in search of essence

A long, long time ago, I posted elsewhere about the launch of the online edition of the Australian Dictionary of Biography. I’ve used it little since but have been reminded of late, just what a wonderful resource it is to have freely available online. There are entries for example, on Ida Leeson, the first female Mitchell Librarian. I nearly bought her biography this evening and may acquire it yet. Then of course, there’s David Mitchell himself, William Ifould, and a whole batch of other librarians. I admit, as a New South Welshman, that I do seem to have a bit of bias toward my home state. I daresay I’ll need to rectify this in order to write a paper of national interest. The question I am currently exploring, though not restricting myself to, is the nature of libraries in our recent history, why do they exist and for what benefit were they created ? There is much to be gleaned from the work of others, with several Australian Library History forums, full of interesting papers and various other publications. The bigger question of course, is whether I can find my niche, so to speak, and not simply repeat, or even regurgitate. Even if I can’t find my own patch, it is proving a treat to read the history of my profession. That alone is sufficient grounds for continuing. Reading here and reading there, who knows what paths my mind might follow or what papers will result.

a paper, perhaps…

I’m tossing ideas around in my head for a paper, having been inspired by a recent CFP, I am turning my thoughts to something of a thinkpiece rather than a focus on specific technologies. Though on re-reading the CFP, I see that it’s primarily concentrating on web 2.0 (W2.0) in libraries, whereas the paper taking shape in my head is situated more in the Library 2.0 (L2.0) space, which, as far as I’m concerned, is a different sort of space. While L2.0 may well have been inspired by the W2.0 movement, certainly there are some who see L2.0 and W2.0 as interchangeable, I’m more interested in the bigger issue of L2.0 as a development and perhaps a means to rediscover some of what librarianship is about. That sounds a little vague, and is still vague in my head, more the forming of ideas, which need a better expression. One idea that has occurred to me is that I need to look to the history of librarianship, and here I’m thinking more in an Oz context, and look at the roots of the library movement and see whether they’re reflected in L2.0 or whether L2.0 suggests a new direction. Also too, I’m keen to situate L2.0 within a historical backdrop if at least, to soften the technology obsession. Already I’m starting to sense that this is not a paper I can finish off in a couple of weeks and may be better to properly develop for a later publication.

There was an interesting article in ALJ (May 2005) on the history of public libraries in NSW which I’m yet to read in detail. One thing that initially caught my eye was a quote from Watkin Tench in 1791:

“In a colony which contains only a few hundred hovels built of twigs and mud, we feel consequential enough already to talk of a treasury, an admiralty, a public library and many other similar edifices, which are to form part of a magnificent square.”

I sense that this was the first recorded mention of the idea of a public library in Australia, coming as it did three years after the establishment of the penal colony. One of the areas of librarianship in which my scholarship (oh such lofty words I use) is somewhat poor, is its history; I know by oft quoted names, some of the familiar faces that led to the world we know today: Metcalfe, Horton, Leeson, Cuthro, Dixson, and of course the almighty Mitchell. As an aside, there’s a book out this year on the history of the Mitchell (been trying not to buy and kicking myself for not doing so). The dilemma I have is that I was initially looking to ground my L2.0 thinkpiece with some historical foundation, whereas now I have a sense that I need to read further in order to understand the progression of librarianship in Oz and where L2.0 might fit in. I’d like to think L2.0 ideas have always been there, simply re-contextualised, but then I look at some of the earlier ideas of libraries as a means, and a destination, for education, and I wonder whether I may need to rethink my initial hypothesis. Dunno, I think I’ve spent more time on this post than I have on the actual paper. As I say, I’m still mulling over ideas and looking for particular thoughts I can give expression to; I don’t yet know what shape the paper will take beyond the initial, guiding idea. Plenty more reading to do and I get the sense there may be a few papers to be mined.

odds ‘n’ bods

My life is rather fuller than I’d like at the moment, particularly as my house (jointly owned with my sister) is now on the market. My stress levels are way high, my level of forgetfulness is way high, and so on. Nevermind that I’m also trying to find, with lots of wonderful assistance from my girlfriend, a new place to live.

I’d just like to point out that the leather Shorter is now 45% off. I have decided that should either the AU $ achieves parity with the US $, or the leather Shorter reaches 60% off, I will buy a second copy to use at work. The full OED remains steady at 33% off, should it reach 45% off, I will buy it. It is already a bargain but my life is too uncomfortable to consider it right now. There is a leather edition of the full OED too but I ain’t that rich…alas.

Of searches and stuff, I happened upon a link to a search engine, from last year I think, called “Search Mash“. The link is new and contains a summary of a talk on search engines (I think) by Mary Ellen Bates at a conference this week. An initial play reveals that it runs fast, has some nifty features eg start typing anywhere on the page and it replaces the current search with what you type. Also has an option to link to a site specific search from within the results. According to the notes, this is an unbranded google site. It runs sweet.

Also looking good places to see the Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis, a site of long desired to behold. There is a possibility that I may be in Finland later in the year, in which case it would be very tempting to travel further north and see if I can catch a glimpse. The time of year matters and it’s good to see folk, already have tools available for prospective watchers.

It looks like it’s been available for years, but I’ve just noticed that wordpress.com offers domain hosting. This may be a useful interim possibility for relocating my domain http://snail.ws/ (currently ably looked after by one of my best mates). One of these days I will get round, honest guv, to getting a self hosted option going and will move my blog there. Main contender at the moment is LISHost, especially as it’s a library based operation. It seems to work well and I’ve been following various blogs hosted on it over the years, nevermind LISNews itself.