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David Jones

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David J. Jones MA (Oxon) DipLib PhD (UNSW) FALIA writes on library history and planning. His monographs include six editions of The Australian dictionary of acronyms and abbreviations and histories of the Australian Institute of Librarians and the State Library of New South Wales. As Library Building Consultant he liaised closely with the Sarawak authorities during the planning and construction of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak. He worked at the State Library of New South Wales from 1970 to 2008 and is now an independent researcher. In 2017 he was presented with the H. C. L. Anderson Award by the Australian Library and Information Association, and the Ifould Medal by the Library Council of New South Wales. (email [email protected]).

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Papers by David Jones

A checklist of publications, papers and interviews by David J. Jones

David J. Jones worked at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, from 1970 to ... more David J. Jones worked at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, from 1970 to 2008 as a reference librarian and then library building consultant. Since 2008 he has been an independent consultant, researcher and oral history interviewer. The papers, publications and interviews listed here focus on reference work, library and archives history, library planning and oral history. This checklist covers the years 1973 to 2020.

Further articles and papers on library buildings

Drawing on his experience as consultant on over 250 library building projects in Australia, New Z... more Drawing on his experience as consultant on over 250 library building projects in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, the author presents a range of papers on the planning and design process. The seven papers reprinted here supplement those in the collection Selected articles and papers on library buildings, 1988-2001. Most express timeless principles which are as relevant today as they were when they were first presented. Even those papers which are somewhat dated show how the author approached the planning process at the time, as well as illustrating the support provided to colleagues and describing resources which proved valuable

Public library development in New South Wales

Public Library News (State Library of New South Wales), 2004

A short account of the development of public library services in New South Wales, from subscripti... more A short account of the development of public library services in New South Wales, from subscription and schools of arts libraries beginning in the nineteenth century, through generally poorly-supported municipal libraries in the mid nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to a burgeoning free public library system from the 1940s onwards. Identifies milestones and key movements and individuals and seeks to explain why developments in New South Wales lagged behind those in comparable environments.

State Librarians I have known since 1827

Australian Library Journal, 2006

The author reviews, in a discursive and occasionally whimsical fashion, the lives and personae of... more The author reviews, in a discursive and occasionally whimsical fashion, the lives and personae of many of those who have occupied the post of ‘principal librarian’ in New South Wales since Peter Cooke (1827). This paper is based on an address to volunteers at the State Library of New South Wales and published in the Australian Library Journal in November 2006.

Raw Nerves: John Metcalfe and the Encel Survey of Librarians in New South Wales

Australian Library Journal, 2013

The 1972 publication of Librarians: a survey by Sol Encel, C. G. Bullard and F. M. B. Cass was th... more The 1972 publication of Librarians: a survey by Sol Encel, C. G. Bullard and F. M. B. Cass was the culmination of a six-year research project at the School of Sociology, University of New South Wales (UNSW), at the behest of the Library Association of Australia (LAA). The study was intended to cover the social and educational backgrounds of library employees in New South Wales, their attitudes to their occupation, the structures in which they worked, their gradings and salaries. Questionnaire responses were supplemented by interviews and research by Cass and Bullard, two of Encel’s honours students. A draft of the survey was even-handedly reviewed in the Australian library journal (ALJ) but then scathingly criticised within the LAA. Attention was drawn to factual errors, lack of analysis of supply and demand, and failure to distinguish between professional and non-professional workers. There was dismay at the report’s emphasis on the ‘second-class status’ of women in libraries. These criticisms were expanded in the ALJ by John Metcalfe in an excoriating review of the report and of the theses of Encel’s collaborators. Metcalfe questioned ‘the authority, reliability and credibility of all three’ works. This paper examines the background to and conduct of the survey, the LAA criticisms and Metcalfe’s reactions. It explores why Metcalfe was disturbed and affected by the implication that there had been systemic discrimination against women in librarianship in Australia, particularly at the Public Library of New South Wales, in the first half of the twentieth century.

Only a Librarian

Australian academic and research libraries, 1991

From the moment be set foot in Sydney, W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of... more From the moment be set foot in Sydney, W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1912 to 1942, began to cultivate a network of contacts in politics, business, industry, the arts, the press and the professions. This article illustrates the merging of Ifould’s private and public life, describing how be used extramural activities to make and maintain contact with the Sydney establishment, and tracing links between many of his associates.

