JANUARY - MARCH 2004 NO · Alexander Library Building, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000 Tel:...

KNOWITState Libraryof Western Australia

JANUARY - MARCH 2004 NO.267

magazine

Acting CEO and State LibrarianClaire Forte.

Comment fromClaire

NEWS FROM THE CEO

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KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004

This first issue of KNOWIT for 2004has a special focus on 2004 @ yourlibrary - a state wide marketing

campaign for libraries, launched inFebruary by the Hon Sheila McHale,Minister for Culture and the Arts. We areexcited to be working with colleaguesacross the library sector on programs toraise awareness of the valuable role oflibraries. Throughout the year there willbe a range of activities and promotionalevents at a library near you.

The new year has certainly kicked off inan exciting way with some significantdonations added to the State Library'scollections, a focus on strategies tosupport priority preservation work in theState's documentary heritage collections,and the celebration of 25 years of providingcommunity information services.

With so much to celebrate in terms ofthe role libraries play in providing accessto information and enhancing knowledgein the community, staff and members ofthe Library Board were saddened tolearn of the passing of Professor LeslieMarchant, historian and scholar. Hispublished works and donated collectionsheld in the State Library will long remainimportant sources for new research andthe expansion of knowledge.

This year's conference theme ofBREAKING BOUNDARIES:INTEGRATION & INTEROPERABILITYwas chosen as it reflected both theenormous successes and the keychallenges in the field of library andinformation technology.

The keynote speakers, drawn fromthe USA, France and China, wereselected for their expertise and workwith major projects of significantinterest and their understanding ofcurrent key issues.

Professor Hal Abelson, MackenzieSmith, Lorcan Dempsey and HerbertVan De Sompel, keynote speakersfrom the USA, spoke of their recentwork and involvement in digital projectsand the importance of standards,quality and cooperation in that work.

Catherine Lupovici of France'sBibliotheque Nationale spoke of theimpact of the web on the NationalBibliography and Dr Wu JianzhongDirector of the Shanghai Librarydelighted delegates with an overviewof services offered by the ShanghaiLibrary.

Each of the keynote speakers wasfilmed and their presentations willbe available on the VALA websiteat http://www.vala.org.au

An interesting range of concurrentsessions during the day covered the

themes of: digital object management;cooperatives and consortia; ebooks;virtual reference; electronic publishing;portals; software issues; informationliteracy; extending the ILMs; userbehaviour and access to information;user authentication and strategicinformation planning. The onlydifficulty was selecting which of theconcurrent sessions to attend ! Theconference organisers assisted byproviding miniature printedprogrammes which were sized to fitat the back of delegates’ namebadges which were worn by all onlanyards around the neck during theconference. It was a common sightto see delegates checking the backof their own name badge !

Over 700 attendees from all Australianstates as well as some internationalguests participated enthusiasticallyin this well organised conference. Itwas a credit to the VALA committeethat this popular conference continuesto attract high calibre speakers andexhibitors of note.

The next VALA conference isscheduled for 2006.

Conference details and full text ofmost of the papers can be accessedon the VALA website athttp://www.vala.org.au

Pam Phelan

The VALA (Victorian Association for LibraryAutomation) Conference is the Australian forumwhere the use of technology in libraries isdiscussed.

VALA 200412th BiennialConference andExhibition, Melbourne,February 3 - 5

COMMENT FROM CLAIRE <

VALA 2004 <

FROM SHOEBOX TO ONLINE SERVICE 2

DIANELLA LIBRARY MOSIAC 5

2004 @ YOUR LIBRARY 6

JUST ASK @ YOUR LIBRARY 8

RARE BESTSELLERS 9

RESCUING OUR HISTORICAL RECORDS 10

DEREK KEENE 11

CONGRATULATIONS CLAIRE 11

PROFESSOR LESLIE MARCHANT 12

PAT COOK 12

BATTYE ABOUT BOOKS 13

JANUARY - MARCH 2004 NO. 267 KNOWIT

Design, Art Production Public Programs

Editorial Enquiries Patrick Mooreph: (08) 9427 3421 fax: (08) 9427 3336

email: [email protected]

Layout / Graphics Adam Petersonph: (08) 9427 3153 fax: (08) 9427 3152

email: [email protected]

' 2004 State Library of Western AustraliaEditorial published may only be reproduced with permission.

KNOWIT is a quarterly magazine published in April, July, October and January.

