Dumpling in a Hanky

Last month, for the first time ever, my library took part in Doors Open Day. My organisation has taken part in DOD for many years, but the library had never been involved before. From my first days in the library, I was aware of the need to raise its visibility, both internally, and externally. We've been working hard internally to raise awareness of the service, so that was being dealt with. To add to that, taking part in Doors Open Day seemed to be a good way to show the public more of what goes on in the organisation, and what resources are available to the service users. My colleague and I worked hard to make sure that the library would be an interesting destination, and the public would know about it. Because the library is in a secure area, the only way to visit was to book onto one of the two tours running throughout the day, and choose at the end to come to the library. We made posters to leave at the booking desk, and another popular visitor area, to tell people how to g...

Back in 2008 I blogged about some of the materials being made available online at State Papers Online. At that stage, only Part I was accessible, with plans for Part II to be available in 2009. Well, they've got part II on the site now, and have announced plans for 2010 and 2011: Coming soon in 2010 State Papers Online Part III: The Stuarts, James I to Anne, 1603-1713, State Papers Domestic Coming in 2011 State Papers Online Part IV:The Stuarts, James I to Anne, 1603-1713, State Papers Foreign, Ireland and Acts of Privy Council Might be of interest to any Tudor-loving historians out there, although the Stuart-loving ones will have to wait a wee bit yet :) Although I have to admit to being somewhat stumped as to what it costs...no option for individual subscriptions, and you have to contact them to request pricing as an institution, or a trial...

The State Papers Domestic of Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, covering the period from 1509 to 1603 are now available online for anyone who's interested to rummage though, at State Papers Online. The papers cover a vast range of issues from the time: Containing 380,000 facsimile manuscript documents linked to fully-searchable Calendar entries, Part I delivers the complete collection of State Papers Domestic for this era. Every facet of early modern Government is detailed including social and economic affairs. Key themes of Part I include: Henry VIII’s relations with Europe The Reformation The Dissolution of Monasteries Elizabeth I: Marriage and the Succession Voyages of Discovery of Drake, Gilbert, Hawkins and Frobisher Relations between the Crown and the nobility The rise and fall of the Earl of Essex The diplomacy of William Cecil and Francis Walsingham Includes: From the National Archives, London: SP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 From the British Libra...

...got 'er 'ead chopped OFF! Well, she did in my childhood, while I viciously beheaded poor, innocent dandelions! And yesterday, the Scottish Government presented a copy of the Death Warrant for Mary to the Blairs Museum in Aberdeen, while the original will stay in Lambeth Palace in London. Hmmm....maybe time to do a little touristy sightseeing during my next trip in January? Image source

From the Edinburgh City Libraries website comes news of Capital Collections , "an exciting website giving online access to some of the amazing and unique prints including photographs, engravings and drawings held by Edinburgh City Libraries." As a resident of Leith, which has been undergoing insane roadworks to install an unwanted tram network for 2 years now, and facing another 3 years of them before completion in 2011, this photo is pretty topical right now. It certainly feels like they've been messing with the roads non-stop since this photo was taken in 1904!