I used to be a local history librarian, but now lecture in local history
instead! I do know though that within the London area there are still
quite a few in varous local history centres - some are now in Local
Record Offices - but the days of the local history librarian who knew
what they'd got absolutely have gone now - after all most of the
collections are second generation, so no-one can remember everything! I
say thank goodness for computers because correctly catalogued you can
find things far more easily than the good/old/bad/old days.
Anne Milton-Worssell
-----Original Message-----
From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of jacqueline.cooper
Sent: 26 May 2005 11:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: local studies librarians
Someone in a recent answer mentioned the lovely phrase 'local studies
librarians'. Do such persons still exist? We seem to have largely lost
this splendid breed (indeed the word librarian is being replaced by the
word
manager) and are now expected to use computers instead of having someone
who thoroughly knows the material guide us to elusive sources. Is this
happening everywhere, and if so why are we just letting it happen? I
think the local history community should begin a campaign to celebrate
and retain the role of the local studies librarian.
Jacqueline Cooper
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