JA Condie

February art exhibition: Dispossession

An exhibition of paintings by Karen and Mel Shewan runs from 1st till 27th February in the Art and Design Library.
The artworks are a complex exploration of themes related to the Highland Clearances

Tales of One City

Dispossession, an exhibition of paintings by Karen and Mel Shewan runs from 1st  till 27th February in the Art and Design Library.

The artworks are a complex exploration of themes related to the Highland Clearances, and the artists describe the exhibition like this:

Our exhibition Dispossession, developed from our interest in the Highland Clearances, the mass eviction of tenants, by their Lairds, to make way for large scale sheep farming. We stay for much of the year at our house near Edderton in Easter Ross at the foot of Struie Hill, overlooking the Sutherland Hills and the Dornoch Firth. It is a beautiful setting and yet to remark on all that is striking and lovely around us seems sometimes almost a violation of the lives of those dispossessed of their homes and livelihoods by the Duke of Sutherland. His controversial statue, rising spike-like from the summit of…

View original post 173 more words

Advertisements
JA Condie

The people who helped shape Edinburgh Libraries: the tradesmen who built Central Library

“The contractors began operations on the 17 Nov [1887]…. excavating area of site and carting away stuff”.
So began the building of Central Library.

Tales of One City

When the doors of Edinburgh Central Library were formally opened on Monday 9 June 1890, it was the fulfilment of many years preparation.

Selected design for Edinburgh Public Library, elevation to George IV Bridge and plans for third and fourth floors, by George Washington Browne, 1887

In our collections, we have two volumes of handwritten ledgers kept by the then Clerk of Works, William Bruce, which record in detail the building works as they progressed.

Clerk of Works’ record books for Edinburgh Public Library

We know from the record books that preparation work had begun as early as 1879 when it was recorded that “Official tests of Pentland Cement” were being methodically undertaken. The pages are filled with neat notes with details such as the amount of cement used, how many days the cement had been set for, and the amount of shrinkage.

On the 18 November 1887, the…

View original post 403 more words

cdonlan

ELISA Open Forum -12/12/2018

The annual ELISA Forum will be held on Wednesday 12th December at the NLS starting at 2:00pm.

The theme of the event is Doing things Differently

There will be a number of exciting presentations including:

  • Using Lego to Teach Referencing
  • Access to Own and auto-upgrades for eBook purchases
  • Training and digital literacy
  • Librarians Uncorked
  • NLS Fashion

Tickets are available on Eventbrite 

Refreshments will be provided and there will be opportunities for networking and socialising.

 

 

 

Fiona Laing

Artwork from some of Scotland’s most talented student photographers is on display at the Scottish Parliament until 8 February 2019.

The exhibition – Higher Vision – will showcase some of the best photographs taken by 26 students from schools and colleges from all over Scotland who have completed the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s Higher Photography course over the past year.

Fiona Laing

Gutenberg Bible on display 22nd November 2018

To mark Book Week Scotland 2018 and the 550th anniversary of the death of Johannes Gutenberg, one of the National Library’s most treasured items, the Gutenberg Bible is being shown publicly, for one day only, on the Thursday 22 November
 10.00-18.00 in the National Library of Scotland,  George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.  No need to book. Read more

JA Condie

Event report – ELISA visit to Lloyds Banking Group Archives

On Thursday 8th November a small group of us ventured out to an unassuming building in Sighthill where we spent a surprising and interesting afternoon.

Words and pictures by Lesa Ng:

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this visit – maybe that it could have been a bit of a dry topic and looking at records management of modern records. Could not have been further from the reality. History of finance and of the bank really interesting – for instance learning the reason why Walter Scott is always printed on money.

I think people would be surprised they could apply to access to study the archives. Also hearing about the social history aspects – why and how the banks came about, who were the customers and who worked for them, and their advertising over the years. Of course was great we could handle the cloaks! Also sobering to hear that like everywhere library services and staff is always under threat, that they almost lost a staff member and that they were considering closing the Museum. The goody pack we got to take away was a bit different too. 🙂

JA Condie

The Ballad of Muriel Spark – Scottish Poetry Library event

Wrapped in this liquid turmoil who can say / Which is the mighty echo, which the spray? Muriel Spark’s poetry inspires a musical event at the SPL based on her poetry. Composer Jessica Danz has written a new piece for string quartet. Wed 14 Nov (£8/£6)

Tickets via Eventbrite