Deadline for issue no. 268 (Apr - Jun 04) 12 Jun 2004KNOWIT reserves the right to edit all articles. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those

of KNOWIT or the State Library of Western Australia.

ISSN 1328-7176

The State Library of Western AustraliaAlexander Library Building, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000Tel: (08) 9427 3111 Fax: (08) 9427 3256Web: www.liswa.wa.gov.au

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Cover image:2004 @ Your Library Campaign

2 KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004

A Tale of Two Cities

During 1977, State LibrarianRobert Sharman, in closeconsultation with the City

Librarians of Stirling and Fremantle,launched a pilot community informationproject offered from a library setting.This was in response to their ownobservations and the timely release of areport known as the Macbeth/Hitchensreport into community information needsundertaken by Murdoch University.

In early 1978 two Project Officers,Caroline Power and Anne Keehan,were appointed by the LibraryBoard of Western Australia toestablish a service in each of thetwo municipalities. Anne, secondedto Fremantle and now working inthe State Reference Library, recallsbeing shown to a very large andempty desk in the Fremantle CouncilOffices. The service at Stirling beganin the Karrinyup Library. The firststage of both projects involvedinformation gathering and liaisingwith existing community groups and

KNOWIT. JAN - MAR 2004 3

From Shoebox to On-line Service:

Community Information @ the Library

@ YOUR LIBRARY NEWS

services. Information was collectedand recorded manually on cards andstored, at Fremantle, in a shoebox.The Fremantle service also produceda printed directory that wasdistributed free to all households, andfinanced by soliciting advertisingfrom the community.

The pilot Fremantle service, namedFre-info, went ’live’ as part of thelibrary service in early 1979 and itsuse rose exponentially. BettyMcGeever, City Librarian, hadinvolved Council in the developmentof the pilot, and at the end of theProject in 1980, Fremantle Libraryappointed its own CommunityInformation Officer.

The Stirling service, known asSTIRLINK, also commenced in 1979,and in 1981, was transferred to theCity of Stirling Administration Officesas part of the Stirling VolunteerService. It was transferred back tothe library in 1985, when a positionwas created for a permanentCommunity Information Officer.Susie Busoni on duty, 1988


Consolidation and Consultancy

As the Pilot Project was concluding,the two Community InformationOfficers recommended that acentralised databank ofmetropolitan-wide communityinformation be established at theState Library. On return to the StateLibrary, the two officers organisedinformation with a metropolitanscope, and produced a communityinformation thesaurus to provideappropriate topic access to this typeof information. (Published as InfoLink's manual and thesaurus forcommunity information in 1987).This was partially based on easternstates models to which the officershad been introduced at a nationalconference in Sydney in 1979. Thethesaurus has subsequently beenused by Western Australian publiclibraries to establish their local services.

The State Library’s service whichwas named Infolink, had not only aconsultancy role, it also hosted theinteragency Community InformationSharing Service (CISS). By 1985Infolink staff had moved into the newAlexander Library Building, and forthe first time a public service wasoffered from a desk located on theground floor. Two years later theState Government InformationCentre, run by the Premier’sDepartment on St Georges Terrace,was merged with Infolink, whichthen began to supply governmentas well as community information tothe public.

Out of the shoebox…..

With Infolink’s move into the GroundFloor of the Alexander Library Building,a custom-designed computerdatabase software called Infotextreplaced the card system. In 1991Infolink moved to a higher profileposition on the mezzanine floor.Four years later it became part ofthe Battye Library. The databasewas transferred to the INNOPACsoftware system in 1996 andbecame available directly to theclients visiting the State Library andover the Internet.

In 1994 the Fre-info files were

converted to a database using thethesaurus from the State Libraryand Inmagic DB/Textworks software.In 1999 the four databases:Community Information, Events,Cafes/restaurants and TouristAccommodation, were madeavailable 24 hours a day on the Cityof Fremantle website.

The STIRLINK information wascomputerised in 1984 with thedevelopment of the COMIN system.This was upgraded in 2003 to theStirling Public Library’s system AMLIBand the service is now available fromthe Stirling Community InformationOffice, all City of Stirling libraries, theCity of Stirling Customer ContactCentre, and online via the Internetfrom the City of Stirling website.