Enduring voices: reflections on the theory, practice and value of oral history programmes for historical research

Reflects on the author's use of oral history recordings in historical research on libraries and i... more Reflects on the author's use of oral history recordings in historical research on libraries and information services. Refers to published works which have been based upon or heavily reliant upon interviews, and stresses the importance of recording the thoughts and memories of representative people who may otherwise never document their ideas or recollections and whose knowledge and wisdom might never be passed on.

A bibliography of works by Carmel Maguire

List of publications by Carmel Jane Maguire, Australian librarian library educator, covering the ... more List of publications by Carmel Jane Maguire, Australian librarian library educator, covering the years 1960 to 2016. She gained her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Queensland, passed the Registration Examination of the Library Association of Australia (now the Australian Library and Information Association) and completed her Master of Arts at the Australian National University. Her PhD from the University of New South Wales deals with the life of G. C. Remington, among whose noble causes was the development of free public libraries in Australia from the 1930s onwards. Carmel worked in various positions at the National Library of Australia, was for two years the librarian of the South East Asian Treaty Organisation in Bangkok, and taught at the University of New South Wales School of Librarianship from 1960, retiring in 1998 as Associate Professor. She was one of a small group of Australian librarians who advocated and pioneered the use of computers in library processes, laying the groundwork for a number of cooperative library networks. She was successful in gaining grants for and publishing research into many aspects of information needs and library use, including the use of libraries by industrial and professional groups. She edited the journal LASIE: Library Automated Systems Information Exchange, chaired the Editorial Board of the Australian library journal and has been a frequent speaker at conferences and contributor to professional publications. She was awarded the Fellowship of the Australian Library and Information Association for her contribution to the profession.

Contact meets . . . Henry Mayer

Interview in 1979 with Henry Mayer, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Sydney, a ... more Interview in 1979 with Henry Mayer, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Sydney, a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia and also a member of the Advisory Committee on the Social Sciences, National Library of Australia. Mayer discusses his work on 'ARGAP: a research guide to Australian politics and cognate subjects' and 'Media information Australia', the image of librarians and the need foir them to assert themselves more strongly to attract greater political support.

‘Political control’: the New South Wales Library (Amendment) Bill, 1975

In 1975 the New South Wales Government proposed to combine the functions of the Library Board of ... more In 1975 the New South Wales Government proposed to combine the functions of the Library Board of New South Wales and the Council of the (State) Library of New South Wales to form a new body, the Library Council of New South Wales. This was intended to improve coordination of library services to the public and there was general support, but when the Library (Amendment) Bill, 1975 was actually introduced, it contained a clause subjecting the new Library Council to the ‘direction and control’ of the Minister. This was unacceptable to members of the Council of the Library, especially its President, Mr Justice Rae Else-Mitchell. The Library had hitherto enjoyed considerable autonomy in selecting library materials and accepting benefactions. The Bill passed through the Legislative Assembly, but after hours of feverish lobbying and argument it was amended in the Legislative Council. The amended Bill which became law limited the Minister’s ‘direction and control’ to subsidies to local councils. This paper describes the Bill’s stormy progress, examines the parts played by Council members, politicians and librarians, and explores why little attention has been paid to this attempt to limit the autonomy of a statutory body which had operated successfully for a century under governments of all complexions.

Documentary DNA: what archives and records mean to me

Using examples encountered in his own research as illustrations, the author stresses the value an... more Using examples encountered in his own research as illustrations, the author stresses the value and importance of well-housed, well-organised, well-chosen archival collections and well-trained, well-resourced and well-equipped staff. Without adequate archival and documentary sources any attempt to study or explain what has occurred in the past in a company, government body, town, city, region or country, or indeed in the wider world would be severely handicapped. The author tells how a soldier's chequered military career is a microcosm of a greater conflict, how hidden documents uncovered discrimination in the public service, and how letters found their way into an archival collection against the wishes of the writer. Examples are given of the ways in which the records can be falsified, illustrated by the career of Winston Smith in '1984' and the Great Soviet Encyclopaedia. Note is also made of the ways in which records can be amassed and then partly destroyed, citing the case of the STASI files in the former East Germany. The author touches upon the vast resource of what he calls the 'human archive' - the information, knowledge and wisdom in human brains which can be 'downloaded' via written reminiscences and oral history.

