Rare Books in Scotland business meeting
Thursday 25 May 2017, University of Edinburgh
Present
- Helen Beardsley — Stirling University Library
- Robert Betteridge — National Library of Scotland: Minutes
- Almut Boehme — National Library of Scotland
- David Buri — Glasgow School of Art
- Ines Castellano-Colmenero — National Museum of Scotland
- Julie Corcoran — Inverness Library
- John Crawford — Leadhills Miners Library
- Beth Dumas — St Andrews University Library
- Jill Evans — SCURL
- Aaron Fleming — Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Veronica Fraser — Historic Environment Scotland
- Julie Gardham — Glasgow University Library
- John Glass — Edinburgh University Library
- Briony Harding — St Andrews University Library
- Graham Hardy — Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
- Elizabeth Henderson — St Andrews University Library
- Xiaowei Jie — Edinburgh University Library
- Elizabeth Quarmby Lawrence — Edinburgh University Library
- Stuart Harris-Logan — Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Christine Love-Rogers — New College Library
- Andrew McAinsh — Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Karen McAulay — Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Alasdair MacDonald — Edinburgh University Library, representing CIGS
- Iain Milne — Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- James Mitchell — National Library of Scotland
- Anne Morrison — Edinburgh Central Library
- Angela Schofield — Advocates Library
- Helen Vincent — National Library of Scotland: Convenor.
1. Apologies
- Duncan Campbell — Glasgow School of Art
- Mark Glancy — National Museum of Scotland
- Lara Heggarty — Innerpeffray Library
- Jane Pirie and colleagues — Aberdeen University Library.
The business meeting was opened by Helen Vincent (HV) at 13.00.
2. Minutes of previous meeting
- Initials in 4.3 should read AMcA rather than AMcI
- In the Glasgow University Library report Clerk should read Clapp
- In the Advocates Library report it should be noted that the digitisation project with EUL is a pilot project.
3. Matters arising
Julie Gardham (JG) had nothing further to report on PSI.
On accreditation Jill Evans (JE) reported that CILIPS is not aware of anyone in Scotland taking this forward.
4. Future forum activities
4.1 Meetings
Glasgow Women's Library — 9 November 2017 (not catered).
National Museum of Scotland — spring 2018.
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh — autumn 2018.
Offers outside Edinburgh for the spring 2019 meeting are welcome.
4.2 Workshops
Edinburgh and St Andrews University Libraries are yet to follow up on plans for a serials cataloguing workshop.
JG has emailed Daryl Green regarding the proposed workshop on foreign union catalogues and fingerprints but with Daryl established in Oxford this begins to look unlikely.
With no volunteer to lead it there has been no progress on an exhibitions workshop.
Alasdair MacDonald could lead a workshop on authority control.
The CILIP RBSCG cataloguing workshop was well attended and the group could be approached if there was interest in holding one in Scotland.
HV reports that CILIP RBSCG could invite a DCRM(G) trainer from the USA (at the expense of their institution) if there was interest.
4.3 Tumblr
Andrew McAinsh noted that contributions are still few and far between and would resend instructions to members. It was also noted that New College Library had supplied the most contributions.
5. Music in Rare Book and Special Collections
There followed an open discussion which recognised that the number of specialist music librarians has decreased over the years and that many music collections are now managed as part of special collections, where staff may not have the musical knowledge or music librarian skills with which to do them justice. Almut Boehme (AB) noted that this has not been helped by IAML's training focus on modern material. Karen McAulay (KMcA) suggested that a forum to discuss the music and performance itself rather than the mechanics of lending would be useful. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh University confirmed the loss of subject expertise within their collections with Elizabeth Quarmby Lawrence (EQL) highlighting the importance of not separating manuscript and print. HV spoke on the need to match cataloguing expertise with music expertise and Stuart Harris-Logan (SHL) pointed out that musicians and cataloguers don't necessarily wish to organise music collections in the same way. AB announced that DCRM(M) is now available on Cataloger's Desktop. HV raised the possibility of DCRM(M) training by IAML. AB thinks the community too small and so antiquarian collections are not catered for by IAML. She also reported that IAML are meeting in Edinburgh next year and AB would propose a session on antiquarian music. SHL thought that a specific forum would be useful: perhaps a RBIS sub-group? His experience of discussion with music archivists would be a useful starting point and there is potential for cross-over with music, special collections and archives. HV asked if someone could research and write a report for the group on music special collections and how to make them available for consultation and performance: SHL and KMcA to lead on this and present in spring 2018. SHL suggested that dance collections could also be incorporated and it was agreed to adopt these.