In 1989/90 the City of Swan joinedthe community information worldwith the introduction of their firstlibrary automation system (CollierKnyn). A decade later, Swan LibraryServices updated their library systemto Geac/Plus and 1, which includeda community information moduleand enabled this information to beaccessed via the Internet 24 hours aday. Then in 2001, the service wasrenamed as DiscoverSwan.

In the years since the Pilot Project,a number of other public librarieshave established vibrant communityinformation services. Among themare the public libraries at Joondalup,Melville and Cockburn.

….and into the community

From their humble beginnings,twenty five years ago, communityinformation services have alwaysbeen very much in demand by theWestern Australian community.

Fre-info has recently celebrated theanniversary of 25 years of service,during which time it has answered200,000 queries about services,facilities, groups, clubs, activities,places to hire, where to dine andwhat’s on in the area. It hasdeveloped into an extensive sourceof information available by phone,on-line or by visiting the library.Currently there are about 2000 hits

a month on the databases via theInternet. Queries range from theseemingly obvious such as, ’Whereare the local primary schools?’ tomore obscure enquiries. One mancalled from Tasmania wonderingwhere he could purchase craypotcane as his supplier had gone intoreceivership. Throughout the year,Fre-info answers many calls aboutparticular events including what,when, how much and how longentertainment performances areand what activities can berecommended for children duringthe school holidays or after school.

Swan residents are encouraged to’discover your local area with yourmouse’ via the DiscoverSwandatabase which contains about1200 entries relating to the City ofSwan and surrounding areas. Thedatabase provides answers toqueries such as ’how do I findsomeone to remove a snake frommy backyard?’ or ’can you pleaseprovide a list of JPs living in thelocal area’.

The State Library’s Infolink databasehas over 11000 entries providinginformation on State governmentand community organisationsthroughout the State of WesternAustralia. Also available is theInfolink Calendar of Special Dates,which lists dates of WesternAustralian or internationalsignificance. There have been over7000 queries on the Infolinkdatabase just over the last twoweeks.

The STIRLINK service is also nowinto its 25th year of providing wideand varied information to thecitizens of the City of Stirling. Notonly answering questions on localevents, clubs, organisations andservices, the service has evenassisted a lost Santa on his way toa children’s function, and a ladywho emailed from the United Statesrequesting information on a hotel tomeet her husband for a fewromantic days when he arrivedonboard a US submarine at HMASStirling.

Indeed, ’dynamic’ and ’diverse’ haveproved to be hallmark traits of the


expanding community informationscene in Western Australia.

Web Sites:Infolink: www.liswa.wa.gov.au:81Fre-info: www.freofocus.com.auSTIRLINK: www.stirling.wa.gov.auDiscoverSwan:www.cityofswan.com/libraryComminfo (City of Joondalup):www.joondalup.wa.gov.auCo'Info (City of Cockburn):www.cockburn.wa.gov.au

Dianella Library Mosaic- January 2004

A grant of $2,000 fromCommunity Arts

Network WA hasallowed DianellaLibrary and local

primary schoolstudents to create astunning community

mosaic art installationfor the entrance

walkway to the Library.

The artwork was designed bylocal artist and Dianella LibraryTechnician, Annie Q Medley,

and features local flora and fauna inthe Dianella region.

Library staff enlisted the aid ofprofessional mosaic artists Chris Jamesand Renee Martin, from MosaicArtto work with students from a localprimary school, to complete the project.

The project was completed inNovember 2003, having involved Year6 students and parents from OurLady’s Assumption Primary School,adjacent to the Dianella Library.

’The support from parents and thelocal business community has beenamazing’ said Clare Duxbury, one of

the librarians coordinating the project.’Nearly all of our materials have beendonated, thanks to the generosity oflocal businesses including BGCConstruction, Dianella Plaza ShoppingCentre Management, BunningsInglewood, Federation Tile Factory,and Tiles Expo.’

The artwork was launched inDecember with sponsors, studentsand proud parents admiring theirmosaic which has improved the visualappearance of the library and attractedmore people into the library.

For further information about theproject or City of Stirling libraryservices please contact Viv Barton,Manager Libraries, Arts and Cultureat the City of Stirling on 9202-3677.

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Ms McHale opened the launchby acknowledging theimportance of libraries, ’I have

always believed that libraries andlibrarians provide an invaluableservice to the people of WesternAustralia’.

2004 @ your libraryA state wide marketingcampaign was launchedon 3 February 2004 atthe Perth Concert Hallby the Hon. SheilaMcHale, MLA Ministerfor Culture and the Arts.

