A Plethora of Book Awards and Reading Related Events

 Earlier this week having been World Book Night I've found myself reading a lot of press and tweets etc related to it. As usual I was struck by how fast it all comes around and found myself musing wider on how many themed events, challenges, and prizes there are. A veritiable blizzard of actvity and opportunity, but no one can hope to do it all.

Book Prizes

Somewhere there is probably a list of all the various book prizes, nominations procedure, criteria and judging process, prize… Plus many dates of course -  for when they open, longlist (if applicable) announced, shortlist announced, winner announced… 

There are certain times of the year when there appears to be a veritable cascade of shortlists for various of the more mainstream or well established prizes. Mostly on an annual basis.

Scotland's Bookshelf poster

Reading Challenges and Events

Then there’s the reading related events, another plethora of these at various times of the year from the established annual (e.g. World Book Night), through to lots of more ‘one-off’ initiatives such as the current ‘Scotland’s Bookshelf’. These events can involve reading through a themed selection of books or just one book (possibly available in a range of different formats) for more ‘One City’ style events.

A lot of these events seem to be timed for the better weather arriving (e.g. the traditional Summer Reading Challenges for children in the long summer break), things that people might read while on their summer holidays or a sunny day out. As well as more regular book groups that meet year-round.

But the move towards Summertime certainly seems to trigger added volume.

Keeping Pace

I wonder if any hardy stalwart human being actually manages to keep up with more than one or two of any such initiatives at a time though despite good intentions. Especially when they overlap so much.

There is a lot to be said for structured mechanisms that help people get some reading in. A nice list to follow and lots of enticing displays in libraries and multiple copies and promotion of said. 



Scotland's Bookshelf Display in local library

 But it would be interesting to know how many people actually follow any such things in a structured way starting and ending and reading the whole tranche, how many just dip in, or start and get waylaid mid-journey, how many would read the same items anyway whether they were included or not.

Perhaps the most important thing is that at least it’s an incentive and a structure to start whatever happens further down the line.



Carnegie Reading...



 I’m currently doing Carnegie Medal shortlist systematically....

 Plus making the odd far more casual inroad into Scotland’s Bookshelf.

I like being about to flick back and forward between the two.

It’s enough  to be going on with for now!



What Gets Done and What Gets Achieved

Last night I was reading an article by Isberg  on Professional development, values and strategy – the means for building strong libraries for the future!

I was musing on the phrase

“What we were yesterday has made us what we are today. What we will do today will have an impact on what we become tomorrow.”

This I entirely agree with, but it triggered a couple of related thoughts.

Activity, Achievement and the difference

The first was a memory of a conversation I had long ago. Someone I knew at the time was telling me of a boss they had once had with somewhat forthright management technique.  They used to phone up and require the person to tell them what they had achieved that day.  Not what they had done, but specifically what they had achieved that progressed goals set. While the methodology employed was not ideal, I always thought the aim and focus of it was interesting. Don’t tell me what you’ve done today, tell me what you think you’ve actually achieved.

Tracking meaningful progress

The other thing the above quote triggered in my head was a thought about a notebook I’ve been keeping recently. It consists of a daily list of what I got done that I consider to be in any way good / positive / useful I’ve done during the day, however small or large. There’s usually about 15 / 25 items. It shows me how much actually gets done that’s good even on days that perhaps don’t feel they’ve got far. Then I asterisk anything that really feels like an actual achievement from within it for each day for whatever reason, the things that really stand out from the rest. That’s more likely to be 3 / 6 items. To balance things out I also quickly note at the bottom if there was anything particularly bad about the day, but only any main headline events that really impacted. Most days it’ll be blank here because it is just real headline stuff I put down, sometimes there’ll be a couple of things, but I try and keep it to about 3 at the most. It happened, that’s a fact, it impacted, but don’t dwell, and move on.

Process

I tend to write the list on the bus into work re the previous day or in the evening of the day itself. Before I’ve forgotten essentially. Importantly it’s a whole life approach, I don’t try to con myself that ‘x’ aspect of my life is within a sealed vacuum not affected or impacted by all the others. So some days there are more e.g. ‘work’ elements in the lists, others less, depends what I’ve been doing with the day as a whole and what bits have been most positive. With me various area’s of life merge anyway between professional and personal interest so to divide artificially wouldn’t really be helpful for me.

Review Phase

End of the week I look back at the weeks’ worth of entries and it tells me where the week went and how it went and where the concentrations were.  I then jot down an overall short list of the key things from the week as a whole drawn from reviewing the asterisked items that stood out for me, the main accomplishments.  There’ll probably be around 5 or 6 items on this. Because it is main highlights of the week. Doing this tells me where I am with things I really want to do and concentrate on. It tells me I achieved things and lets me check it’s the things I want to do that are being progressed regularly no matter what else I’m also doing. It lets me see my favourite trees from the wood of the week surrounding if you like…

Keeping On Track on Main Goals

I’ll tend to project code a couple of areas maximum that I’m mainly concentrating on just so they stand out.  But it’ll relate to two projects at the most that I want to stand out for some reason e.g. because there’s a timeline with a deadline on it So just now with my Carnegie Shortlist reading there’s an additional C in a circle against elements that equate to that. Very basic. But it keeps me on track.

