Leeds Art Libraries in Co-operation (LALIC)

Minutes of meeting Wednesday 3rd March 2010,

Civic Quarter Library, Leeds Metropolitan University

Present:Karen Fisher (minutes), Shirley Graham, Moira Hainsworth,
Rachel Robinson,Ann Sproat

  1. Apologies

Chris Graham,Maria Kulas, Rose Roberto, Jayne Roberts

  1. Minutes of the last meeting

Last minutes agreed with one amendment to make - it should read Karen Fisher and not Catherine Parkin as one of the Leeds Met librarians.

  1. News from members

Leeds Metropolitan University

  • Kirsty Carver left Leeds Met in December to become a full time Engineering Librarian at Bradford College. Maria Kulas is now Karen’s temporary job-share.
  • The Slide Library is going to be ‘revitalised’ as it has become neglected and is under-used.
  • Karen and Maria have been running drop-in library sessions in Broadcasting Place where the art students study so that they can ask for subject help without going to the library.

Action:Karen will organise a separate visit to the Leeds Met Special Collections and archive for LALIC members.

Public Art Library

  • A successful installation by Jo Lee called Wave has been exhibited within the library. It is an inter-generational project containing casts of hands from people of all ages. It has had a huge impact and attracted a lot of interest.
  • There have been some additions to the online resources that can be accessed by anyone with a Leeds Public Library card:
  • Nineteenth Century British newspapers, including the Leeds Mercury
  • The Times 1785-1985
  • An article published in Museums Journal mentions the public library and LALIC.
  • The monthly craft workshops continue to be successful, attracting people into the library and increasing borrowing. During March there is an exhibition of work produced in the workshops during the past year.
  • A grant linked to inter-generational and green issues has been awarded to the library so that they can run some fashion workshops aimed at young people on customising clothes.

Leeds University

  • Rose is on the ARLIS Publications Committee and she has had an idea of creating a small booklet of art libraries and collections in Leeds. Rachel brought along a similar book for us to look at - Oxford Libraries: An Architectural History and Pictorial Record.The proposed Leeds booklet will contain a short description of each art library, photos of exteriors and interiors, a map of Leeds indicating where these sites are located, and contact information. The group agreed that this sounded a good idea and LALIC members are happy to contribute short pieces about their own institutions. Members can take their own photos for the booklet, or Rose can do it.

Action: Rachel will ask Rose whether there will be a charge for the booklet and how it will be distributed.

Henry Moore Institute Library

  • In cost cutting exercises, several members of staff from the exhibition team have been lost and not replaced.
  • A Research Fellow from Geneva has been making extensive use of the HMI library facilities whilst writing books on ambiguity in images.
  • Ephemera taken from the Library is to be used for an exhibition at the Royal Academy.
  • HMI is currently working on adding their library catalogue records to COPAC which will be a good way of publicising their collection. They are trying to upgrade the library system as well but the company are re-charging them.
  1. ARLIS publication

See above for the group’s discussion on the new booklet.

  1. Any other business

There was no further business.

  1. Date of next meeting

Date / Venue
October 2010 / Leeds University
March 2011 / Leeds Public Library
October 2011 / Leeds College of Art
March 2012 / Henry Moore Institute
October 2012 / Leeds Metropolitan University

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