Gardening in the Library?!

Gardening in the Library: Weeding at Hart House Library

By Katya Pereyaslavska (Library Curator) and Stephen Spong (Special Projects)

Hart House Library, nestled away in a quiet corner of the University of Toronto’s Hart House, is a unique and very special collection. Established in 1919 by the Massey family, the library has served a diverse community over the past ninety-two years, reflecting the changing faces of Hart House. Currently, the library, which would fit right in at Hogwarts, holds some 5,000 volumes on its intricately carved and stained-wood shelves; however, it is only now that a proper weeding project has been initiated with the help of twenty student volunteers.

The most difficult aspect of this project is to actually get started on it or, perhaps more accurately, deciding how it should be initiated and how to implement it most effectively. What is to be done with all the past donations comprising of outdated textbooks and poorly-maintained cheap editions of Huckleberry Finn? Should they be assessed or should we just create a “sale truck” where volumes in question can be sold off to raise funds for the library? Are they worth anything? Should they be donated instead? Where do we even start?! These questions and more make laying the groundwork a delicate operation.

While attempting to come to terms with this conundrum, we came upon Zotero, which offered the solution we were looking for. Available as a small, free download, Zotero – a plug-in for Firefox, rather than a stand-alone program – allows one to extract and edit library records from any catalogue record viewed in the browser – from WorldCat, public and academic libraries and even Library Thing where the Hart House Library recently uploaded its catalogue.

Having offered several training sessions and sent out links to online tutorials, the next step was dividing volunteers into teams responsible for specific sections of the library. From there, we have created subject-specific folders corresponding with the appropriate section of the library, and then each one has subfolders named “replace”, “deaccession” and “not found.” This allows for a simple, methodical approach.

The “replace” folder is intended to include classics and must-haves for our library that are currently in poor condition or outdated. Due to the increasingly high cost of book repairs and our modest budget, the library cannot afford to replace all books which are in poor condition. Our aim is to be able to buy newer and more attractive hardcover volumes to replace shabby and overused paperbacks, instead of spending a fortune on repairs. However, before any volumes from this folder are replaced, we shall run the list by a rare book specialist to advise us as to whether it might contain any valuable items in which case we might decide to splurge on repairs or donate these volumes to the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto.

The “deaccession” folder will contain books that are obviously in need of weeding because they are old textbooks or items that do not fit well into the overall character of the collection. The drafting of newly updated Collection Development and Mission Statement documents that were subsequently distributed to the volunteers provides a clear framework within which to work. More often than not assigning sections based on individual background and expertise allows for a more critical approach to weeding as well as encouraging students to actively participate in compiling lists of contributions for acquisitions.

The Hart House Library is currently in the process of working through the sections and waiting for the folders to be filled with lists of books. The wonderful thing about Zotero is that it actually allows for the exporting of content to spreadsheets as well as for the editing of imported records to change publishing information and add notes on anything (which is especially useful for condition reports). This will prove to be quite useful when studying this part of our collection and making joint decisions with administration. Although the library is small, this makes the project all the more manageable, as well as a fantastic training ground for our volunteer-based staff of library students.

Published in the Special Librarian Association's "The Courier"

http://toronto.sla.org/the-courier/volume-48/v48-n2-winter-2011/gardening-in-the-library-weeding-at-hart-house-library

The Chronicles of Canada Series

Now available at the Hart House Library, the Chronicles of Canada Series was intended as a collection of books on Canadian history for popular reading. Notable contributors to the series include Stephen Leacock and William Stewart Wallace, among others, and the series begins from the history of Aboriginals in Canada and ends with the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. While not regarded as fiction, the prose used throughout most of the books is quite captivating, especially in The Cariboo Trail, a work about the Gold Rush that took place in British Columbian fields, and The War Chief of the Six Nations. Each book can be read in just a few hours, as there are few words per page and many illustrations, so what better way to satiate your curiosity about Canada’s past than to dip into this wonderful series. The books are bound in a decorative cover, which fits perfectly with the library’s historic character.


