Having an Australasian gathering of Rare Book Librarians is a rare event in itself, and everyone present commented on the value of the forum for informal discussion and endorsed the setting up of an email list so we could continue the communication.
There were only two of us from New Zealand, Donald Kerr from Special Collections at Otago University and myself, the only representative from a public library. The rest of the 25 attendees were from the Australian National and State Libraries (Canberra, Victoria, NSW, WA, and Queensland) and from University Libraries.
The agenda was loosely adhered to, as discussion was wide ranging. Topics included were:
- Digitisation and its impact on heritage collections
Requests to share digitisation policies as most institutions were working with drafts in fast-changing environment.
Different methods of digitisation- the industrial model of large-scale scanning of rare pamphlets at SLV, compared to themed approach at SLNSW’s “discover collections”.
Can we cope with demand once digitised image on Google and we become “a world-wide target”?
State libraries are digitising for access not preservation compared to university libraries often digitising on demand from academics.
How do we know who is digitising what (talking about books here, not unique manuscript collections)?
Re-iteration of the “do it once, do it properly” digital standard. - Moving collections during building development
This was the agenda item I suggested, in light of our relocation of Special Collections during the fire suppression project.
Pleased to hear that we were on right track with planning to box as much of the collections as we can. No stories of nasty surprises from the experiences of other libraries (SLQ moved collections during recent redevelopment)
Described our plans for gas-flood fire systems; no other libraries had that. Avoided sprinklers if they could, but had dry-pipe systems and early warning smoke detectors, caps on top of shelves to prevent sprinkler damage. 1985 fire at National Library resulted in smoke damage. Suggested dummy run in order to time. - Quality of rare book catalogue records
Variety of detail in electronic records for rare books. Earlier records were often not transferred on to new electronic catalogues. SLNSW is only now doing a retrospective project for its earlier holdings, but has been able to produce good quality records including signatures, provenance and copy-specific information because Libraries Australia now allows for such information.
University of Sydney has about 40% not converted. SLQ does not have facilities for copy-specific cataloguing- dearth of trained cataloguers capable of rare book cataloguing. - Census of incunabula
Updating Kaplan’s 1966 survey of Australasian incunabula (pre-1501 books). Some of that unreliable as Kaplan didn’t see everything. Additions since then?
Request for information about holdings. - Other issues
What do institutions do about increasing age of general collections? SLQ treats all pre-1920 books as heritage.
The rest of the programme :
- Viewing of selection of treasures in “Fox family white gloves room”, including impressive collection of artists books
- Guided tour of exhibition “Bold but faithful; John Oxley Library at work”
- Presentation on the Petherick Australiana collections at National Library of Australia
- Tour of Storage area for heritage collections. Managed by a retrieval team- all requests electronic. Retrievals on the 1/2 hour in John Oxley Library. Do not need readers ticket to use the room
- Tour of Conservation lab. Staff of 13. Exhibition team, repair and treatment team
- Specialist conservators for photographs, film, paper and books
- General Tour of State Library. Impressive well-lit and well-used reading rooms overlooking Brisbane river. Strong programme of events, with large auditorium and smaller venues.
Following are some photos taken at the State Library of Queensland, Brisbane:
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