6. Reports
6.1 CILIP RBSCG/ESTC/CERL/SCURL/IFLA RBSC/CIGS
CILIP RBSCG
CILIP RBSCG — HV reported that this year's RBSCG conference will be held on 6-8 September and is entitled ‘Collections at risk’ with three strands: preservation and conservation, theft and vandalism, and sale and disposal. It will include advocacy, advice from law enforcement and conservation prioritisation. The 2018 conference will be at Downing College Cambridge on 'the Library as Classroom'. The summer visit will hopefully be to a National Trust property in England. Looking for content for RBSCG newsletter. There will be a New Professionals day at John Rylands in November.
This year's Library and Information History Group conference will be on 1 July at the University of Dundee with several RBIS members present.
CILIP's new membership structure has been approved.
ESTC
Anette Hagan had nothing to report.
CERL
As above.
SCURL
See Appendix.
IFLA RBSC
Congress in Wroclaw: planning all day session on 'collections crossing borders' and on-site session on 'out of the stacks: marketing and promotion'. HV has been invited to join a working group on digital repatriation.
CIGS
See Appendix.
6.2 Members' reports
National Library of Scotland
The Library took part in Rare Books Edinburgh 2017. It will be hosting two interns paid for by the Cross Trust. A photographic curator has been appointed to a one year post and will begin in June. The Library's touring exhibition programme is underway. The forthcoming major exhibition is 'Enduring eye: The Antarctic legacy of Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Hurley'. Forthcoming displays include Images of India and a display of work published by Duval and Hamilton. HV also reported that she had been in a meeting with JISC representatives to discuss what is currently called the National Bibliographic Knowledge Base which is planned to supersede SUNCAT and COPAC and will help to preserve smaller library catalogues, allowing linking to digital books and inform discussion of digital books.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
The Library has a relatively small collection but has made some rare new acquisitions. Karen McAulay is carrying out post-doctoral research on legal deposit music collections and would appreciate any information on this from members. The archive has moved into the Whisky Bond with a formal launch in March. The instrument collection has acquired a trumpet that belonged to Sir Malcolm Arnold.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
The Library has a new store in Queen Street. It took part in book based presentations at the Edinburgh International Science Festival.
Edinburgh Central Library
Interns have been working on chromolithography and on the garden imagery of Kate Greenaway. The Library has also hosted Edinburgh University History of the Book interns. Architecture drop in sessions have been held during the year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. The Boog Watson collection is being digitised in collaboration with the National Library. A 25-box donation of the archive of Helen Crummy of the Craigmillar Festival Society has been received.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The College has a new part time digital heritage officer. Staff and collections have been decanted during building works which should be finished by September. The College is changing its LMS to Ex Libris Alma.
Edinburgh University Library
Current cataloguing projects are ongoing. The Drummond of Hawthornden collection is almost complete and rare book cataloguers are working within the archive system to record the manuscript content of the volumes. Music cataloguing is progressing with more resources lined up for the Reid collection. Collection rationalisation is ongoing. Paid interns are working for four weeks on unprocessed donations. The CRC reference collection is moving out to create an engagement space. A summer intern will be working on the Library's early records. The Library took part in Festival of Museum events, is planning a summer Indian exhibition and the current exhibition is 'Sound Body, Sound Mind: a history of healing through the University's collections'.
St Andrews University Library
Beth Dumas has been appointed as a rare book cataloguer. 43,500 bibliographic records and 51,000 item records have been created since June 2013. Special Collections will not be moving to Guardbridge. Elizabeth Henderson thanked those who had offered advice on mould. The Church Service Society has donated 13 metres of liturgical works. An intern is working on discovering hidden manuscript material used as binding waste.