William Herbert Ifould and the development of library services in New South Wales, 1912-1942

William Herbert Ifould (1877-1969) was Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wal... more William Herbert Ifould (1877-1969) was Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1912 to 1942, spanning critical years for library services in Australia, including the two Wars, the Great Depression, the Munn-Pitt Report, the campaign of the Free Library Movement and the passing of the New South Wales Library Act. He has however been neglected by scholars of this period of Australian library history. This study examines Ifould's activities during these years, and assesses his significance for the Public Library of New South Wales, for free public libraries and for the library profession in Australia. The study involved the examination of primary and secondary materials by and about Ifould in libraries, archives and private hands, and works on his Library and Australian librarianship of the period. There were interviews and correspondence with people who knew him, including former members of his staff, friends, neighbours, contemporaries in other libraries, members of his family, former users of the Library, and the sole surviving Library Trustee from the Ifould era. The study describes how Ifould achieved status as a public figure, a public servant and a professional librarian, and helped to create a hospitable climate for library development. It shows the lengths to which he went to achieve his objectives, including the completion of the Library building, the securing of benefactions, the development of the Library's collections, the containment of costs and the selection of staff. It provides the first detailed accounts of the Libraries Advisory Committee, which Ifould chaired, the passing of the Library Act and the formation of the Library Board of New South Wales. It also reveals the extent to which his successor, John Metcalfe, was indebted to him. The study concludes that Ifould's role throughout the period was highly significant, and that he played a critical role in laying the foundation for free public library services in New South Wales.

‘A dormant commission’: Ifould and the rise of John Metcalfe at the Public Library of New South Wales

Describes the background to the appointment of John Wallace Metcalfe to the Public Library of New... more

The best of both worlds: the State Library of New South Wales New Building and Refurbishing Project

The Macquarie Street Wing of the State Library of New South Wales was officially opened in April ... more The Macquarie Street Wing of the State Library of New South Wales was officially opened in April 1988. This article describes the new building project and the refurbishing of the historic Mitchell Wing, from the original concept of the scheme and its promotion, through the detailed planning to the construction and staged occupation. Attention is given to the design philosophy for the new building, which is intended to have a warm, welcoming environment, and to the constraints imposed both by the proximity of adjacent historic structures and by the limited site area. Brief information on building services is also provided.

Manoeuvres of a man of principle: an investigation of W. H. Ifould

This article examines a number of incidents in the career of W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of... more This article examines a number of incidents in the career of W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1912 to 1942, which cast light on his principles and his character. Ifould’s `Machiavellian’ streak, his ruthlessness as a collection builder and the consequential strains in Commonwealth/State library relations are explored and explained.

Friendly relations: Anderson, Mitchell and the Book Trade

The symbiotic relationship between booksellers, collectors and librarians is not always so well i... more The symbiotic relationship between booksellers, collectors and librarians is not always so well illustrated, nor so real, as in the case of the Mitchell bequest to the Public Library of New South Wales, and the part played in the formation of the collection by booksellers such as George Robertson, William Dymock and Fred Wymark, and the librarian H. C. L. Anderson. This article, which is based on a paper presented to the Forum on Australian Colonial Library History, Monash University, 1-2 June 1984, explores some aspects of the relationships between these characters and describes some of their consequences

Anderson: the reluctant librarian

Henry Charles Lennox Anderson wa principal librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales fro... more Henry Charles Lennox Anderson wa principal librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1893 to 1905. Anderson's `reluctance' stems from his transfer from the NSW Department of Agriculture to the Headship of the Free Public Library, Sydney, during the agricultural recession in 1893. Despite his lack of previous experience in the field, Anderson made his mark: as administrator; in the techniques of librarianship, and in collection development (he was instrumental in securing the Mitchell bequest). The Library Association of Australia’s H. C. L. Anderson Award is conferred for `outstanding service to librarianship or to the library profession in Australia.

Please destroy all my letters on this subject

Considers the complex relationships and manoeuvres attendant on the acquisition by the Mitchell L... more Considers the complex relationships and manoeuvres attendant on the acquisition by the Mitchell Library in 1933 of the Angus and Robertson papers, and examines how the new Mitchell Librarian (Ida Leeson, whose appointment itself was somewhat controversial) could embark on a private campaign to secure the A & R papers without the knowledge of her Principal Librarian.