� to galvanize public support; and� to encourage all to see libraries

and the information they contain as providing the essential buildingblocks to a better future.

With the aim of involving the wholecommunity in accessing librariesand to make use of the expertise oflibrary staff, the 2004 @ your librarycampaign involves a series of minicampaigns including Just ask @ yourlibrary, Treasures @ your library, andDoing business @ your library thatwill target specific markets includinglocal business, children, families,seniors and young people.

Campaign activities will includeholiday workshops, performancesand special readings for children,

The 2004 @ your library campaignhas seen the joining together oflibraries from various sectors acrossWA. In an alliance that has beenmade to promote the role of librariestoday, the campaign brings togetherthe State Library of Western Australia,all university libraries, TAFE andschool libraries, special libraries andalmost all public libraries across theState.

The 2004 @ your library campaign’smain objectives are:� to increase awareness about the

vibrancy, vitality and real value oftoday’s libraries;

CAMPAIGN 2004 @ YOUR LIBRARY


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Anette Ainsworth : School LibrariesWestern Australian School LibraryAssociationPO Box 1272WEST PERTH WA 6872Phone: 9378 8509 Email: [email protected]

Carolyn Betts : Western Australian LocalGovernment AssociationPO BOX 1544, WEST PERTH WA 6872Phone: 9213 2044Email: [email protected]

Margaret Butcher : Department of Cultureand the ArtsPO Box 8349PERTH BUSINESS CENTRE WA 6849Phone: 9224 7390 Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 04257775789 Email: [email protected]

John Frylinck : University LibrariesCurtin University of TechnologyPerth, Western Australia, 6845 Phone: 9266 7629Mobile: 0419 912 112 Email: [email protected]

Julia Gross : University LibrariesEdith Cowan UniversityPhone: 9370 6247 Email: [email protected]

Michelle Ledger: Public Libraries Cambridge Public Library99 The Boulevard, Floreat WA 6014Phone: 9383 8999 Email: [email protected]

Internet classes for seniors andseminars for business people on howlibraries provide low cost and timeefficient research facilities.

The results of the campaign will bringa renewed energy to the promotionof libraries and librarians and in turnpositively impact on library useage,funding and recruitment.

Watch the 2004 @ your librarycampaign across WA.

For further information you can contactone of the following 2004 @ yourlibrary Steering Committee members -

John Cloake : TAFE LibrariesCentral TAFE (Perth Campus)Locked Bag 6, NORTHBRIDGE WA 6865Phone: 9427 1261 Email: [email protected]

Maureen Cooper : Special LibrariesOffice of the Auditor General Library2 Havelock StreetWEST PERTH WA 6005Phone: 9222 7500 Email: [email protected]

Susan Feeney : State Library of WAPerth Cultural CentrePerth WA 6000Phone: 9427 3339

Rebecca Moore : Public Libraries Joondalup Public Library102 Boas Ave, Joondalup WA 6027Phone: 9400 4735 Email:[email protected]


Most of those who attendedalso attended workshopshosted on the same day by

Battye Library staff on preservationand research issues, but this sessionwas designed to encourageresearchers to ask specific questionsabout something to do with WesternAustralia that they had always wantedto know, or just to see if they could’stump’ the librarian. Should therebe no immediate guidance to offer,staff would contact the questionerwithin 24 hours following furtherresearch.

A panel of five, Gerard Foley, RussellHamilton, Alison Hocken, GlendaOakley and David Whiteford, all withconsiderable experience in the Battyeand State Reference Libraries, facedthe audience. Brian Stewart andJennie Carter, (with a magic wandto bewitch anyone who would dareto actually ’stump’ us), hosted thesession. The only ammunition thepanel had, apart from Jennie’s wand,was a link to State Library’s webcatalogue, and what was in their heads.

In the allocated time, seven questionswere asked and I can honestly saythat we were not stumped! Wewere able either to direct thequestioner to a source that wouldanswer the question or to guidethem to likely sources. With BattyeLibrary Director, Dr Ronda Jamieson,taking the role as ’gopher’ we actuallygot some people started on theirresearch. The questions variedgreatly in their themes - from ’howbest to identify individual Perth skylinebuildings as viewed from the SouthPerth foreshore’, to ’the closure ofthe Belmont railway station’.Information was sought on W Hynes,aerated waters manufacturer circa1900. Probably the hardest questionto answer was that about the originalboundary between the New SouthWales colony and the rest ofunclaimed Australia.

