National Library News January 1996 Vol. 28, no. 1

Institute on Canadian Bibliography Popular

From August 21 to 25, 1995, the Institute on Canadian Bibliography offered its second Analytical Bibliography for Canadian Studies course at the National Library of Canada. The Institute was founded by the Library and the Bibliographical Society of Canada after the Third National Conference on Canadian Bibliography in Charlottetown in 1992. The summer course is intended for librarians, literary scholars, historians, graduate students, booksellers and any others interested in the history of the book in Canada. During the week-long course, some 20 participants from across the country attended lectures, demonstrations and workshops at the Library and other institutions.

The program director was Dr. Patricia Fleming of the University of Toronto. Course instructors included: Jim Burant (National Archives of Canada); Anne Dondertman (University of Toronto); Judy Donnelly (Southam InfoLab); Mary Jane Edwards (Centre for Editing Early Canadian Texts, Carleton University); Yvan Lamonde and Bruce Whiteman (McGill University); Jeff Rider (National Museum of Science and Technology); and Michel Brisebois, Gwynneth Evans, Lynn Herbert, Elaine Hoag and Lorna Knight (National Library). Logistical support was provided by the Library’s National and International Programs’ staff and displays were prepared with the assistance of personnel from the Canadian Literature Research Service. Visits to the National Archives’ conservation laboratory, the National Museum of Science and Technology, Papertrail and the Library’s Special Collections were included in the week’s events.

Institute instructors and participants.

Following are comments from some of the participants.

From Patricia Belier, Collections Development Department, University of New Brunswick Library:

Having been unable to attend the first Institute on Canadian Bibliography in 1993, I was particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to take part in the 1995 week-long session, so ably presented by Dr. Patricia Fleming and a team of experts, under the auspices of the Bibliographical Society of Canada and the National Library of Canada.

Although I have long had a generalist’s interest in bibliography, the history of the book, and printing and publishing in Canada, I required a sounder basis in the precise elements of descriptive bibliography, including collation, pagination, title page transcription conventions, and the identification of typographic styles and ornamentation design, for example. We were instructed in all of this (and more) by means of a well-organized program, which served to introduce how one learns the language of bibliographic analysis. Each of the instructors was most generous in providing supplementary handouts. In fact, I came away with an armload of reference material to mull over and keep for future use on bibliographic projects, including an extensive guide to the literature of analytical bibliography.

After two days in the classroom, we had a wonderful outing to Papertrail, where Annegret Nill, director of the studio, showed us how paper is made and invited each of us to make a sheet of paper. This session tied in nicely with a later discussion on the value of paper as evidence in bibliography. Members of the National Library of Canada staff kindly organized visits to their Special Collections and offered us a chance to use the Hinman collator. Staff at the National Archives conservation labs showed us how repairs are made to paper, and shared their knowledge of various conservation methods. The final portion was devoted to presentations on textual bibliography, discussions on the publishing history of books in Canada, records of authors and publishers as sources for Canadian bibliographic studies, and aspects of l’histoire du livre/l’histoire de l’imprimé au Québec.

A useful plenary session served to focus on the many remaining areas of bibliographic inquiry, such as publishers’ imprint bibliography, early twentieth century Canadiana, and Canadian paper-making history. I was pleased to have had an opportunity to share some of the problems in bibliography that I have encountered in my own projects, and to get expert advice on methodology and organization of data.

From a collections development librarian’s point of view, it was important to be reminded of the value to bibliographers of the book as evidence; that is, the desirability of retaining multiple copies of books for comparative purposes, with an emphasis on keeping them as close to their original condition as possible, so that historical evidence, perhaps unavailable elsewhere, is not destroyed. An added bonus was the opportunity for informal talks about library collections and bibliographic topics with the other course participants and with various members of the National Library staff. The Institute was both a stimulating learning experience and fun. Many thanks to all who worked so hard in arranging and presenting such a successful program.

From Joanne Corbett, St. Catharines, Ontario:

As an Information Studies student at the University of Toronto interested in analytical bibliography, I found the Institute afforded exposure to the many bibliographic resources in our nation’s capital, as well as to an enthusiastic group of participants from various backgrounds who provided lively contributions to an ambitious timetable of events.

Collation is an exercise that I’m sure most would prefer to avoid. However, the emphasis placed on scheduled practice sessions and the kind assistance of members of the Institute who volunteered to assist after hours served to make collation a tolerable experience.

Field trips to the National Museum of Science and Technology and Papertrail allowed a hands-on mid-week break. The staff at the museum provided insight to their work and the museum collection as well. A highlight was a tour of the printing press exhibit at the museum. Papertrail provided a tour of the art and craft of papermaking and a “wet-hands” opportunity for the group to make paper. The tour of the National Archives’ conservation facilities used by the Library, the discovery of the Hinman collator in Special Collections, and the software for a bibliography demonstration added technological dimensions to the week’s events.

When I reflect on the week, I find that the essence of the Institute rested in the contributions of past and present staff of the National Library, members of the Bibliographical Society, academics, staff and volunteers at the National Museum of Science and Technology, and the participants at the Institute, who contributed both formally and informally to the well-planned sessions.

From Sharon Ells, Montreal, Quebec:

I found the Institute on Canadian Bibliography an excellent presentation on the book as artifact and on compiling bibliographies. I really had very little idea of this, as I have just finished library studies, and the courses I took did not have the same practical application as this workshop provided.

Pat Fleming presented a great deal of information in an interesting fashion. The opportunity to have hands-on experience and feedback was very important. The many experts in the field participating in the workshops were a bonus. I learned a great deal from meeting and talking with them. The fact that the workshop was held in the National Library added to its success, for I enjoyed the ambience and the opportunity to tour the Library and talk to the librarians.

I have no real suggestions for changes to subsequent programs. The week presented much new information and gave me an opportunity to learn something of the work bibliographers do and of the opportunities for work still to be done.

From Ralph Stanton, Collections Librarian, W.A.C. Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia:

I found the pre-course reading list very useful, but I thought it was probably too extensive, so I made use mainly of the asterisked items in preparing for the course. The instructors were certainly well-chosen, well-prepared and effective in their presentations. I felt the core of the course was the work on collation and that that portion of the course could have had a bit more time devoted to it. I also think the part on type could have used some audiovisual aids. For example, in A View of Early Typography by Harry Carter, there is a wonderful set of photographs showing the creation of type from the punch to the final piece of type. Slides of this sequence would be very useful.

The field trips were appropriate. The highlight for me was the conservation lab and the rare books/special collections. I found myself wanting more time in each place. The National Library has a real treasure in the conservation lab, since all the tools and explanatory elements are present. For example, the displays of book-binding leather were extremely interesting, but we only had a few minutes to see them and speak about them. I would have loved to get close to the monotype casting machine at the National Museum of Science and Technology and see how it actually works. The visit to Papertrail was excellent, since it taught us the reality of papermaking in the old method.

The video tape on the format and collation of hand-pressed period books was very good and the hand-outs continue to be useful. The display of Canadian bookbindings was a real treat. The best part of the course was the excellent instruction, and the field trips  --  especially within the National Library.

For someone from the west coast to have the opportunity to meet and work with so many professionals with such a high level of expertise was a feast. I enjoyed the entire course and I think you have all done a splendid job. Inspiring!