined “Way Out” of this station to our ultimate destination that led somewhere upwards to the noisy streets of London at a great height of undetermined measurement of my own above ground. I was especially happy to have had the opportunity to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral the day prior, to attend a Sunday religious service there as an optional British Studies student group venture, because a familiarity with the immediate area was discovered as we walked towards the cathedral rising high above the surrounding buildings and sitting in the oldest region of the city somewhere along the edge of the River Thames. <br /><br /><strong>Tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral:</strong><br /><br />The top of the dome with a spindle bearing a cross, rose to a great height with all of its golden embellishments and glory from the bottom of the construction to the top which initially hid from our view amongst many the many surrounding buildings upon arrival in the world back ‘above ground’. Looking ahead and to our sides, we were blinded of a view of the cathedral, but with a classmate’s help (Linda), we turned in the correct direction of the building and were set on a direct course. Upon arrival, we waited in front of the cathedral gasping and in utter amazement of all of its beauty and greatness in size and amazing architectural and structural design by Sir Christopher Wren who is known for rebuilding the city’s churches following the Great Fire of 1666. <br /><br />The stairs leading up to the front of this Protestant cathedral were filled with several very large groups of grade school students who were on what appeared to be school field trips. As everyone took photos of the building and surrounding sights, I followed suit and then took some videos with the flip video camera I borrowed from my daughter. I was tickled to see the youth outside and how very well behaved they were and well dressed in their formal school uniforms. The youth were attentive to their teachers and nicely groomed in their stately school uniforms, as you might find in the United States with children in private schools. Following their class/group pictures on the steps of the cathedral, ‘our class’ then ascended up the front stairs of the cathedral to take our turn with the class photos. :) Once again, I sort of felt like a young school girl and it was an unusual feeling. I fought back the feeling of ackwardness. I keep being reminded of how far away from home I am and out of place in a city I have yet to become even a little accustomed to as of yet. I just knew this would be a great photo, with such a picturesque backdrop of the face of the cathedral!<br /> <br />The wait to enter the library once inside began with a preview of the entrance to the cathedral. With all of its grandeur that resonated from the high, ornate ceilings, elaborate and colourful stained glass windows, lighted prayer candles and rich materials of woodwork and stonework for just a few examples that offered the ambience of a place of worship and respect for the Lord, I felt as though the Holy Spirit must saturate the very air I breathed in this church. A holy place it twas and I cringed at the very thought of knocking something of importance and value over or even making any noise as I manoeuvred around, so I carefully planned each step and walked in tow with the group, hiding my video camera for fear of getting in some sort of trouble! <br /><br /><strong>The Tour by Mr. Jo Wisdom, the Wise Librarian: </strong><br /><br />Looking to the large, bulky and dark doors of the office area in this room that we entered from the frightening, steep, and winding spiral staircase of 259 steps leading to the 'Whispering Spires Gallery', and the mouldings that carried uniformly throughout, a quote written in Latin on the large door read: Faciendi Plures Libros Nullus Est Finis to mean, “there is no end to the making of many books” which is part of a verse from Ecclesiastes in the Bible referring to the wisdom of the Magisterium.<br /><br />Merging onto the west end of the cathedral, I observed the railing/rainwater bouts with ornate carvings. I also gained sight of the Arms and D emblem upon a door representative of St. Paul who met his death. In this dark and elongated, rectangular room were also pulpits that were stored there. Many historical items were stored in this room. I was happy to leave this gloomy room to come into another room that is more of a direct connect to the library. This amazing chamber offered an 'enormous' replica/model of the St. Paul’s Cathedral on a large wooden mount or stage. In search of any sign of books, I learned that they were implanted within the wall stone work. This chamber did not evolve as a library and with another planned chamber failure in being built, so this remaining chamber was known as the West Tower. <br /><br />The tour guide and librarian of St. Paul’s Cathedral Library, Mr. Jo Wisdom, told us that to come within the confines of this room was a privilege historically as most likely one had to know someone to get into the library from here. A bit of a chill ran through my body after this statement and made me feel honoured to have the opportunity to be there, very grateful for this program and thankful I had chosen to become a Librarian. Prior to leaving this room and gazing upon the dome replica (reminiscent of St. Peter’s in Rome) that was historically rejected by commission for rebuilding. All of the framed drawings and paintings were not in colour and literally filled the walls of this room by the architect/artist Sir Christopher Wren and were known replicas. The light that filtered from the above windows were observed to filter in without dulling the black and white works of art, keeping preservation intact as the fading of colour would have occurred otherwise. Mounted lights for the highlighting of each work were observed to be turned off for further preservation purposes I would imagine, keeping the room quite dark with only filtered lights streaming in from the large windows above.