Alan Day

Sir Walter Scott: the reference companion

Outlines the aims, purposes and contents of the various reference guides to the manuscripts, poems and novels of Sir Walter Scott, to the dramatizations of the novels, to contemporary and subsequent reviews and critiques of his literary work, and to bibliographical studies.

The British Library: the cost is counted

Relates the story of public indignation at the British Library’s attempt to secure lottery funds for an extension to the St Pancras building. Follows the Library’s struggle to maintain services in the light of the Government’s 1996‐97 funding levels. Examines in detail the National Audit Office’s (NAO) Progress in Completing the New British Library. Investigates how the cost of St Pancras escalated to £496 million. Summarizes press reaction to the NAO report. The British Library at no time had any management or contractual responsibility for the construction of its new building.

British Library′s Year of Discontent

Reviews the events of the last 12 months concerning the British Library and its move to St Pancras. Considers two official reports which comment adversely on the management and planning of the new building. Discusses the pressures from readers′ groups to retain the Round Reading Room, and notes fears that the computerized retrieval and delivery systems at St Pancras are untried and will prove inadequate.

Sexism in the reading room

Reflects on how some apparently harmless correspondence in three issues of Notes and Queries, September‐November 1884, regarding the quality of readers′ chairs in the Reading Room of the British Museum, and their usage by readers of both sexes, revealed some unbecoming sexist attitudes and some ungentlemanlike behaviour.

Turning point for the British Library

Outlines various positive achievements by the British Library during 1994. Suggests that for the British Library, 1994 was marked by continuing controversies over the new St Pancras building. Discusses the arguments surrounding the St Pancras development in relation to three documents issued during 1994. The hostility of the British Library Regular Readers Group to losing the Round Reading Room in Bloomsbury was reexpressed in a new edition of its pamphlet. The whole project was examined by the National Heritage Committee; discusses its conclusions. Finally, the chairman of the British Library Board, Sir Anthony Kenny, produced a pamphlet outlining the background to the development of the new British Library building, its present state and future prospects. Discusses this in relation to the other documents and development of British Library policy.

Peter Leheup: “an odious character”

Describes the conduct of a lottery in 1753 to raise funds to purchase the Sloane and Harleian collections for the British Museum. In particular, discusses the activities of one Peter Leheup who managed to divert a considerable amount of the funds to himself. Reproduces the resolutions of a Parliamentary Inquiry into his conduct.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CHANGES COURSE AGAIN

IT is possible to look upon continuing education from a number of different perspectives. Some regard it as a method of personal self‐development, and what evidence already exists suggests that there is much truth in this. Some librarians would emphasise the need for staff to prepare themselves for new posts, or new responsibilities in their present posts; others will simply think of continuing education as a means whereby gaps in professional knowledge can be bridged. One of the many silly remarks in the Library Association discussion document, the Draft code of professional ethics, stated: “The librarian has … a continuing obligation in the interests of the client to keep abreast of developments and applications in all branches of professional practice in which qualifications and experience entitle him or her to engage”. The response of one department of library studies at least to the Green Paper pointed out the sheer impossibility of this—of doing a good job of work, eating, sleeping, looking after a family, and undertaking those high‐sounding social roles outlined in the foreword to the Green Paper, and keeping abreast of developments and applications in all branches of professional practice. All you can reasonably hope for is to keep abreast of what directly concerns you—and there may be a good deal of self‐development involved in that—and hope that one day there will be an opportunity to catch up or to extend your personal horizons.