The series includes:

1 - The Dawn of Canadian History - A Chronicle of Aboriginal Canada
2 - The Mariner of St Malo - A Chronicle of the Voyages of Jacques Cartier
3 - The Founder of New France - A Chronicle of Champlain
4 - The Jesuit Missions - A Chronicle of the Cross in the Wilderness
5 - The Seigneurs of Old Canada - A Chronicle of New-World Feudalism
6 - The Great Intendant - A Chronicle of Jean Talon in Canada 1665-1672
7 - The Fighting Governor - A Chronicle of Frontenac
8 - The Great Fortress - A Chronicle of Louisbourg 1720-1760
9 - The Acadian Exiles - A Chronicle of the Land of Evangeline
10 - The Passing of New France - A Chronicle of Montcalm
11 - The Winning of Canada - A Chronicle of Wolf
12 - The Father of British Canada - A Chronicle of Carleton
13 - The United Empire Loyalists - A Chronicle of the Great Migration
14 - The War with the United States - A Chronicle of 1812
15 - The War Chief of the Ottawas - A Chronicle of the Pontiac War
16 - The War Chief of the Six Nations - A Chronicle of Joseph Brant
17 - Tecumseh - A Chronicle of the Last Great Leader of His People
18 - The ''Adventurers of England'' on Hudson Bay - A Chronicle of the Fur Trade in the North
19 - Pathfinders of the Great Plains - A Chronicle of La Vérendrye and his Sons
20 - Adventurers of the Far North - A Chronicle of the Frozen Seas
21 - The Red River Colony - A Chronicle of the Beginnings of Manitoba
22 - Pioneers of the Pacific Coast - A Chronicle of Sea Rovers and Fur Hunters
23 - The Cariboo Trail - A Chronicle of the Gold-fields of British Columbia
25 - The 'Patriotes' of '37 - A Chronicle of the Lower Canada Rebellion
26 - The Tribune of Nova Scotia - A Chronicle of Joseph Howe
27 - The Winning of Popular Government - A Chronicle of the Union of 1841
28 - The Fathers of Confederation - A Chronicle of the Birth of the Dominion
29 - The Day of Sir John Macdonald - A Chronicle of the First Prime Minister of the Dominion
30 - The Day of Sir Wilfrid Laurier - A Chronicle of Our Own Time
31 - All Afloat - A Chronicle of Craft and Waterways
32 - The Railway Builders - A Chronicle of Overland Highways

Green Books

Hart House Library is holding an eco book drive from March 21 to 28, 2011. "What's an eco book drive?" you might ask...well, I'm glad you did! We are looking for donations (from you! and your friends! and your family! and your colleagues!) of environmentally-themed books to help round out and update the Hart House Library collection.

Since Hart House Library is mainly a browsing library, existing to provide casual pleasure reading for patrons, we are looking for current, stimulating, interesting books on all aspects of environmental living. This could include: books on sustainable living, alternative energy, farming & gardening, composting, eco-tourism, farmer's markets, eco-design, green politics...chances are, if you think it's an eco book, we will too. We are specifically looking for books published since 2000 and in good condition, but no textbooks please.

So go through your shelves at home, and see if you have any eco-themed books that you are prepared to part with and share with the world. For bonus points, send this information to your friends, family and co-workers. Bring your donations to the Hub (the main desk at Hart House) and deposit them in the donation box. With your help, we can create an excellent eco book collection at Hrat House Library!

The details:

Who: Hart House Library
What: Eco Book Drive
Where: Donation box at the Hub (main desk inside the West entrance at 7 Hart House Circle)
When: March 21-28, 2011, 7a.m.-11p.m.
Why: To help build our blooming collection!

Looking forward to perusing all those books. If you have any questions, please contact Val Stevens at val.stevens@utoronto.ca

Ode to a Good Read

Ryan Nayler, a second year Masters of Information student, is the contributor of this entry. He praises classic literature, championing the belief that the latest vampire series simply will not be challenging enough for the growth and spirit of many readers. One need only take a glance at a person's bookshelf to gain a greater sense of who that person is. In this post, Nayler suggests that the language we use also comprises our personalities. The image below captures Hart House Library, circa 1942.

My fascination with fiction began through my intrigue with the archetypal figure you might call the ‘deviant gentleman’ (i.e. Dorian Gray, Jekyll & Hyde, Notes from the Underground, etc.). Classy, yet somewhat villainous, through literature I could not resist the urge to tap into these intriguing anomalies of the human psyche. The historic settings and situations evoked the sort of nostalgia and ambiance that is often attributed to literature, but only experienced when you begin to pour over the pages of immersive, eloquent prose, even though some patience is often required. Fifth Business, by the prolific Canadian author Robertson Davies, illustrates this quite well, as the narrator gradually conjures up a haunting atmosphere, where the fates of numerous people become gradually interwoven in such an intricate way that one cannot help but appreciate the calculation and artistry that must have gone into crafting such a story.