Leadhills Miners Library
The Ordnance Survey has recalculated the height of Leadhills which is now the highest village in the country, making Leadhills Miners Library literally the 'top library'. Conservation work paid for by the Pilgrim Trust was completed in January. The 1985 catalogue has been converted to MARC and edited and after further editing it will be loaded to COPAC. Following a meeting at Lanarkshire Heritage Forum Museums and Galleries Scotland are to look again at their accreditation scheme. John Crawford will be giving a paper at the LIHG Dundee conference and will also be appearing on the BBC's 'Antiques Roadshow' with the Leadhills banner in early June.
Stirling University Library
Will be putting up an exhibition during the University-hosted James Hogg Society Biennial Conference, 19-21 July 2017. With doctoral candidate Jill Dye the Library is continuing to work with Innerpeffray Library and the Leighton Library
Glasgow University Library
Lesley Richmond has retired and Siobhan Convery has taken up the role of Assistant Director, Collections Strategy. Transcription of the Hunterian catalogue is ongoing. A grant from NMCT is being used to conserve items relating to Adam Smith. Library catalogues are moving to EMU to join the Hunterian collections. The Library has acquired the Glasgow Photographic Association album.
Glasgow School of Art
Four hundred Talwyn Morris book designs are available online. Two Pickford Waller sketchbooks have been acquired. Titles have been matched to ESTC. Restoration is to be complete by 2019 with the Library going back as it was.
Historic Environment Scotland
The merger of Historic Scotland and RCHAMS is now a year old. Collette Hill has retired and been replaced by Jason Curry. Books have been moved from Longmore House to Sinclair House. Libraries merging and will use Koha LMS, but it is not yet decided if rare books will be on system. Library is currently working towards accreditation. Bought a David Bryce perspective view at auction.
New College Library
Main Funk funded project finished but still a number of ongoing cataloguing projects. Full extent of early printed book collections is unknown.
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The College took part in Rare Books Edinburgh 2017. The MacLaren Research Centre will shortly be open. The College is now a SUNCAT contributor. Manuscript notes of students of Munro II and III have been purchased.
Aberdeen University Library
There is a moratorium on new posts. Two posts have gone from special collections as part of voluntary redundancy. The Dickens exhibition drew 8000 visitors. Current exhibition on bindings. Friends funding has paid for two posts to recatalogued King's and Marischal College collections. Special collections are launching a visiting scholar award. The University will host the SUSCAG and UMIS conferences in January.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
An archive has been put together on the Garden]s east gate. The summer exhibition is on The Flow Country in the far north of Scotland. A book, 'Botanical Treasures', has been published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the combined Library and Herbarium building. Henry Noltie's bibliography of Hugh Cleghorn will be published by the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society. There have been a number of tours and visits. The availability of finding lists is bringing in requests. Glass plate negatives have been cleaned and repackaged.
Advocates Library
The Library is contributing to a pilot project to digitise session papers. There have been displays on Boswell and to accompany a Brexit event and a tour by members of the Dutch Government.
Inverness Library
Outlined the special collections at the Library. Staff from the National Library have been to advise on the rare book collections. Budget cuts have resulted in a loss of expertise. The Library is currently looking at how to best manage the collections. Working with the University of the Highlands and Islands on research and workshops.
New College Library
Cataloguing projects are ongoing. There is a current focus on Reformation material. Chinese collections have been catalogued. Interns are working on cleaning and scoping projects. A part time archivist is working to make collection descriptions available. Building work is causing some disruption and there have been issues with damp.
Historic Environment Scotland
Andrew Nicoll has been appointed Head of Archives. Following a leak after Christmas the disaster plan was proven to be effective. Veronica Fraser is now Acquisitions and Loans Manager. Lynn Teggart has been appointed as Conservator. The catalogue of books is now available. The result of archives accreditation is due in July. Currently working towards TDR status. New acquisitions include material on the Scott Monument.