This was the first time that theBattye Library had ever openeditself to such questioning - althoughstaff do answer such questions daily- and it was an interesting andeffective forum for displayingresearch strategies and resources.And to the credit of staff, the 24hour clause was not called upon!Well done to all involved.

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CAMPAIGN JUST ASK @ YOUR LIBRARY

As part of the Just ask@ your library campaign,the Battye Library held a

45 minute ’Stump aLibrarian’ session in the

Alexander LibraryBuilding on 16 March.

Stump alibrarian!!??

When the official account ofCaptain Cook’s last voyagewas published in 1784, it

sold out in three days. The threevolume edition was reprinted 5 timesin that year alone, and was soontranslated into French, German,Russian, Dutch, Swedish and Italian!

Art historian Bernard Smith wrotethat right up until the invention ofphotography it was the engravingsin those three volumes that formedthe basis of the European view ofthe South Pacific.

Fortunately, due to the generosity ofthe Gibson family, the State Libraryof Western Australia can now makethis rare 1784 edition available to allWestern Australians. Dr. Peter Gibsonand Mr. And Mrs. David Gibsonrecently presented this and severalother rare and interesting items tothe State Library. The items had beenacquired by Dr. Arthur Gibson inEngland in the 1930s.

Amongst the gems is anotherinteresting Cook volume. A new,authentic, and complete collection ofVoyages round the World……. wasoriginally published in 80 weekly partsfor the ’many thousands of Personswho would wish to peruse theDiscoveries�.and view the astonishingfine copper-plates’. Now WesternAustralian readers can follow thoseaccounts and study the accompanying150 fascinating engravings.

Another of the Gibsons’ donations

has an Australian connection. WilliamDampier provided the earliestdescription of Australian Aboriginesby an Englishman. During his voyagearound the world from 1679 -1691he cruised along the W.A. coast fromShark Bay to Roebuck Bay andstopped in the Buccaneer Archipelagofrom January to March 1688. (TheArchipelago was named incommemoration of Dampier’s visit).This four volume edition of his muchreprinted A New Voyage round theWorld, was published in French in1711.

Two other volumes donated by theGibson family will be of interest toscholars. The rare 1587 edition ofHolinshed's Chronicles was thesource Shakespeare used for hishistory plays Macbeth, King Learand Cymbeline. Sir Walter Raleighconsidered Shakespeare fortunatein that the ’Chronicles of Holinshed,unlike more modern histories, aredramatic in essence; they leaveconstitutional problems on one sideand make the most of striking eventsand characters’. Upon publicationthis work enjoyed immediate successand popularity. Readers today willas likely delve into the Chroniclesfor genealogical data as for thegeographical descriptions andcharacter studies.

Finally, amongst these donationsthere is a personal favorite of Dr.Arthur Gibson - Dryden’s translationof the works of Virgil. Dr. Gibsonwould surely have concurred with


Rare BestsellersDonation of rare and significant items to the State LibraryWhen the official account of CaptainCook’s last voyage was published in1784, it sold out in three days. Thethree volume edition was reprinted 5times in that year alone, and was soontranslated into French, German,Russian, Dutch, Swedish and Italian!

T.S. Eliot that ’We cannot fully enjoyor rightly estimate a hundred yearsof English poetry unless we fullyenjoy Dryden’. Samuel Johnsonwrote of this translation that it ’satisfiedDryden’s friends and silenced Dryden’senemies’.

This very handsome folio edition - acomplete one-man translation ofThe Works of Virgil - was publishedin 1697. Dryden, having lost hispositions as Poet Laureate andHistoriographer Royal, was relyingon his writing to support himself.Therefore the work was publishedby a subscription method: intendingpurchasers paid a deposit in advance,and then paid the balance uponpublication. (One hundred and onenotable subscribers paid extra to havetheir names and coats of armsinscribed at the foot of the engravedplates accompanying the text).Dryden’s Virgil sold well and servedas an example of how to publishwithout the support of a single patron.

In these times when libraries arestruggling to provide clients withaccess to expensive online databasesit is extremely fortunate that throughthe public spirited generosity of donorssuch as the Gibsons, the StateLibrary’s collections of rare andinteresting items are still increasing.These bestsellers of the past willnow be preserved and available toWestern Australians in perpetuity.