<br /><br /><strong>St. Paul’s Cathedral Library:</strong><br /><br />With a knock of the large wooden double doors of the library by our tour guide Mr. Joe Wisdom, the ‘wise’ Librarian (no pun intended) who also works part-time at the City of London’s Guildhall Library, an elderly library volunteer by the name of Mrs. Bettie opened the door. Oddly, a sign hung from the front of this door stating to “Beware of the Pigeons”. Before entering upon Mrs. Bettie’s approval of our entrance at that time, Mr. Wisdom told the class a story about how once a pigeon flew into the library chamber prior to his closing one evening long ago and how it remained for a spell causing quite a raucous, as books shelves had to be covered.<br /><br />There were many interesting things told to the class by Mr. Wisdom, such as the 'library fabric' is an interwoven mix of books and people, yet he stated that the library is not just books and people, but a combination of all together. He also stated that the library is not just computers, to place the library into perspective of the mix of technologies found well woven and an integral part of libraries currently. I took note of the fact that the computers in this library were placed off to the sides and somewhat hidden from view upon entering the library. Joe said that it was important not to have too many computers intermixed with ancient books and fabrics and half considered not having them. A wonderful description was given of the room in that it was tent-like in shape with arches and curves which “allows your ideas and thoughts to go up” or more specifically “allow you a mental space”. The walls were filled from the floor to the ceiling with number and letter arrangements of vertical shelves filled with books arranged by size, with the largest books on the bottom shelves and the smallest books on the top shelves. While the space was beautiful and so much history was stored in this library in the form of ancient books, it was a dark room that was a bit scary and I could not imagine for even one day working by myself in this room as staff or as a volunteer. William Kempster is responsible for the stonework in this library. As a class we discussed the figures carved into the columns such as the wheat, grapes, books and fruit. With so much symbolism engrained into the “fabric” (the stonework and woodwork) we decided that knowledge was definitely a theme discovered. I agreed with Mr. Wisdom that some research could be done on this to uncover other embedded themes. A fellow SLIS student, Emily, thought “life and death” may have been themes. I think that everything in between was an option, with the flowers resembling life, the books signifying knowledge acquired during life and the skulls signifying an end of life. Possibly the fruit could symbolize the fruit of the spirit, tying into verses of the Bible. The wheat was discussed to possibly symbolize the body of Christ and could stretch to the believers of Christ with the skull resembling the unbelievers. The time capsule found on the opposite side of the wall once again may have had something to do with the life span, the past, the presence and/or the future. The symbolism of all the objects are not exactly known, but have been examined thoroughly and as a class it was fun to explore what we thought of it. <br /><br />There was a sign-in book at the front of the library that was explained to not only record the influx of patron numbers in the library, but had a purpose determining dust levels tolerated in the library. As I looked around the dark and very old library, I saw busts, antique desks, bibles and a large clock. I think that it was appropriate to film part of Harry Potter in this room as it was very fitting. Once again, shivers ran up and down my spine when I thought of King George using this very library where I now stood! <br /><br />To describe the collection, the shelves were numbered with layers of many books. The collection was largely composed of books on theology. Jo stated that the library needed the bible at the central of the collection, as “all men and women should know the fate of God”. There were other subjects that were strongly represented in this collection such as: the classics (Latin & Greek); history (civil & cannon law); science; medicine and arts. Jo said that science and medicine were not as strongly represented, though. We were told that the collection has come to the library from many individuals and there were some duplications, as the church bells (the largest swinging bell in Europe) chimed in the distance. Mr. Wisdom stated that when items were received, some of the individual books may have come with leaves, quills or letters that became a part of the book and remained so that one would not lose a connection or trail of it to the book. Essentially, it told a story in and of itself. When asked who used the collection, Jo non-specifically said that ‘people’ did, as we correspondingly discussed common reference requests by means of telephone and email today. The four bronze busts that were somewhat haunting in the centre of the library were of important individuals to St. Paul’s Cathedral and to the development and preservation of it. As I looked back to the wall fabric, I also noticed at this time the engraved coat of arms found amongst the other symbols. <br /><br />The classification of the library collection was then discussed. As for the arrangement of books in the library upon the shelves, size was of importance. As stated before, the larger items are stored on the bottom and the smaller ones on the top shelves. Jo said that authors equalled authority when classifying items. Items are not classified by regimen of subject, such as “philosophica, mathematica, and scientifica” for a few examples.<br /><br />The conservation of the collection was an important subject to discuss and Mr. Joe Wisdom explained how books were “re-backed” in the 19th century. To his disappointment, he pointed out that it was poorer in quality and showed us some examples. It was evident that the binding and the cover of the books did not always match up very well, yet it was important to preserve the collection in this manner by re-backing.