Throughout this latest lock down we have been fortunate that while our staff have been shielding or on furlough, we have been able to make use of a number of the Library stewards and volunteers in continuing the transformational work on the stacks-which as you will remember was always Phase 2 of the project following the refurbishment of the Reading Room.
Visitors will see that the entrance way is now lined with our collection of the Illustrated London News (ILN)- which is nearing completion, as we continue to aquire the few numbers that we are missing from its historic publication run of over 150 years. As we did with the rebinding of the Gores/Kelly’s Directories we are continuing to look for support for rebinding-or in some cases binding individual years and if you feel able to support this work, please contact the office where your contribution will be gratefully received.
In order to accommodate the ILNs in the entrance all of the local history collections are now within the stacks-please ask the stewards for help if you need assistance in locating a volume. They will also assist you with gaining entrance into the stacks since the new security measures require card entrance to authorised users.
To enable us to continue the sterling progress made by our volunteers, Thursdays have been marked as ‘Working days’ for the Library. Users will still be able to use the Library on Thursdays, although at times certain areas of the stacks and parts of the Reading room may be in flux, so please bear with us as we move forward in this essential work. If you have a specific area of research and are planning on coming in on a Thursday, simply contact the Library ahead of your visit.
Dr Janet Hollinshead volunteered to become our Library manager on a’ 2 days a week’ basis for the next two years in September and I was pleased to be able to accept that offer and it is to her and the rest of the team of volunteers- Dr Rob Huxley, Mrs Marie Passey, Ms Maria McCann, Dr Gaynor Bresnen, Mrs Janet Atkinson that I take this opportunity to express my thanks for their continuous efforts to help enhance our Library. And, from this week to welcome back Joan and Anna to their essential roles as Librarian and cataloguer.
Ian Cubbin
Hon. Curator