Russell Hamilton, Librarian, SocialSciences

RARE BESTSELLERS STORY RUSSELL HAMILTON RARE BOOKS

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NEWS HISTORICAL RECORDS

The Challenge

The JS Battye Library of WestAustralian History collects,preserves and makes available

to the community material on WesternAustralia’s heritage. These pricelesshistorical records include books,newspapers, photographs, privatepapers, films and oral histories, somedating from before white settlement.

Despite the dedicated effort of expertstaff, some parts of the collectionwill be lost because of the materialsused in creating the items. Dr RondaJamieson, Director of the BattyeLibrary, has noted that we are notalone, ’This is a worldwide problembecause collections are deterioratingfaster than staff can do the preservationwork’. In other countries privatesources are being used to supplementgovernment funds to acceleratepreservation programmes and inWA special funding is also requiredto help save the most endangeredmaterials. Ronda added ’The goodnews is that if immediate action istaken much of the material can besaved and made available on linethrough the internet’.

Action so farIn response to this need the HistoricalRecords Rescue Consortium (HRRC)has been set up consisting ofrepresentatives of community groupsthat use and value Battye Libraryresources. The Consortium, includesacademic and professional historians,teachers, mining and business K

Rescuing our historical records

'This is a worldwide problem because collections aredeteriorating faster than staff can do the preservation work'.

Statham Drew, President of HRRC.Discussions are already underwaywith Lotterywest, (which has previouslysupported smaller preservationprojects), and they have alreadyprovided funds for a consultant to helpthe HRRC determine communitypriorities in this important project,find other project partners and applyfor a further grant.

Why help is needed So much needs preserving andtraditional fund raising efforts willonly go so far in meeting urgent andon-going needs. The Consortiumneeds community help to prioritiseand support the need to restore themost at-risk material. In other wordsthe first of the at-risk material to besaved must be the most in-demand.The community needs to say whatthis is.

How you can helpComments and support from as manypeople as possible are needed beforethe end of April as the Consortiumintends submitting a proposal forspecial funding to Lotterywest forconsideration. All interested areinvited to answer the questionaireset out on the HRRC website

To contact the HRRC Tel: 1800 675 421 between 8amand 3pm or A/H 0409 290895.Check out the website link athttp://www.success-works.com.auWrite to us c/f Friends of Battye, POBox 216 Northbridge WA 6865

industries, ethnic and indigenouspeoples, family historians and thosewith a general interest in WesternAustralian history. The aim of theHRRC is to seek the funding torescue precious material held in theJS Battye Library in the interests ofcurrent and future generations.’The consortium came together in2003 because we knew that if wedidn’t get support and act quickly itall might be too late’ said Dr Pamela

DEREK KEENE CONGRATULATIONS CLAIRE NEWS


Derek KeeneA pictorial record of aKimberley town.

The collection is an amazingchronological record of aspecial place and its people.

’In the future these images will be awonderful source for research,particularly for the Indigenouscommunity of Halls Creek and theirfamily histories’, Dr Gallop said.

It all began in August 1986 whenDerek decided to capture ’today’shistory’ and started to photographpeople, places and events in hishome town of Halls Creek at yearlyintervals. Over the 16 years devotedto his project, Derek took over 25,000photographs of the district and itspeople. Images include portraits ofmothers and children photographedover several years, showing howfamilies have grown and changed.Other photographs capture sportingevents and important towncelebrations to create a marvellouspictorial and historic record of thetown and the East Kimberley region.

Derek Keene’s passion to create avisual document of Halls Creekinvolved him in much personalexpense in producing the photographsand presenting them in magnificentleather bound albums. He has used

archival materials and glues whichwill ensure the collection’s longevity.In 2002 Derek completed his lastannual album and is now concentratingon rehousing and describing earlierhistoric photographs that he hascollected over the years.

All Derek’s albums will be preservedin the Battye Library and eventuallybe made available for the public toenjoy. A selection of images will bedigitised and placed on the library’swebsite.

The Premier returned to Parliamentafter the function as it was aparliamentary sitting day. Accordingto Hansard, he told members of theLegislative Assembly that he was’privileged to accept’ the collection andspoke of the ’wonderful generosity’of Derek Keene. Dr Gallop concludedby saying: ’On behalf of the Governmentand the people of Western Australia,I thank Derek for his generousdonation, which will be preserved inthe Battye Library to be enjoyed andused by future generations’.