A place for everything: a personal view of library architecture: the 2011 Whyte Memorial Lecture at Monash University

Drawing upon six decades wandering around libraries and three decades helping plan them, the spea... more Drawing upon six decades wandering around libraries and three decades helping plan them, the speaker reflects on the evolution of library spaces. In this illustrated lecture he identifies planning and design fashions and describes some of the forces which continue to shape libraries as ‘people places’. Looking to the future he sets out some essential factors in planning libraries and kindred facilities for ever-changing functions and new generations of users.

Getting it right: strategies for successful public library building projects

Working on a library building project can be a time of stress and uncertainty. Library staff and ... more Working on a library building project can be a time of stress and uncertainty. Library staff and authorities may be venturing into unfamiliar territory. They may be dealing with professionals with a diverse range of experience and ideas of library buildings and services. There will be a variety of community needs and expectations. This paper will suggest some principles and practices to help those planning public library buildings ensure a successful outcome. It highlights some typical pitfalls and outlines ways of solving problems using tried and tested techniques, such as those advocated in People places: a guide for public library buildings in New South Wales.

A checklist of publications, papers and interviews by David J. Jones

David J. Jones worked at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, from 1970 to ... more David J. Jones worked at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, from 1970 to 2008 as a reference librarian and then library building consultant. Since 2008 he has been an independent consultant, researcher and oral history interviewer. The papers, publications and interviews listed here focus on reference work, library and archives history, library planning and oral history. This checklist covers the years 1973 to 2020.

Further articles and papers on library buildings

Drawing on his experience as consultant on over 250 library building projects in Australia, New Z... more Drawing on his experience as consultant on over 250 library building projects in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, the author presents a range of papers on the planning and design process. The seven papers reprinted here supplement those in the collection Selected articles and papers on library buildings, 1988-2001. Most express timeless principles which are as relevant today as they were when they were first presented. Even those papers which are somewhat dated show how the author approached the planning process at the time, as well as illustrating the support provided to colleagues and describing resources which proved valuable

Public library development in New South Wales

Public Library News (State Library of New South Wales), 2004

A short account of the development of public library services in New South Wales, from subscripti... more A short account of the development of public library services in New South Wales, from subscription and schools of arts libraries beginning in the nineteenth century, through generally poorly-supported municipal libraries in the mid nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to a burgeoning free public library system from the 1940s onwards. Identifies milestones and key movements and individuals and seeks to explain why developments in New South Wales lagged behind those in comparable environments.

State Librarians I have known since 1827

Australian Library Journal, 2006

The author reviews, in a discursive and occasionally whimsical fashion, the lives and personae of... more The author reviews, in a discursive and occasionally whimsical fashion, the lives and personae of many of those who have occupied the post of ‘principal librarian’ in New South Wales since Peter Cooke (1827). This paper is based on an address to volunteers at the State Library of New South Wales and published in the Australian Library Journal in November 2006.

Raw Nerves: John Metcalfe and the Encel Survey of Librarians in New South Wales

Australian Library Journal, 2013

The 1972 publication of Librarians: a survey by Sol Encel, C. G. Bullard and F. M. B. Cass was th... more The 1972 publication of Librarians: a survey by Sol Encel, C. G. Bullard and F. M. B. Cass was the culmination of a six-year research project at the School of Sociology, University of New South Wales (UNSW), at the behest of the Library Association of Australia (LAA). The study was intended to cover the social and educational backgrounds of library employees in New South Wales, their attitudes to their occupation, the structures in which they worked, their gradings and salaries. Questionnaire responses were supplemented by interviews and research by Cass and Bullard, two of Encel’s honours students. A draft of the survey was even-handedly reviewed in the Australian library journal (ALJ) but then scathingly criticised within the LAA. Attention was drawn to factual errors, lack of analysis of supply and demand, and failure to distinguish between professional and non-professional workers. There was dismay at the report’s emphasis on the ‘second-class status’ of women in libraries. These criticisms were expanded in the ALJ by John Metcalfe in an excoriating review of the report and of the theses of Encel’s collaborators. Metcalfe questioned ‘the authority, reliability and credibility of all three’ works. This paper examines the background to and conduct of the survey, the LAA criticisms and Metcalfe’s reactions. It explores why Metcalfe was disturbed and affected by the implication that there had been systemic discrimination against women in librarianship in Australia, particularly at the Public Library of New South Wales, in the first half of the twentieth century.

