LRRT (Library Research Round Table)

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The mission of the Library Research Round Table (LRRT) is to contribute toward the extension and improvement of library research; to provide public program opportunities for describing and evaluating library research projects and for disseminating their findings; to inform and educate ALA members concerning research techniques and their usefulness in obtaining information with which to reach administrative decisions and solve problems; and expand the theoretical base of the field. LRRT also, serves as a forum for discussion and action on issues related to the literature and information needs for the field of library and information science.

Learn more about LRRT on the ALA website.

  • 1.  Seeking Source Recommendations for History of Libraries Course

    Posted 20 days ago

    Hello everyone, 

    Last semester, I floated an idea for a seminar about the history of libraries. I am delighted to share that my institution is interested if I broaden the scope to share some history of knowledge in general. I planned to include this anyway as it correlates well with library history. 

    I have found some resources, but truthfully I am having trouble finding materials that provide a full and diverse scope of library history. Most of them focus on Europe (and small inserts from the Middle East and Asia) but rarely provide information on any other region. I would love to include history from as many cultures as possible to provide an authentic look at all types of libraries throughout history. I would also love any recommendations for inscription/writing/oral history in general. 

    If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, I would truly appreciate it. Ideally, students would not have to purchase class materials in this class, so I am open to all resources, not just books, to share with them and for my own research. 

    Feel free to email me at brandon@midlandu.edu with any suggestions or questions about the seminar if you do not wish to share it here.  

    Thank you all in advance for your insight!
    -------------------------------------------



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    Hannah Brandon
    Head Librarian
    Midland University
    She/Her/Hers
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  • 2.  RE: Seeking Source Recommendations for History of Libraries Course

    Posted 18 days ago
      |   view attached
    How Interesting! 

    I would love to take such a course, and I suppose have been self-studying this for a while now just on my own as I too am very fascinated with Library (and INformation) history. 

    Here are a pile of books on my table that explore this rich topic and a few other resources that touch on this in an interesting way. Please keep me posted on your endeavors. Sounds really fun! Have you considered creating an OPEN EDUCATION resource for this course so that additional ppl could access?! That would be super interesting. Let me know if you are interested in talking more about this. My email is tmcole@southalabama.edu 

    1. Mrs. Magavero: A History Based on a Life by an Academic Librarian by Jane Brodsky Fitzpatrick Library Juice Press 

    2. The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree and Arthur Der WeduWen 

    3. Collected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges (story: The Library of Babel) I did not really understand it and want to dig around on this but found it very bizarre and interesting look at the future. He wrote it in 1941 and while it is fiction, its eerily a look at where we are today in the babel of AI and information. 

    4. Information: A Short History Edited by Ann Blair, Paul Duguid, Anja-Silvia Goeing, and Anthony Grafton

    5. Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo Translated by Charlotte Whittle (a truly dense and mesmerizing book and what led to the the Jorge Luis Borges connection. Also quite passionate about the Library of Alexandria. 

    5. Any works (books and articles by Wayne Wiegand) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_A._Wiegand I even heard him on a podcast interview and will have to dig that up. really interesting guy! 

    6. https://www.charleston-hub.com/podcast/atgthepodcast-310-a-conversation-with-brewster-kahle-founder-director-internet-archive/ (great interview!) and thinking of a library with the digital world and that history which is still in the making. And quite passionate about the Library of Alexandria. 


    8. Carnegie History (several out there) 

    9. Open Alex initiative (based on the idea of the Library of Alexandria): https://openalex.org/ 

    Your question/request saying: Most of them focus on Europe (and small inserts from the Middle East and Asia) but rarely provide information on any other region. I would love to include history from as many cultures as possible to provide an authentic look at all types of libraries throughout history. 
    Answer: It might not yet exist because that is the book you need to write! I am curious about this from the southeastern region of the United States and a place where a first library did not happen until 2015. I can speak to that if you are interested as the town did not have a library, and I moved to Alabama to take that job as the first library director for the City. I grew up in Virginia and libraries were everywhere! Not so in rural Alabama. 

    10.  I would also love any recommendations for inscription/writing/oral history in general. 
    You might consider looking at State Library Association history papers/journals/websites like https://www.vla.org/ and/or Louisiana Library Association and/or Alabama Library Association

    --
    Tracy M. Cole, MLIS 
    Assistant Librarian 
    USA Libraries Collection/Acquisitions 
    P: 251- 461-1563 

    To book an appointment visit my schedule here: https://calendar.app.google/nvmf22ohygJQR54VA 

    University of South Alabama
    USA Libraries/Marx Library
    5901 USA Drive North 
    Mobile, AL 36688-0002
    SouthAlabama.edu




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Seeking Source Recommendations for History of Libraries Course

    Posted 14 days ago

    Tracy,

    This is all so amazing! Thanks for the list and your encouragement. I have not considered making the seminar an OER yet since I still need to finalize it, but it will definitely be something I consider as the class progresses. I would love to provide OER on the history of knowledge and libraries for all. 

    As for writing the book on library history... it is something I will look into! I am very curious about your town's history as well. I'll send you an email this week so we can discuss this more! 



    ------------------------------
    Hannah Brandon
    Head Librarian
    Midland University
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------

    Original Message