<br /><br />I was not even a little surprised to learn that the library did not have a workable computer database and was not available for the public to view the collection, as this antiquated library seemed a bit off limits. I felt as though we were given special privileges as library students during this tour to enter this part of the cathedral; it was Mr. Wisdom who stated earlier on that historically one had to be of some importance or have special connections in order to come this far. Shelf marks or bookmarks were used in this library to mark on each book as classification of where the items were held on the shelf and consisted of its home as a shelf number and a number for the row. Mr. Wisdom also told us about the signatures used to mark all sections of book volumes (ie. B) in order to put them into books in the correct order called “gathering”. I thought it was interesting that if more than 25 letters signifying sections were found, than the letters were doubled to extend the book sections. I do believe that numbers may have been used additionally in this process as well. The white tape I observed on the binding of many books found on the shelves were learned to offer additional stability across the spine for items that were not in the best of condition. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJjPS8VL1II/AAAAAAAABtg/MeFhhaINwIk/s1600-h/St.+Paul%27s+library+books.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJjPS8VL1II/AAAAAAAABtg/MeFhhaINwIk/s200/St.+Paul%27s+library+books.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231158891530409090" /></a><br /><br />For additional information on conservation, Mr. Wisdom let the class know that closed windows filtered in the majority of the light necessary to illuminate the library, while the fireplace was kept closed as well to keep out additional light and outer elements. When discussing the differences in restoration verses conservation, Jo stated that they were closely linked. In relevance to the binding and the cover of books, restoration and conservation was done as little as possible. He let us know that mended books should be reversible and that there was material specificity. It was very intriguing to me how the nineteenth century ‘end papers’ were kept with the bookplates and was thought to possibly offer a barrier that blocks acidity. <br /><br />Lastly, prior to ending our tour of the St. Paul’s Cathedral Library, the class as a whole discussed and studied the larger and very old books found in the entrance of the library on antique tables. There were images found within these Bibles and were meant to enlighten man. The book of Psalms in the New Testament were looked at and I was happy to hear that this ancient Bible was rescued from the London fires in 1666. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJjQ6CVcjlI/AAAAAAAABto/P3aMmS4XHN4/s1600-h/st-pauls-blitz+FIRE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBz7I8-xKoY/SJjQ6CVcjlI/AAAAAAAABto/P3aMmS4XHN4/s200/st-pauls-blitz+FIRE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231160662668643922" /></a><br /><br />Prayers found within this ancient bible were from the late 13th century and connected to the Church of England and all churches. It was hand-written and meant to share Christ with others. To end this tour, Mr. Jo Wisdom the Librarian told us that “LOVE is what this library is all about” as well as “sharing with others”. From this statement, I gathered that to mean the sharing of resources, knowledge and the love of Christ. As Paul was one of the first Christians to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to Europe, this library serves to preserve and make available stories, scriptures and other historic materials that primarily offer a new life in distinctive ways for those who seek it.<br /><br />Joseph Wisdom, Librarian <br />St Paul’s Cathedral Library, London EC4M 8AE <br />Tel: 020 7246 8345 <br />Fax: 020 7248 3104 <br />e-mail: library@stpaulscathedral.org.uk<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=169345dwprEOVViTRLd8xXbHBDHGbzge">St. Paul’s Cathedral</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerID=27433oOH1QXTGfJUU5XiLE4TBvERKbu0">St. Paul’s Library</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx"><br />London Underground: Tube, Underground Transport</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-77736395644491949512008-07-07T02:03:00.000-07:002008-07-07T02:04:33.807-07:00Test PostClass first post.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-43614514278283701202008-07-01T01:42:00.000-07:002008-08-07T08:44:27.881-07:00Stacey's Special Pics from the United Kingdom<object codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="doc_230761112997834" name="doc_230761112997834" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" align="middle" height="500" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://documents.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=4577534&access_key=key-1s5j4iu8up4cps11viq5&page=&version=1&auto_size=true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="play" value="true"> <param name="loop" value="true"> <param name="scale" value="showall"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="devicefont" value="false"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="menu" value="true"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="salign" value=""> <embed src="http://documents.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=4577534&access_key=key-1s5j4iu8up4cps11viq5&page=&version=1&auto_size=true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="opaque" devicefont="false" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="doc_230761112997834_object" menu="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" salign="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="500" width="100%"></embed> </object><div style="font-size:10px;text-align:center;width:100%"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/4577534/United-Kingdom">United Kingdom</a> - <a href="http://www.scribd.com/upload">Upload a Document to Scribd</a></div><div style="display:none"> Read this document on Scribd: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/4577534/United-Kingdom">United Kingdom</a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2878843654061206752.post-53977150845424804412008-02-19T12:53:00.000-08:002008-02-19T13:00:03.176-08:00Test Post"Blessed is he who has found his life's work; let him ask no other blessedness."<br />-Thomas CarlyleUnknownnoreply@blogger.com