Study visit Day 3

Caroline Simpson Library - Sydney Living Museum

The Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection in the Mint. Still from video. Image copyright HHT.

The Sydney Living Museum’s Caroline Simpson library was perhaps the best funded and staffed (in terms of ratio to institution staff numbers) of the cultural institutions visited. The $20 million Mint refurbishment provided the best space and atmosphere of any of these libraries. The collection is specific to Australian houses and gardens (and influences on) and is predominantly a reference library utilised by staff. The inclusion of 2 curators as well as library staff as part of the library raises the question of what constitutes a library and the how/why organisations group certain roles and materials together and how this differs across cultural institutions. One interesting aspect of the acquisition process is the active acquiring of missing titles in series and the notification by SLM members of potential items to acquire. It is also interesting to note that while the objects have a collection policy at this stage the library/traditional resources do not.
This was one of the few cultural institution libraries that had all their catalogue online. It provided a good contrast to the Australian Museum in the division of objects and older materials and newer references / acquisitions and how these were managed (including staff numbers and roles). It also provided a good counterpoint to the AGNSW library and the SLNSW in terms of collections/exhibition and digital future.


Society for Australian Genealogists

Geikie Grave. Image from Society for Australian Genealogists

http://www.sag.org.au/images/PRSlideShow/05-003326%20GEIKIE%20GRAVE.jpg

The SAG library has a very narrow focus and client base. The way in which the librarian has to adjust to this client base and their particular needs in terms of providing additional assistance with technology use highlighted the way the library must meet client needs in order to stay viable. The library uses its own classification scheme developed specifically for genealogical libraries which again reinforced the narrow purpose of the library but also showed how other schemes can make finding or retrieving information relevant to the information needs of the clients. As with other libraries, ongoing transfer of catalogues to a digital system is happening as is some digitisation of materials. One main point that arose from the visit was the impact of the popularisation of family history and the subsequent rise of large companies with online pay subscriptions and the impact of this on the library and the services it provides.
This was a really interesting example of a different way that the internet and digitisation can impact on libraries. In this instance the rise of online companies with large budgets has impacted on the library in profound ways in terms of not only what the collection holds and will continue to hold but also in terms of percieved value. It was also a great example of the librarian as technical leader and the need for the librarian to be across a large range of formats including microfilm and microfiche.