The Joy of Libraries

We all know there's magic to be found in the library but students can take a while to find the thrill. Those who do inevitably end up with the deepest kind of learning. I'm posting this event as, though only open to those at Brighton University, it offers a great example of libraries setting out to inspire students. My guess is that most university/art school libraries -like Brighton's -are full of primary documents and images relating to design which can relatively easily be accessed and used in learning and teaching. It doesn't take much to get the students excited about using primary sources but they sometimes need to know they're there and there for them!

-Torunn

Next week (22-26 February) is 'IS for You Week' at the University of
Brighton - five days of events organised by Information Services to
raise awareness of the libraries, media and computing services
available: www.brighton.ac.uk/is/foryouweek

In amongst the various activities are a series of free talks on 'The
Joy of Libraries' which might be of particular interest. These four
short talks, highlighting the treasures and delights of libraries and
archives, will be held in the fourth floor seminar room at St Peter's
House Library:

Monday 22 February 11:00-12:00
Waiting for the light - a talk by Professor Mike Tucker

Ezra Pound once said that a book should be like a ball of light in
one's hand. Mike's talk will cover not so much the theme of looking
for such books, but waiting for them to come to one's attention. Mike
is Professor of Poetics at the University of Brighton.

Tuesday 23 February 11:00-12:00
Fashion and Fishes - a talk by Professor Lou Taylor

Lou will talk about using period fashion magazines in St Peter's House
as a starting point to develop critical material culture
interpretations on the ‘meanings’ to be drawn from analysis of texts
on women's fashions 1900-1945. Lou is Professor of Dress and Textile
History at the University of Brighton.

Wednesday 24 February 11:00-12:00
'Lost in the stacks' - a talk by Peter Seddon

Peter will describe wandering and getting lost in the library stacks
in the byways and lost forgotten corners of archives and collections
and reflect on these serendipitous processes and their connections to
an increasingly managed of information. The library as a land of
freedom and resistance. Peter is Director of the Arts Practices and
Performance Research Institute (APPRI) and Reader in Arts Practices
and Historiography at the UoB.

Friday 26 February 11:00-12:00
'Glass plates to polaroid: two portraits from the picture library' - a
talk by Dr Catherine Moriarty

Catherine will talk about the expertise of the picture librarian and
the under-valued knowledge exchanges that take place between the
librarian and 'user'. Catherine is Curatorial Director of the
University of Brighton Design Archives.