National Museum of Scotland
Material from the Library has been used in the Egyptian exhibition and a plan of Prestonpans will appear in the forthcoming Jacobites exhibition and displays will accompany associated talks. Library student placements are adding holdings to ESTC. Plans of the Museum are being placed in the Library. Special collections are to be treated as objects of the Museum and so will be better cared for.
Following the updates from members there were briefs discussions on other topics. The pressure on some libraries to rationalise their collections had already come up in discussion and this was considered to be a useful topic for a future meeting. This discussion also suggested the importance of advocacy of collections: justification, promotion and how hosting interns can also have promotional benefits.
There was no other business and HV closed the meeting at 15:00 with a vote of thanks to the host.
Appendix – SCURL and CIGS reports
Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries
SCURL is pleased to present this report of activities to the Rare Books in Scotland Group, May 2017.
SCURL has agreed six Strategic Priorities for 2017-2019 of which three are:
- Collaborative Content Procurement
- Collaborative Collection Management
- Shared action on access
Collaborative Content Procurement
- The names of the former SCURL procurement groups have been revised and are now:SHEDL EBooks Group, SHEDL Journal Group, SHEDL Learning Content, SHEDL Print Books Group, and SHEDL Subscription Management. Invitations have been issued for nominations for Chair and Vice Chairs of each of the groups.
- The Library Subscription Agent business, managed by APUC, migrated to LM on 1 January 2017. Value of business is £14m pa.
- The Scottish Higher Education Digital Library (SHEDL) access to e content, both monographs and journals, is valued at £8m pa with some contracts failing to renew due to unaffordable price increases presented by the publishers.
Collaborative Collection Management (CCM)
- The SCURL CCM Group has convened several times and the Chair, Diane Bruxvoort of University of Aberdeen, presented The Last Scottish Copy paper to the recent SCURL Business Committee. The paper and recommendations will be taken to the SCURL AGM on 09.06.17 for approval.
- The group is also interested in identifying if there is interest in the potential of an off-site collaborative store and a survey is currently in circulation to the SCURL Directors.
- A workshop on the COPAC Collaborative Tool is scheduled on 20 June 2017 in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Shared action on access
- A survey was conducted recently by SCURL to establish the access and availability of eResources for visitors to that institution. The results will be shared at the SCURL AGM on 9 June 2017.
- SCURL recently hosted a Digital to Digitisation event to learn of the scale of digitisation activities in Scottish libraries representing all sectors. The outcome was a general requirement for a discovery tool to learn who has digitised collections.
Jill Evans
SCURL Service Development Manager
22 May 2017
CIGS Activities 2016 and Future Events — Report for Rare Books in Scotland, 25 May 2017
Web 2.0 metadata seminar, National Library of Scotland, 5 April 2017
Somewhere Over the Rainbow: our metadata online, past, present and future
CIGS hosted a lively event covering many different aspects of online metadata relating to both collections and people. Presentations covered crowdsourcing; archiving online content from the Olympics and Paralympics; managing your online footprint and analysing the emotional response to online music videos.
Presentations of particular interest to RBiS might include 'Engaging the crowd', describing an online project to crowdsource the transcription of manuscript collections at the National Library of Scotland and Vivienne Mayo's (EDINA) presentation on digitising and hosting the Statistical accounts of Scotland online. The presentation covered the history of the 'old' account (1791-1799) and 'new' (1832-1845) along with details of the structure and development of the website.
Slides and notes from the presentations are available on the CIGS SlideShare site.
2017 future events
The CIGS AGM will be at St Cecilia's Hall on Wednesday 28 June from 1:00 pm and all are welcome. Elections will be held for office bearers and committee members, so please contact CIGS on the email below if you are interested in standing for the committee. Following the business meeting there will be a talk on the cataloguing of EUL's music collections and tours of the building.
You can register here [Eventbrite]
Plans for an autumn event on resource discovery, details TBC.
CIGS email: cigscot@gmail.com
Alasdair MacDonald, CIGS/Edinburgh University Library
alasdair.macdonald@ed.ac.uk