Seeing Omissions

If at the end of the week I read through it all and key things I know I want to do or need to do aren’t represented sufficiently (on the daily scribble, asterisked or the review list) then they kind of shout out their omission too. I know I have a problem. It’s quite easy to see mis-matches between what you intended and what actually happened. Realising that is the quickest way to rectifying it. There are certain things that I expect to see within  the weekly list, if they’re not there I’ll think more about why they weren’t there, if I really want to rectify this, how to do so.

Wonderful Things - the National Museum of Scotland Research Library

Definitely my favourite library visit of the year so far this, but it's taken me a few weeks to get round to blogging it (very busy life April!).

The National Museum of Scotland

Since the National Museum of Scotland was re-opened to the public following substantial refurbishment and redevelopment work it has created many new spaces and galleries. 

The Research Library is now to be found on a corridor leading straight through from the ‘Connect’ gallery and holds approximately 10% of the total collection.

The Research Library

The current Library originated as the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Library around 230 years ago. There are now around 30,000 books and 400 periodicals alone (though some will be acquired through exchange, donations, work with other bodies) plus many electronic databases and Special Collections of various sorts e.g. binding.  Stock is taken in many languages, with a strong European and Slavic slant. The remaining stock is downstairs in two cellars designated for books and for journals respectively.

Stock Focus

It primarily focuses on information that supports the collection area’s of the Museum such as worldwide decorative arts e.g. ceramics, glass, metalwork. Fine arts would tend to be looked after at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery Library. Anything related to actual archaeological sites would be seen to be primary province of Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, NMS concentrate on objects. The Research Library also covers more general subjects such as museology, archaeology, and material related to the history of the museum itself. Items that come into its care that do not relate to its main business or the history of the institution will tend to be redistributed to more appropriate libraries (such as the National Library of Scotland).

The Physical Library

The Library is split into bookshelves, journals corner, computer bank, desk area. 

There is a ‘Highlights’ section which is often stock relating specifically to a current exhibition or area of interest within the museum e.g. currently liked to the ‘Fascinating Mummies’ exhibition.  Such inter-linking proves popular with museum staff.



Highlights Bookcase- Fascinating Mummies



Research

The Library is reference only in terms of the general public, but anyone can browse in it, though only staff and Fellows of the Society can borrow. It is open Monday – Friday around 10am – 5pm.  If the public wish to use the computers to link to external content they need to register, but otherwise can walk straight in. To use Special Collections they must also register. The catalogue is on the NMS website and can be searched remotely. It is useful to contact the Library in advance if folk want specific things which may require to be brought up to the Library from the cellars.

Enquiries can also be referred to the Library through the InfoZones within the museum (public-facing area’s giving information about the collections and museum in various places). The Library staff also staff the InfoZones within the Museum.

In staffing terms there is the Librarian and various Assistant Librarians and Library Assistants as well as an Electronic Services Officer.

Special Collections

Many items in the collection are rare and / or valuable or of specific interest and we were shown a variety of such items as part of the visit e.g. anatomical drawings by Phoebe Ann Traquair to illustrate her husband’s scientific papers on fossils. We were also shown some of the items in the Book Cellar and there was a discussion about weeding the collection, what types of subjects and material went out-of-date most quickly (children’s non-fiction books) and how they decided what to keep in terms of Special Collections and what to pass on elsewhere.

Lovely to be almost 'back'

A long time ago in the history of mankind I used to have a placement in the Museum Library at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow, back in the days when it was in the basement beside the joiner’s workshop and lots of glass cases of taxidermy long before its own redevelopment. Back in the days when I used to browse the Museums Journal in search of Scottish Museum Library jobs (as rare then as they are now!). So I went down a different path. But, as such I utterly adored my visit to NMS Research Library.  It felt like very familiar territory, good to be back, full of fabulous, interesting and fascinating things.

Unfortunately it’s only open in Edinburgh when I’m in work in Glasgow alas, otherwise I could see myself being in a lot now I’ve found it! But it is a lovely place and I’ve been making lots of use of their very good catalogue for when I finally do manage to get back in! Lots of lovely items in!

So many thanks to ARLIS and SVAG for organising the visits to this (and to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery Library – see my previous post on) and Mark Glancy at NMS who put aside such a lot of things to show us.

The Conundrum of Overdue Library Books

One of the great virtues of Easter was a decision I was going to use it in part (as it was involving lots of long trips) to get through my latest public library overdue library books (everyone shout ‘hurrah’ in various forms of relief). Thus I have a neat tidy pile, all read and enjoyed, in work with me this morning to take back at lunchtime through the Glaswegian Deluge.

I am usually conflicted on the subject of overdues. 