Jennie CarterManager, Battye Archival Collections

The Premier, the Hon. Dr Geoff Gallop, attended ameeting of the Friends of Battye Library on Tuesday 9March to receive a collection of photograph albums ofHalls Creek from photographer Derek Keene.

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CongratulationsClaire!!On 24 March 2004 ActingCEO and State Librarian,Claire Forte, graduatedwith the Executive Masterof Business Administration(EMBA) degree fromUWA , Graduate School ofBusiness.

This brought to an end two years ofvery hard work by Claire. TheEMBA degree is done by

coursework, and is targeted at seniormanagers with at least 5 years seniorwork experience. Entry to the programis highly competitive and the courseinvolves completion of 12 units coveringa broad range of management fieldsincluding accounting and financialmanagement, strategy, negotiation,workforce planning, organisationalbehaviour, change management andcorporate governance.

The program cohort comprised 18 seniormanagers from across the private andpublic sectors. Claire was one of twowomen graduating from the first cohort.The course was conducted over a numberof weekends with a requirement forcompletion of individual and groupassignments, plus a major researchproject, all based around workplacesituations.

Of Claire Forte’s performance, ProfessorGary Stockport, Director of the EMBAprogram, said: ’Claire has consistentlyproduced work of a very high standard.She has worked diligently throughoutthe 2 year period and all assignmentshave been submitted on time. She hasdemonstrated that she is a team playerwithin the Program and she has continuallyadded value to her syndicate group aswell as the cohort more generally. Clairehas proved that she is a committed personand will finish something that she starts.

Claire has always adopted a positiveapproach to her study. She has alsoprovided praise both to me, personally,as well as to the Program more generallyand this has been well received.’

Well done Claire - we are proud of you!


OBITUARIES PROFESSOR LESLIE MARCHANT PAT COOK

Leslie Ronald Marchant, earneda place in the history of WesternAustralia for his seminal work

on French maritime exploration inAustralia, France Australe. In Francehe was recognised by confermentof the title Chevalier, Ordre Nationaldu MØrite. He was also made amember of the Academie Des Sciencesd’Outre-mer. The State Library ofWestern Australia’s successfulFreycinet exhibition held early lastyear owed much to Marchant’s workrelating to early French explorationof Australia.

Professor Marchant was also notedfor his research, writing and teachingon Australian maritime history, Chinesehistory and on the history of AboriginalAffairs administration in WesternAustralia. His impressive body ofwork reflected his wide ranginginterests and passion for history.Professor Marchant used the resources

Vale Professor Leslie Marchant

Vale Pat Cook - enthusiast, collector and benefactor

We were saddened to hear of the death of ProfessorLeslie Marchant on 8 March 2004.

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a start’. From nothing in 1980 RCCLnow holds over 10,000 Australiantitles and is one of the largest andbest organised collections in the nation.Pat Cook played a very important rolein the early years of this development.Her advice on titles and sources wasvery much appreciated.

In 1981 Pat made her first donationof books from her own collection - anumber of early Australian titles. Pathad determined that State Library wasto be the recipient of her collectionbut she found it very hard to part withbooks that had been her delight andcompanions for many years. Therewere several donations of one or twotitles but Pat finally found the courageto part with her ’treasures’ in 1986.The collection, chiefly of 19th andearly 20th century English booksincluded a remarkable collection ofvariant editions of Alice in Wonderlandand books about Alice.

Pat Cook was Principal Lecturerin Library Studies at the old WASecondary Teachers’ College

in Nedlands. Her specialty, andpassion, was children’s literature. Notonly did Pat inspire her students andenthusiasm she also built her ownsubstantial collection of children’s books.

Pat continued her interest long afterher retirement to Augusta and in 1978,on behalf of the Children’s Book Council(WA Branch), she made a submissionto the Library Board proposing thefoundation of a central collection ofchildren’s literature for use byresearchers, student teachers andlibrarians. With advice from RobertSharman, State Librarian, the Boardagreed to the proposal and the ResearchCollection of Children’s Literature(RCCL) was born in 1980.

Robert Sharman instructed ’the needfor such a collection is urgent, becauseit daily becomes more difficult to make

of the Battye Library and State RecordsOffice extensively and generouslydonated his papers and othercollections to the library for the benefitof future researchers.