Only a Librarian

Australian academic and research libraries, 1991

From the moment be set foot in Sydney, W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of... more From the moment be set foot in Sydney, W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1912 to 1942, began to cultivate a network of contacts in politics, business, industry, the arts, the press and the professions. This article illustrates the merging of Ifould’s private and public life, describing how be used extramural activities to make and maintain contact with the Sydney establishment, and tracing links between many of his associates.

Enduring voices: reflections on the theory, practice and value of oral history programmes for historical research

Reflects on the author's use of oral history recordings in historical research on libraries and i... more Reflects on the author's use of oral history recordings in historical research on libraries and information services. Refers to published works which have been based upon or heavily reliant upon interviews, and stresses the importance of recording the thoughts and memories of representative people who may otherwise never document their ideas or recollections and whose knowledge and wisdom might never be passed on.

A bibliography of works by Carmel Maguire

List of publications by Carmel Jane Maguire, Australian librarian library educator, covering the ... more List of publications by Carmel Jane Maguire, Australian librarian library educator, covering the years 1960 to 2016. She gained her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Queensland, passed the Registration Examination of the Library Association of Australia (now the Australian Library and Information Association) and completed her Master of Arts at the Australian National University. Her PhD from the University of New South Wales deals with the life of G. C. Remington, among whose noble causes was the development of free public libraries in Australia from the 1930s onwards. Carmel worked in various positions at the National Library of Australia, was for two years the librarian of the South East Asian Treaty Organisation in Bangkok, and taught at the University of New South Wales School of Librarianship from 1960, retiring in 1998 as Associate Professor. She was one of a small group of Australian librarians who advocated and pioneered the use of computers in library processes, laying the groundwork for a number of cooperative library networks. She was successful in gaining grants for and publishing research into many aspects of information needs and library use, including the use of libraries by industrial and professional groups. She edited the journal LASIE: Library Automated Systems Information Exchange, chaired the Editorial Board of the Australian library journal and has been a frequent speaker at conferences and contributor to professional publications. She was awarded the Fellowship of the Australian Library and Information Association for her contribution to the profession.

Contact meets . . . Henry Mayer

Interview in 1979 with Henry Mayer, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Sydney, a ... more Interview in 1979 with Henry Mayer, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Sydney, a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia and also a member of the Advisory Committee on the Social Sciences, National Library of Australia. Mayer discusses his work on 'ARGAP: a research guide to Australian politics and cognate subjects' and 'Media information Australia', the image of librarians and the need foir them to assert themselves more strongly to attract greater political support.

‘Political control’: the New South Wales Library (Amendment) Bill, 1975

In 1975 the New South Wales Government proposed to combine the functions of the Library Board of ... more In 1975 the New South Wales Government proposed to combine the functions of the Library Board of New South Wales and the Council of the (State) Library of New South Wales to form a new body, the Library Council of New South Wales. This was intended to improve coordination of library services to the public and there was general support, but when the Library (Amendment) Bill, 1975 was actually introduced, it contained a clause subjecting the new Library Council to the ‘direction and control’ of the Minister. This was unacceptable to members of the Council of the Library, especially its President, Mr Justice Rae Else-Mitchell. The Library had hitherto enjoyed considerable autonomy in selecting library materials and accepting benefactions. The Bill passed through the Legislative Assembly, but after hours of feverish lobbying and argument it was amended in the Legislative Council. The amended Bill which became law limited the Minister’s ‘direction and control’ to subsidies to local councils. This paper describes the Bill’s stormy progress, examines the parts played by Council members, politicians and librarians, and explores why little attention has been paid to this attempt to limit the autonomy of a statutory body which had operated successfully for a century under governments of all complexions.

