A History of the Public Library Movement in Great Britain and Ireland


Book Description

Originally published in 1932, A History of the Public Library Movement in Great Britain and Ireland is concerned with the rise and progress of the public library as it stood at that time. The establishment and growth of the public library may be viewed as part of the great social movement for the spread of knowledge among the poorer classes which took place in the late eighteenth century and the early years of the nineteenth century. This movement was characterized by the establishment of various educational agencies, which are covered in this book, along with the introduction of the Public Libraries Act passed in 1850 and other legislation that followed.




Royal Historical Society Annual Bibliography of British and Irish History


Book Description

The Royal Historical Society's Annual Bibliography of British and Irish History provides a comprehensive and authoritative survey of books and articles on historical topics published in a single calendar year. It is available before the end of the following year. The volume is divided into sections, to cover all periods of British and Irish history from Roman Britain to the end of the twentieth century, and is arranged alphabetically. It also includes sections on imperial and commonwealth history. Over two hundred journals are searched annually, and the editor's aim is to list all relevant books and articles published in the UK. Each section is edited by a specialist in the field; the whole is edited by Austin Gee for the Royal Historical Society. The book's contents are indexed by author, by place, by personal name, and by subject. The subject keywords enable scholars to trace publications in which they are interested, beyond the information conveyed in the title. The Annual Bibliography is the most complete and up-to-date bibliography of its type, and an indispensable tool for historians.




Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science


Book Description

"The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science provides an outstanding resource in 33 published volumes with 2 helpful indexes. This thorough reference set--written by 1300 eminent, international experts--offers librarians, information/computer scientists, bibliographers, documentalists, systems analysts, and students, convenient access to the techniques and tools of both library and information science. Impeccably researched, cross referenced, alphabetized by subject, and generously illustrated, the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science integrates the essential theoretical and practical information accumulating in this rapidly growing field."




Library Co-operation in the British Isles


Book Description

This book, first published in 1937, examines the principles and practicalities of inter-library loans of books – making available to readers elsewhere otherwise idle books. Initially done on an ad-hoc basis, modern ideas and developments have led to a modern generation of librarians whose first aim is to see that their readers get the books they need.




The Country House Library


Book Description

Beginning with new evidence that cites the presence of books in Roman villas and concluding with present day vicissitudes of collecting, this generously illustrated book presents a complete survey of British and Irish country house libraries. Replete with engaging anecdotes about owners and librarians, the book features fascinating information on acquisition bordering on obsession, the process of designing library architecture, and the care (and neglect) of collections. The author also disputes the notion that these libraries were merely for show, arguing that many of them were profoundly scholarly, assembled with meticulous care, and frequently used for intellectual pursuits. For those who love books and the libraries in which they are collected and stored, The Country House Library is an essential volume to own.




Unofficial Britain


Book Description

There is a Britain that exists outside of the official histories and guidebooks - places that lie on the margins, left behind. This is a land of industrial estates and electricity pylons, of motorways and ring roads, of hospitals and housing estates, of roundabouts and flyovers. Places where modern life speeds past but where people and stories nevertheless collect: ghost sightings, first kisses, experiments with drugs, refuges for the homeless, hangouts for the outcasts. Struck by the power of such stories and experiences, Gareth E. Rees set out to explore these mundane and neglected spaces, which can be as powerfully influential in our lives, and imaginations, as any picture postcard tourist destination. This is Unofficial Britain, a personal journey along the edges of a landscape brimming with mystery, folklore and myth.