Inside History Magazine blog: Library

Showing posts with label Library. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

How To :: Getting started at National Library of Australia

A year ago we wrote about how much we love libraries* and let's face it we haven't really stopped talking about them - there is little doubt about how we feel about libraries. So, when the National Library of Australia told us they were bringing out a range of videos on how to use the library, then we knew we wanted to let you know, too. Here's a selection below ::

You may have also noticed the eResources flyer in our Issue 11. Every state library, along with the National Library of Australia have their own sets of valuable eResources that you can access. Go check them out today - click on the links below:

[*] Read our July 2011 article, "Libraries - find yours today"

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Archivists, librarians & Antony Beevor

There are many, many reasons why having a human to talk to and a library or archives to walk into are important but while I was re-reading Stalingrad by Antony Beevor, I found this quote which pretty much sums it up:

"A good deal of the time spent researching this book might well have been wasted and valuable opportunities missed if it had not been for the help and suggestions of archivists and librarians"

Why was I re-reading Stalingrad you ask? Well, Antony Beevor is visiting Australia to head up a distinguished line-up of historians and scholars from Britain, the United States, and Australia at Kokoda : Beyond the Legend conference on 6-7 September at the Australian War Memorial.

Beevor’s keynote address on “The World at War, 1942” will be a highlight for conference attendees seeking to place the story of Kokoda in a broader context. The aim of the conference is to reassess the battles fought in Papua and discuss the campaign from both the Allied and Japanese perspectives.

The Australian War Memorial’s international history conference Kokoda: Beyond the Legend is on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 September, 2012. Tickets to the conference are limited and are selling fast. For program details and to register, go to the Australian War Memorial site.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

State Library of NSW hits it millionth eRecord!

The State Library of NSW has chalked up one million newly created eRecords, taking the Library a giant step closer to making its entire heritage collection searchable online.

“The NSW Government committed $23 million over five years to help the State Library create electronic resources for its early catalogues which comprise over one million hand-written or typescript cards ...... These catalogues document some of the most historically significant items held by the State Library, including the original charts by Matthew Flinders and First Fleeter William Bradley and the works of famous literary figures like Henry Lawson, Banjo Patterson and Patrick White,” Minister Souris said.

Library staff have uncovered some other intriguing finds in the course of their work, including:

a copy of the Gallipoli evacuation order from 16 December, 1915 (one of only five copies made);
a rare hand drawn map of Brisbane, 1839 by George Barney;
a collection of lantern slides of Antarctic exploration (1907-1930), presented by Captain Morton Moyes, a member of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition;
a beautiful collection of botanical sketches and drawings (1893-1897) by Edward William Minchen; and
a series of interviews by Rod Shaw with poets and artists about the question 'what makes a work of art,’ including an interview with Lloyd Rees. The series also includes poetry readings by Nancy Keesing, Geoffrey Dutton and Dorothy Hewitt.

“By July 2013 people will enjoy complete online access to the Library’s entire heritage collection, making it a truly global resource,” says NSW State Librarian and Chief Executive, Alex Byrne.

The library will always be one of our favourite places in this world but when you can't visit, then go onto their eResources for your reading and research. Find out more on the library's eRecords blog.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Launch of special iPad edition for State Library of NSW

A fantastic new iPad app lets you look inside the vaults of one of the world’s great libraries - click here to download for FREE.

Inside History magazine has just launched a special iPad edition which allows users to explore, share and interact with the State Library of NSW’s unrivalled collection like never before.

“Inside History magazine is thrilled to be working with the talented team at the State Library to launch this unique tour of arguably one of the world’s great libraries,” says Cassie Mercer, Inside History editor.

“I was nine when I first visited the State Library of NSW from the country, and I still remember being mesmerised by the Mitchell Library's extraordinary leadlight windows and the seemingly endless levels and shelves of books stacked up to meet them. I feel like I grew up at the Library,” says Ms Mercer

This special edition brings together short films, photo galleries and highlights from staff curators and guest writers who reveal the intimate history of objects, their creators and owners.

Many intriguing questions are answered, like why the Macquarie Collector’s Chest was created and how the original 1644 Tasman map ended up in Paris and then at the State Library.

The feature story on the current major exhibition, Lewin: Wild Art, takes you into the world of a young illustrator, John Lewin (1770-1819), who was inspired by Australia’s flora and fauna to develop his own remarkable style. And this issue is sumptuously illustrated with Lewin’s beautiful artwork.