Documentary DNA: what archives and records mean to me

Using examples encountered in his own research as illustrations, the author stresses the value an... more Using examples encountered in his own research as illustrations, the author stresses the value and importance of well-housed, well-organised, well-chosen archival collections and well-trained, well-resourced and well-equipped staff. Without adequate archival and documentary sources any attempt to study or explain what has occurred in the past in a company, government body, town, city, region or country, or indeed in the wider world would be severely handicapped. The author tells how a soldier's chequered military career is a microcosm of a greater conflict, how hidden documents uncovered discrimination in the public service, and how letters found their way into an archival collection against the wishes of the writer. Examples are given of the ways in which the records can be falsified, illustrated by the career of Winston Smith in '1984' and the Great Soviet Encyclopaedia. Note is also made of the ways in which records can be amassed and then partly destroyed, citing the case of the STASI files in the former East Germany. The author touches upon the vast resource of what he calls the 'human archive' - the information, knowledge and wisdom in human brains which can be 'downloaded' via written reminiscences and oral history.

William Herbert Ifould and the development of library services in New South Wales, 1912-1942

William Herbert Ifould (1877-1969) was Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wal... more William Herbert Ifould (1877-1969) was Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1912 to 1942, spanning critical years for library services in Australia, including the two Wars, the Great Depression, the Munn-Pitt Report, the campaign of the Free Library Movement and the passing of the New South Wales Library Act. He has however been neglected by scholars of this period of Australian library history. This study examines Ifould's activities during these years, and assesses his significance for the Public Library of New South Wales, for free public libraries and for the library profession in Australia. The study involved the examination of primary and secondary materials by and about Ifould in libraries, archives and private hands, and works on his Library and Australian librarianship of the period. There were interviews and correspondence with people who knew him, including former members of his staff, friends, neighbours, contemporaries in other libraries, members of his family, former users of the Library, and the sole surviving Library Trustee from the Ifould era. The study describes how Ifould achieved status as a public figure, a public servant and a professional librarian, and helped to create a hospitable climate for library development. It shows the lengths to which he went to achieve his objectives, including the completion of the Library building, the securing of benefactions, the development of the Library's collections, the containment of costs and the selection of staff. It provides the first detailed accounts of the Libraries Advisory Committee, which Ifould chaired, the passing of the Library Act and the formation of the Library Board of New South Wales. It also reveals the extent to which his successor, John Metcalfe, was indebted to him. The study concludes that Ifould's role throughout the period was highly significant, and that he played a critical role in laying the foundation for free public library services in New South Wales.

‘A dormant commission’: Ifould and the rise of John Metcalfe at the Public Library of New South Wales

Describes the background to the appointment of John Wallace Metcalfe to the Public Library of New... more

The best of both worlds: the State Library of New South Wales New Building and Refurbishing Project

The Macquarie Street Wing of the State Library of New South Wales was officially opened in April ... more The Macquarie Street Wing of the State Library of New South Wales was officially opened in April 1988. This article describes the new building project and the refurbishing of the historic Mitchell Wing, from the original concept of the scheme and its promotion, through the detailed planning to the construction and staged occupation. Attention is given to the design philosophy for the new building, which is intended to have a warm, welcoming environment, and to the constraints imposed both by the proximity of adjacent historic structures and by the limited site area. Brief information on building services is also provided.

Manoeuvres of a man of principle: an investigation of W. H. Ifould

This article examines a number of incidents in the career of W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of... more This article examines a number of incidents in the career of W. H. Ifould, Principal Librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1912 to 1942, which cast light on his principles and his character. Ifould’s `Machiavellian’ streak, his ruthlessness as a collection builder and the consequential strains in Commonwealth/State library relations are explored and explained.

Friendly relations: Anderson, Mitchell and the Book Trade

The symbiotic relationship between booksellers, collectors and librarians is not always so well i... more The symbiotic relationship between booksellers, collectors and librarians is not always so well illustrated, nor so real, as in the case of the Mitchell bequest to the Public Library of New South Wales, and the part played in the formation of the collection by booksellers such as George Robertson, William Dymock and Fred Wymark, and the librarian H. C. L. Anderson. This article, which is based on a paper presented to the Forum on Australian Colonial Library History, Monash University, 1-2 June 1984, explores some aspects of the relationships between these characters and describes some of their consequences

Anderson: the reluctant librarian

Henry Charles Lennox Anderson wa principal librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales fro... more Henry Charles Lennox Anderson wa principal librarian of the Public Library of New South Wales from 1893 to 1905. Anderson's `reluctance' stems from his transfer from the NSW Department of Agriculture to the Headship of the Free Public Library, Sydney, during the agricultural recession in 1893. Despite his lack of previous experience in the field, Anderson made his mark: as administrator; in the techniques of librarianship, and in collection development (he was instrumental in securing the Mitchell bequest). The Library Association of Australia’s H. C. L. Anderson Award is conferred for `outstanding service to librarianship or to the library profession in Australia.

