This is Mr Smith the College Librarian here and the pages that follow are written for our Library lessons this year.
Were I to be asked for two words to describe our Hillcrest Library the two that I would choose are these two: beautiful and interesting.
Our Library is more than a collection of furniture and shelves of books. It is more than little rooms, clocks, photocopiers and lounges. Rather it is a place where, if you choose, you can explore and hopefully discover some amazingly beautiful and interesting things.
So, let me begin with the idea of beautiful. On the walls of our Library you will find a collection of art prints that represent some of the finest art works ever produced. They are so valued, and valuable, that if we were to own the originals, then our collection would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. One of these prints is the painting Iris. It was painted by Vincent Van Gogh in 1890. We have this art print on the wall of our Library because it is one of the most beautiful artifacts that man has ever made.
And it is just one of many, many other beautiful items: paintings, books and artefacts, that our amazing Library holds.
Iris, 1890
Vincent van Gogh
Dutch, 1853 - 1890
oil on thinned cardboard, mounted on canvas
62.2 x 48.3 cm
Purchased 1954
National Gallery of Canada (no. 6294)
Now let me talk to you about the second word that I think describes our Library: interesting.
Interesting has notions of curiosity and being inquisitive. It can also mean, perhaps, even being a little bit "nosey".
Our Library is a place where not only can you experience beautiful objects but also where you can find those things that are interesting to you. This is very important. Not only our Library, but all Libraries, are places where you are able to find and discover things that interest you. And you are entitled to be given them. Almost without exception if you want to discover something, then Librarians will help you find it.
Let me give an example of how I think this works:
Imagine that you are a little boy or girl who has just been given a guinea pig. You are wanting to find out how to care for it. In this Library, and in all Libraries in Australia, you are entitled to be given information on guinea pigs. So that little boy or girl, no matter how young (or old), when that person comes into our Library that person has the privilege, at least in Australia, of been given the information that they want.
It is almost like they are allowed to use a big lever that when it is pushed causes a big machine to start up and, soon, information on guinea pigs comes out- maybe a book, maybe a magazine or maybe a web site.
What will happen this year in Library is that we want to show you how to work these levers-the levers that will make the machinery work that will produce the things that you want.
Andrew Smith
Librarian