Users can go behind the scenes as State Library of NSW conservators restore 3,500 glass plate negatives from the gold rush, discovered in a garden shed in Chatswood in 1951. This extraordinary find proved to be the most important photographic documentation of goldfields life in Australia.

“From displaying Matthew Flinders’ logbook and journal on board the Queen Mary 2 as it retraced his circumnavigation, to utilising new technologies, the State Library continues to explore new opportunities to ensure as many people as possible have the chance to engage with the Library’s remarkable collections,” says NSW State Librarian & Chief Executive, Alex Byrne.

“Inside History is an active champion of the State Library and, with our shared passion for making history interesting and accessible, we jumped at the chance to jointly launch this special iPad edition. It’s a wonderful addition to our extensive online offerings and we hope it makes people wonder what else might surprise from in the vaults of the State Library.” says Dr Byrne.

Download the FREE app here for your chance to win an original illustration of Paul Keating from the pen of Daily Telegraph cartoonist, Warren Brown.

For more information please contact:
Ben Mercer, Inside History magazine, 0405 272427, ben@insidehistory.com.au

Vanessa Bond, State Library Media & Communications Branch
(02) 9273 1566, 0411 259 898, vbond@sl.nsw.gov.au

Monday, January 16, 2012

Love history, love books? What's your favourite history book?

To celebrate 2012 being the National Year of Reading, we want you to nominate your favourite history book!

Inside History magazine is delighted to share in this year-long celebration. We’re one of the partners of the National Year of Reading 2012, a campaign about children learning to read and keen readers finding new sources of inspiration. It’s about supporting reading initiatives while respecting the oral tradition of storytelling. And it’s about helping people discover and rediscover the magic of books. Read more about the initiative at www.love2read.org.au.

Over the next few months, we’ll be asking you to nominate your favourite history and genealogy books! It’s a big call we know, so get thinking about publications that made you love history, or that contributed to your research. Enter as many titles as you wish. Then, in mid-2012, we’ll publish the top 10 nominations and ask Inside History readers to vote for their favourite, to be announced in late 2012. A few rules: the book must be non-fiction, and published in Australia or New Zealand in English.

To nominate a book, you can post on our facebook wall , tweet us or as with all our competitions, email cass@insidehistory.com.au or write to Inside History PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043. Entries close 5pm, April 24.

Photo credit: Image Gosford Library 1951. Courtesy Gosford City Library

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Libraries :: Where to find Inside History Magazine

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Libraries - find yours today

We love libraries here at Inside History Magazine. Is it the smell, what we've discovered there in past visits, the excitement of the hunt, our hunger for learning and new ideas or is it the brilliant, giving people that tend to work in libraries? Probably all of the above but one thing we're very sure of, our communities and society overall would be much the lesser without them.

If you haven't been to your local library lately, then here's a taster of what they very likely have to offer to everyone in their communities, and most of it is free of charge.

Read for free - hardcopy and ebooks
Magazines and newspapers for free
Find your family history for free
Free periodical searches
Free internet and Wi-Fi
Borrow DVDs for free
Listen to CDs for free

How do you access these services? Getting a library card is simple. Just visit your local library, complete an application form, show your ID and access to these and more free services will be yours.

Find your library today, with the National Library of Australia or contact your local council.

a fine romance #12 | 2005 | Source: http://www.prudenceflint.com

a fine romance #14 | 2005 | Source: http://www.prudenceflint.com

a fine romance #21 | 2005 | Source: http://www.prudenceflint.com

Issue 23 is now now! We're selling subscriptions and we also have back copies of issues 2 - 22 left in stock excluding Issues 1, 3, 12, 13, 21 which have sold out in our paper edition.

• Single issues are $9.95

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Order online, www.insidehistory.com.au, or you can also call on 02 9590 9600 or email us to book direct, if you prefer to talk to us.

Or pick up a copy from your local newsagent nationally - click here to find out where.

Inside our magazine

Inside History is for people passionate about Australian and New Zealand history and heritage, whether it’s their family’s ancestry, or in a broader social context. Published bi-monthly and beautifully designed, Inside History provides insightful and practical features to its readers..

Issue 23 is now available online! We're selling subscriptions and we also have back copies of issues 2 - 22 left in stock excluding Issues 1, 3, 12, 13, 21 which have sold out in our paper edition.

Issue 23 is available in newsagents nationally in your state or territory! Click here to find out where.

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