In recognition of his work and hissupport, he was appointed StateLibrary Visiting Scholar. In October2003 he was acknowledged as oneof Western Australia’s living treasuresby the Friends of Battye Library whohonoured him with the society’s’Gem of Time’ award. His familyreport how much this very overduehonour meant to Leslie Marchantand to his wife and children.

Staff of the State Library of WesternAustralia and members of the Friendsof Battye Library offer sincerecondolences to Professor Marchant’swife Gunhild, his children andgrandchildren.

Pat passed away peacefully inSeptember 2003 and will beremembered by several of us at StateLibrary with gratitude and affection.Pat’s idea of heaven would be sittingwith a group of enthralled children, hereyes sparkling, as she reads one ofher favourite stories. I’m sure she isthere!

Patrick Moore

Pat in the UK shortly after retirement in 1976


BATTYE ABOUT BOOKS BOOKS

Battye about Books

BATTYE ABOUT BOOKS BOOKS

The Mighty Mount Eden: thestory of a legendPeter SweeneyMount Eden was to trotting as Phar Lapwas to racing. More popular in his homestate than any human, this is the story of anamazing horse that shared an amazingrelationship with his master, Jack Miles.Campbell Sweeney, West Leederville WA,[2002?]

The Barque Eglinton: wreckedWestern Australia 1852Myra StanburyThis report presents the background historyof the barque Eglinton, wrecked off the coastnear Wanneroo in 1852, as well as thearchaeological work undertaken on the site,including a description and evaluation of theartefact collection.Australian Institute for Marine ArchaelogyInc, Fremantle WA, 2003

Paddy's Road: life stories ofPatrick DodsonKevin KeeffeWhile Patrick Dodson's bearded image iswell known, the remarkable history of thisoutstanding Aboriginal leader has neverbefore been told. In Paddy's Road, KevinKeeffe brings us stories of Dodson's lifewoven from interviews, government archivesand family stories.Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra ACT,2003

Romantic Retreats: ninety-two ofthe best-kept secrets in theSouth-West of Western Australia.Christine Forbes Smith & GeoffreyThomasRomantic Retreats is the ideal guide forromantic couples travelling to the South-Westof Western Australia. The book details 92retreats catering for a wide variety ofpreferences and budgets, with a ‘Things toDo’ section listing places of interest andactivitiesSt George Books, Osborne Park WA, 2003

The Kimberley (new revisededition)David McGonigalThis is the third edition of this mostcomprehensive guide to the Kimberley's history,geography, Aboriginal people, early settlers,communications, primary industries, nationalparks and wildlife. Contains 160 exceptionalphotographs and detailed maps.Australian Geographic Pty Ltd, TerreyHills NSW, (3rd. ed.) 2003

Plants of the Kimberley Region ofWestern Australia (revised edition)R. J. Petheram and B. Kok.Photography by E. Bartlett-TorrAn important resource for pastoral managersand rangeland advisors in managing vegetationand land-use issues, this revised edition willalso be a valuable reference for students ofecology and range sciences, as well asappealing to nature lovers, conservationists andtravellers in the Kimberley region. University of WA Press, Nedlands WA,(rev. ed.) 2003

Ghost of the AlkimosJack Wong Sue and Barry SueThe collection of anecdotes, yarns andmemories accumulated here concerning theship Alkimos, wrecked off the WA coast inthe 1960s, will fascinate readers of maritimelore and the legends and myths that developaround what appear to be ‘doomed vessels’.Jack Sue WA Skindivers Publications,Midland WA, 2001

James Stirling: Admiral andfounding Governor of WesternAustraliaPamela Statham DrewThis ambitious biography, seven years in themaking, breaks new ground in documentingfully Stirling's path from birth into one ofScotland's oldest families, through to founderand Governor of the Swan River Colonyand, ultimately, to Admiral and British navalchief in east Asia.University of Western Australia Press,Nedlands WA, 2003

Piercing the GroundChristine WatsonPiercing the Ground stands as a highlyoriginal and groundbreaking elucidation ofKutjungka painting and a significant additionto what is known as the ‘anthropology of art’.A fitting tribute to her indigenous mentors,this book should change the way peopleregard contemporary acrylic painting.Fremantle Arts Centre Press, FremantleWA, 2003

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JANUARY - MARCH 2004 NO · Alexander Library Building, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000 Tel:...

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