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Hi Michael,

 

I think languages are one of those, “it depends on your collection”, type questions. Certainly I’ve found Latin invaluable for rare books cataloguing, along with French. Knowledge of other European languages is also helpful. Although in my current job Urdu would be useful and we haven’t got anything in Latin!

 

I blogged a while ago about whether you need to know Latin to be a rare books librarian, and I’m writing on the same subject for the next CIG newsletter.

 

And as for other skills and qualities:

Definitely patience and attention to detail! So double-check any job applications/CVs for typos…

 

Also, things like an ability to sit for hours at a time just cataloguing.

An enquiring mind to work out a tricky inscription or provenance detail. Research skills would go alongside this.

Definitely knowledge of historical bibliography. An awareness of the history of the time period covered by the collection (although this is easy to pick up).

 

 

Katie Flanagan BA(Hons), MA, MCLIP

Special Collections Librarian

T +44 (0)1895 266139

 

From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lucy Evans
Sent: 15 April 2015 11:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CIG-E-FORUM] What do people think are the sort of qualities needed for a rare books cataloguer?

 

Michael,

 

Latin would definitely be useful and Greek very helpful. It is amazing what you pick up from cataloguing though, I would now say I can catalogue in French, German and Italian pretty easily, but I only really speak German. I have turned my hand to Spanish and Danish too!

 

It sometimes depends on where you work too, for example, here at the Bodleian we are desperate for someone who can read Esperanto!!

 

Lucy

 

From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of michael towsey
Sent: 15 April 2015 11:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CIG-E-FORUM] What do people think are the sort of qualities needed for a rare books cataloguer?

 

Are there any particular qualities, talents, knowledge etc. that it is felt suit rare books cataloguing? Obvious things like patience and attention to detail can be assumed. Also more generalised cataloguing skills would I assume clearly be a useful background, as well (presumably) as some knowledge of the history of the book and an interest in  general cultural and intellectual history. What about knowledge of languages (will obviously depend on the language or languages represented in a collection, but I assume generally Latin might be the most useful?)

 

Any views, anyone?


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