Print

Print
Having already done some Latin at secondary school, I took the Open University's A397 Continuing Classical Latin module, which was excellent but which they unfortunately no longer offer. There are various other courses for people wishing to learn Latin and/or Ancient Greek though: several universities run summer courses (including UCL & KCL: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/classics/schools-and-colleges/summerschool, Reading), and library school students can check whether their universities offer relevant language modules. For example, I know that UCL, where I did my MA LIS, offered Latin courses at significantly reduced rates for current students. Here in Oxford, the Iris project runs free introductory courses in Latin and Ancient Greek (http://www.eoccc.org.uk/project/events/courses).

Erika

On 15/04/2015 11:59, Karen Pierce wrote:
[log in to unmask]" type="cite">

Have people taken courses in Latin or Greek?  Any particular ones recommended?

 

If you work at a University, or large institute, do you ever grab a specialist in a language if you are really stuck?

 

For example, we have a couple of books in Arabic in our special collection – when we originally scoped out the collection from the public library, we just wrote on the spreadsheet ‘book in Arabic’ as we had no idea what they were.  Whoever comes to catalogue them would need help, or be able to read Arabic.

 

Karen

 

 

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?


-- 
Erika Delbecque BA MA MCLIP
Assistant Librarian
St Hilda's College Library
Cowley Place
Oxford OX4 1DY
(01865) 276 849