Science
- Evolutionary ecology research
- Horticultural research
- Plant diversity research
- Plant pathology research
- Herbarium & resources
- Scientific publications
Library NewsJudy Blood - Senior Librarian Library news 2010-2011Oral HistoryNow in its fifth year, volunteer John Pearce and others have clocked up 60 interviews with Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust directors, staff past and present, volunteers, friends and other people with close connections to the history of the Gardens. Some wonderful stories and previously unknown history have come to light, as well as invaluable family photos. Most recordings have been transcribed thanks to an injection of funds in 2010. The list of prospective interviewees is long and growing. Highgrove FlorilegiumSue and Rob Maple-Brown purchased the Highgrove Florilegium for the Library. Prince Charles commissioned artists from around the world to contribute botanical art to this two-volume work. The plants included all grow at his Highgrove estate. Proceeds are to go to charity. The Highgrove is a work of craftsmanship with every aspect done by hand including printing, binding, endpapers and marbled and leather covers. Display CaseBotanical artist and Florilegium Society committee member Deirdre Bean donated funds for the construction of a secure display cabinet capable of displaying the Highgrove. We have never had the capacity to display such large works in the Red Box Gallery before. Now volumes from our extraordinary collection will be able to go on show. The display case is a work of art in itself. It was especially designed and built by the Trust's highly skilled carpenter Marc Dieckmann. He copied a 19th century display case he found in the State Library of New South Wales and adapted it to our needs. Reverend Rupp DonationThe Paterson Historical Society donated a framed orchid illustration done by the Australian orchid specialist Reverend Rupp, who had a long association with the Royal Botanic Garden in the time of Director J.H. Maiden. Florilegium SocietyThe stunning Florilegium works were put on display in the Red Box Gallery from September to November 2010. The collection now comprises 24 paintings, all donated to the Trust by the artists. It is hoped that there will be between 50 and 60 works by the time of the bicentennial exhibition. Rare Book Cataloguing ProjectThe present focus of the project is to locate books that have come from the libraries of such 19th century luminaries as director J.H.Maiden and colonial surgeon George Bennett. Library news 2008-2009Foundation NightThe Library and Foundation held a fund-raising evening in August 2008, with an extensive display of many of the Library’s treasures. The project to raise $1.2 million for the Library’s development was launched just as the global financial crisis hit in earnest. Despite this $44,000 has been raised so far, spread over 5 years. Rare Book Cataloguing ProjectWith Foundation funds, the Library has started the Rare Book Cataloguing Project, employing a part-time cataloguer. Already some very interesting stories about the publication, annotations and provenance of many volumes have been discovered. The catalogue records will record many of these stories. Also recorded will be binding and conservation information, identifying priorities for conservation treatment and possible digitisation projects should funds become available. Each book is being covered in protective acid-free plastic. Pteridological DisplayThe Library was visited by the International Pteridological Society, as part of their tour of the Garden. They expressed admiration of the Library’s display of rare fern books and albums, particularly Sir William Hooker’s Genera Filicum. Hooker project & Catalyst programItems from the Library’s collections and interviews with Miguel Garcia were filmed by both the ABC’s Catalyst program (broadcast in August) and by Peter Donaldson for his 2-part documentary on Sir Joseph Hooker. PhD on the GardensHistorian Jodi Frawley has been researching the resources of the Library and the Herbarium in recent years for her PhD Botanical Knowledges, Settling Australia. Sydney Botanic Gardens, 1896-1924. She has produced 2 prize-winning historical articles about Wattle and Prickly Pear and a number of articles relating to the Sydney Botanic Gardens. They continue the work of her Honours thesis Information, People Place. Global Botanical Information Networks and Local Nineteenth Century Australian Botanic Gardens. DVD CollectionThe Library has started a DVD collection including documentaries on Darwin, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the Eden Project, the David Attenborough series, Around the World in 80 Gardens and the gardens of Heligan, Alnwick and Longwood. Photographic MilestoneStalwart volunteer Evelyn Shervington has finished the indexing of 73 folders and boxes of historic photographs, continuing the work of the photographic team. Later these can be converted into online catalogue records with images (when public-access server and funding is available). Florilegium Society DisplayA major display of contemporary and historical works of botanical illustration and art was laid out for the artist members of the Florilegium Society at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. These artists have contributed artworks to the Trust, to be held in the Library’s collection. The first stunning artworks produced by the Florilegium Society were exhibited in the Red Box Gallery from September to November 2008. Extra IT resourcesThe two multimedia workstation now have wide-screen, high-end monitors for image processing (courtesy of the Friends), both now have scanners and one has OCR (optical character recognition). This will directly benefit the Library’s ongoing digitisation projects. The three staff workstations now have dual screens, making handling high volumes of complex work much more efficient. |
Dr Cameron Archer and Val Anderson of the Paterson Historical Society donating an original Reverend H.M.R. Rupp orchid illustration to Library staff (on left).
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