Please destroy all my letters on this subject

Considers the complex relationships and manoeuvres attendant on the acquisition by the Mitchell L... more Considers the complex relationships and manoeuvres attendant on the acquisition by the Mitchell Library in 1933 of the Angus and Robertson papers, and examines how the new Mitchell Librarian (Ida Leeson, whose appointment itself was somewhat controversial) could embark on a private campaign to secure the A & R papers without the knowledge of her Principal Librarian.

A place for everything: a personal view of library architecture: the 2011 Whyte Memorial Lecture at Monash University

Drawing upon six decades wandering around libraries and three decades helping plan them, the spea... more Drawing upon six decades wandering around libraries and three decades helping plan them, the speaker reflects on the evolution of library spaces. In this illustrated lecture he identifies planning and design fashions and describes some of the forces which continue to shape libraries as ‘people places’. Looking to the future he sets out some essential factors in planning libraries and kindred facilities for ever-changing functions and new generations of users.

Getting it right: strategies for successful public library building projects

Working on a library building project can be a time of stress and uncertainty. Library staff and ... more Working on a library building project can be a time of stress and uncertainty. Library staff and authorities may be venturing into unfamiliar territory. They may be dealing with professionals with a diverse range of experience and ideas of library buildings and services. There will be a variety of community needs and expectations. This paper will suggest some principles and practices to help those planning public library buildings ensure a successful outcome. It highlights some typical pitfalls and outlines ways of solving problems using tried and tested techniques, such as those advocated in People places: a guide for public library buildings in New South Wales.

Tales from the vaults: personal encounters with archives and records

The critical importance of collections of documents in libraries and archives for historical rese... more The critical importance of collections of documents in libraries and archives for historical research is illustrated by diverse examples drawn from the author's own experience as a creator, user and custodian of records and from a number of biographical and historical works by other writers. In conjunction with other materials at the historian's disposal, well-organised and properly-resourced collections of archives are essential in understanding the lives of people, the progress of nations, places and movements, and for the writing of history of all kinds.

Voice of history: reflections on the theory, practice and value of oral history 1

Drawing on his own experience as a user of oral history recordings and as an interviewer, the aut... more Drawing on his own experience as a user of oral history recordings and as an interviewer, the author reflects on the lasting value of such recordings for researchers in all kinds of fields. Examples are given of oral history interviews being used to supplement other documentary sources, as well as providing the basis for entire printed or broadcast publications. The author concludes that without the skilful harvesting of people's memories, valuable research resources will be lost. The advent of digital recordings will help make oral history resources even more accessible to researchers.

The Mystery of George Brain Lane

Links a street sign in Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia, with the development of free publi... more

Finding their voice: oral history from the interviewee's perspective

Analyses feedback from oral history interviewees on their experiences of the interview, from the ... more

The infancy of Australia's public libraries: the story to 1890

Outlines the development of library services for the public in Australia from the earliest days o... more

A narrow escape

Describes the near death experience of W. Somerset Maugham caught in a tidal bore in Sarawak in 1... more

Voices for the world: taking oral history to a wider audience

Oral history recordings and transcripts are an important resource for researchers in many fields,... more Oral history recordings and transcripts are an important resource for researchers in many fields, using what they discover to augment, confirm, or contradict what they glean from print, manuscript, electronic and other sources, including artefacts and works of art. Drawing on a range of examples, this paper illustrates how oral history has been taken to a much wider, popular as well as specialist audience by skilful selection and editing, and by adopting a creative approach to retelling stories, especially those of ordinary women, men and children. The author hopes that researchers and writers will expand their use of existing oral history resourcesand indeed that oral historians will redouble their interviewing activities-in order to bring the stories, cultures and traditions of the Bornean peoples to a worldwide audience.

YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Haji Hamid bin Bugo: an Appreciation on the Occasion of His Retirement from the Chairmanship of the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Board of Management

by David Jones and Rashidah Bolhassan

Festschrift in honour of Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Hamid Bugo, Kuching, Sarawak, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, 2023, pp. 95-111, 2023

An account of the life and career of YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Haji Hamid bin Bugo: former Sta... more