NEWS
Stalin’s library
AN exploration of which books Joseph Stalin read, how he read them and what they taught him, Stalin’s Library: A Dictator and his Books by Geoffrey Roberts, attempts to understand how they might have influenced the second most notorious 20th Century dictator and mass murderer. It includes a look at potmetki – the markings Stalin left on some of his 25,000 books – ranging from “ha ha” to “scumbag” and what these give away about his thought process, as well as his paranoid views on librarians..
Wirral libraries under threat
PAPERS released by Wirral Council show a number of libraries and library services in the borough are under threat. The list reveals the 11 libraries most likely to be closed along with others that will lose their professional staff as the council attempts to save £27m.
There are three options for councillors to consider, with officers recommending closing 11 of 24 libraries with five of the remaining 13 being unstaffed. The other two options both see the closure of more libraries and the paper claims the recom- mended one “will not disadvantage any one or more area of the borough, ensuring that everyone has access to the library service they need”.
Agreement offers digitisation help
The British Library has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with Tai- wan’s National Central Library to promote the exchange of the two countries’ national academic and cultural resources. The MOU follows previous collabora- tions in 2013 and 2015 and is expected to broaden and deepen exchanges and build a research platform for academics in Taiwan and the UK. NCL Director General Tseng Shu-hsien said Taiwan will help the British Library digitise its Chinese-lan- guage collection and the two libraries will also work together on research, as well as jointly organising forums on curation and conservation.
14 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL January-February 2022
Family friendly steps taken at University of Hull library
THE University of Hull’s Brynmor Jones Library has added a new room with a difference, as part of the university’s overall commit- ment to inclusivity. The new study room has been designed to be child friendly so that parents at the university do not have to worry about childcare – especially during school holi- days. The original idea for a family study room came back in 2019, but was delayed because of the pandemic. Katie Austin, from the library’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team, said: “Through out 2019 we noticed an increase in students bringing their children into the library, especially during the school holidays. These students were often seen hurrying about to collect books whilst try- ing not to distract others.
“A couple of colleagues were aware of
other university libraries offering specific areas to students with children. We contacted some of these institutions to gather advice to see if a Family Room was something we could achieve here at Hull. We then consulted with our students to determine if a family study room would be beneficial, and the feedback was over- whelmingly positive.”
The library underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2015, with the £28 million project incorporating a café and the Uni- versity’s art collection and exhibition hall. The redesign also saw some 2,000 study
spaces, for both individual and group work. Christopher Moll, another member of the library’s EDI Team, said the new fam- ily-friendly room was helping to make students feel more comfortable about using the library when they had child- care commitments. As well as the usual study requirements, such as whiteboard and PCs, the specially converted room also has bean bags, a playmat and fully stocked children’s bookcase. The room is on the ground floor, which is pushchair friendly also has baby changing facilities. Katie adds that staff are also on hand to help students, saying: “If students need books collecting from the library floors they can use the live chat system and a staff member will collect, issue and deliver these to the Family Room, meaning students and children can remain safely in one place. “This has been an exciting project and we
are thrilled to be able to offer this resource to our new student cohort of 2021. The Family Room aims to take away any added pressures students with children may face whilst completing their academic studies on campus. Feedback from students using the room has been fantastic.” Ann Kaegi, Director of Education and Student Experience, said: “I want to thank all those involved in this initiative as it gives substance to talk of inclusion. T “This is a significant development and one that I hope we build on as a Univer- sity.”
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