Old Habits Die Hard

On the one hand I’m a librarian so it may be thought that we should be a bit better about getting things read and back on time than the rest of the population. Long experience tells me this is utterly untrue for many people, and I’m not the only one by far.

Part of my head has a particularly librarian-like justification well worked out. It goes that I may be late, but my fine money (if I’m very lucky) just might go back to the Library service itself rather than into the wider Council. If so then at least my tardiness is adding to the coffers.

However, as soon as I look at this argument in actual typeface for a second it occurs that the admin time spent on it more than cancels this out even if so. So it’s not exactly winning a towering argument contest…

I suppose therefore I should attempt to change my habitual ways on the matter.

The Mindset Is The Thing…

When I consider scheduling return dates along with everything else in my calendar and setting reminders it somehow seems a lot more ‘To Do List’ than it does Rest and Recreation. This has always been a fatal stumbling block to attempting it that way.

Yet on considering it properly I know that this isn’t always the case. There is a relevant exception. I do a CILIP Carnegie Medal Shadowing Group, and where that’s concerned I basically aim for reading a book a week and mostly succeed. They’re mostly sourced from my local Library network, are read and returned efficiently, and with enjoyment, and I get it all done within Carnegie dates. The need to plan and schedule doesn’t actually detract from the enjoyment of the material itself. In fact I like the feeling of progress having been made and being within the timescales I’ve given myself.

Therefore overall it’s a mindset issue.  My ‘Carnegie’ rule can apply equally to the rest of my Library reading (to a milder extent, I don’t need the same overall speed for) and scheduling and calendar entries are okay.

Brave New World?!

On which happy note I have just renewed my Glasgow University Library books (on the brink of going overdue without reading, no surprise there!) and will use them as an experiment on the subject.

Though it'll have to be done in tandem with the 2012 Carnegie Shortlist Reading announced at the start of this month, as that's the next priority for the reading list.

The aesthetic of shaping Scotland – the Scottish National Portrait Gallery Library

Scottish National Portrait Library

A couple of weeks ago I had a dilemma – the budget spreadsheet (all hail to) or a last-minute place on the  joint ARLIS / SVAG visits to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery Library, and also to the Research Library of the National Museum of Scotland.

However they were fab visits.

This is Part One of Two as it were, and hopefully Part Two on the Research Library will follow before Easter break!

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery

This recently re-opened after an extensive refurbishment project  having been closed to the public since Spring 2009 (with all the staff and services operating out of transitional premises, including the Library).

While it looks exactly the same from the outside and a lot of the original glorious features look as good as ever, a lot of additional space has also been created inside for the collections.

The Library

As part of this process the existing very glorious looking library of 1891 was moved and re-installed within the building.  The Library is one room split in half by a ziggurat.  

The end facing the gallery spaces is open to  the public to come in, and the part behind the ziggurat is a secure entry appointment-only part for visitors to consult specific items put aside for them (no physical browsing upstairs on the balcony, queries need to be submitted and items brought).

The re-installation looks very successful, though a few alterations had to be made and there are some issues with lighting levels, concealed heating systems warping the wood etc.

Incorporating the Library with the Gallery Spaces



Burke and Hare



Various small pieces within the SNPG collection have been put on display within the Library to link the Library to the Gallery spaces it adjoins and give a suitable space for small items .

Therefore the Library has displays of portrait miniatures, sculpture pieces, casts, a Cabinet of Curiosities).

As part of the re-installation the Library can now be walked directly into by visitors to view the displays and look around.



Desk with browsing books for public



It is longer wholly closed access to staff only, but due to staffing constraints research resources are available by appointment only as staff have to look out all the relevant materials on researchers’ behalf.

The Collection

The collection has around 50,000 items, for reference only unless staff, which range from early auction house catalogues to lots of Scottish biography monographs. There are various built up special collections which are added to on an on-going basis e.g. around 26,00 ‘Sitters’ Files’ of reproductions of portraits of eminent Scots who have sat for portraits held in SNPG or elsewhere and ‘Artists’ Files’, being around 30,000 photo’s of portraits by Scottish artists.  There is also the archives of the SNPG itself.

Tradition and The Shock of the New Side by Side



Part of the Cardex system



Through a door from the very elegant wooden secure access part of the Library you walk directly into an entirely different Library space full of large shiny metal industrial-looking shelving systems environmentally controlled.  This allows items to be selected and delivered and kept compactly. In here are mainly prints, drawings, photographs. Back journal runs are kept downstairs and various older material off-site.

The Library has some online subscriptions e.g. Dictionary of National Biography. Various digital projects are on-going.

Opening up collections v Access

Being accessible by SNPG visitors has made the Library more visible.

The Library will deal with reference enquiries that come in electronically and there are physical enquiry forms at the Information Desk of the Gallery.

There is money to put the catalogue on the website but for the moment many extensive catalogues are print.

The Library is mostly for use by the curatorial staff ,researchers, academic students and those involved in education. Many enquiries relate to Scottish history and family history as well as art history because of the unique nature of SNPG and its collections.

Obviously I felt guilty about the budget spreadsheet…