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Murdoch University Library SF Collection
Jul. 26th, 2010 07:47 pmI thought it would be best to know what is happening at Murdoch library, so, rather than rely on rumour I called the Library Collections Manager, Ms Del Shiers.
I didn’t ask about the details of Grant Stone’s employment, as I felt this was a private thing. For all I know, Grant is happy to retire.
I did ask about the library’s future plans for acquiring in the area of SF, as I think this is an area of general, public concern. Ms Shiers said that no decision has yet been made, but the library is operating with a very tight budget and it is difficult to justify collecting in areas that are not of direct relevance to Murdoch’s teaching and research priorities. She suggested that the collecting might not continue to the same extent, and reiterated that no decision has yet been made.
I found her really helpful and direct, and I could see that she was in a difficult position.
I told her that I was on ASFF and would forward this information to ASFF and WASFF.
This is the situation as I currently understand it. I urge no particular action on anyone, but I will personally write to her and to the Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities encouraging them to continue to collect in this area. In the end, it come down to cold hard cash, but I think that at the least they should be aware of the value of the Murdoch SF collection to WA as a whole.
I didn’t ask about the details of Grant Stone’s employment, as I felt this was a private thing. For all I know, Grant is happy to retire.
I did ask about the library’s future plans for acquiring in the area of SF, as I think this is an area of general, public concern. Ms Shiers said that no decision has yet been made, but the library is operating with a very tight budget and it is difficult to justify collecting in areas that are not of direct relevance to Murdoch’s teaching and research priorities. She suggested that the collecting might not continue to the same extent, and reiterated that no decision has yet been made.
I found her really helpful and direct, and I could see that she was in a difficult position.
I told her that I was on ASFF and would forward this information to ASFF and WASFF.
This is the situation as I currently understand it. I urge no particular action on anyone, but I will personally write to her and to the Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities encouraging them to continue to collect in this area. In the end, it come down to cold hard cash, but I think that at the least they should be aware of the value of the Murdoch SF collection to WA as a whole.