A film director might adopt the philosophy, “show, don’t tell”, although a writer realizes that the process of translating what we see and perceive into language helps us understand it much better. In one page, one line even, a clever writer can make us look at that which we have seen a million times in a different light. Thoreau’s Walden is a diary-come-to-life that depicts the connection of a man with nature through vivid articulation of thought, feeling, and philosophy, which cannot be as clearly illustrated through any other medium. I love film as much as the next person but, in this regard, it doesn’t come close to literature.

Librarians and educators seeking to promote sustained reading in this hurried digital era should explore exactly what sets short stories and novels apart from other mediums. Reader’s advisory programs need to include works which best exemplify these qualities which are idiosyncratic to print. Promoting the latest vampire fiction series may encourage literacy among some teens, but educators should also select classics which challenge the common preconceptions that older literature is too dense, inaccessible, or unappealing to younger audiences. Jack London’s Sea Wolf is a personal favourite that I would recommend to any budding, or seasoned, reader. Its antagonist (or protagonist, depending on your perspective), Wolf Larsen, is one of the most fascinating fictional characters I have encountered. Wolf is the ruthless captain of a ship who uses Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest philosophy to justify his tyrannical command of the schooner. He is also described as a sort of beast, with superhuman strength, although the reader is made to sympathize with him. The story is one of an affluent literary critic who inadvertently boards a rogue pirate ship, and is appalled to discover that anarchy prevails among the cutthroat crew, and life appears to be cheap and disposable.

Books such as Sea Wolf, historical fiction, and fantasy or gothic horror novels provide readers with a healthy escape from reality, while still promoting intellectual growth. However, there is a final merit of literature that I would like to highlight. Beyond our interests, or fashion styles, the language we use helps to make up our personality. Language is an art form and a personality trait, and this is perhaps the greatest appeal of poetry. Everyone has their favourite poetic lines or verses, those which really seem to resonate with them because they just love the way the poet captured the essence of something, or made a distinct statement that was deeper than the superficial personality indicators I’ve alluded to. Perhaps it is owing to the fact that the process of reading itself is more active than merely observing something, requiring us to decode, interpret, and compelling us to take notice of the details often overlooked in everyday life. Even as the usefulness of reading fiction remains a topic of debate, there is always something unique and nostalgic about the experience of curling up in front of the fire with an extravagant tale. Hmmm, I know just the place where you can do this!

The image above is of Robertson Davies, circa 1984.
...Feel free to comment with your favourite poetic lines or verses.

More Fun Additions for Fall Reading

Hart House Library continues to get new acquisitions that will whet several types of appetite! Some of the new books you can find on our shelves include:

The Boardwalk Jungle (Ovid Demaris; History) gives a history of the development of Atlantic City as a gambling resort, and a lot of the backroom dealing and underworld elements that built it up. If you’re excited about the new HBO show Boardwalk Empire, this book may be a great selection.

The Politics Of Housework (edited by Ellen Malos; Generalities) combines Feminist essays and debates from the 60’s and 70’s, discussing women’s role with domestic labour. If your interested in the shifting role of women from previous generations to the present, highlighted by shows such as Mad Men, then this book may be an exciting exploration for you.

On the spiritual front, we also have Stories for the Six Worlds: Micmac Legends (Ruth Holmes Whitehead; Canadiana), Greek Myths: With Selected Episodes from the Trojan War (edited by Olivia Coolidge; Generalities) and Mythology (Edith Hamilton; Generalities). I personally have always loved reading about Native American legends and other mythologies – no matter in what tradition your spirituality lies, reading about other cultures’ traditions can offer insight into spiritual life and the world around us. Delving into stories or traditions can offer an exciting perspective we are not normally accustomed to.

Also on the topic of spirituality, or at least 'spirits,' Bluenose Ghosts (Helen Creighton; Canadiana), is a folklore of real experiences of ghosts in the Maritimes, an area known for having a lot of hauntings. This book is renowned for its legitimacy, so it may be the perfect reading material if you like thinking about what may be left over in an old lighthouse or colonial barracks.

Some other interesting books that have recently come into our collection are:

History: 20 Years Of Rolling Stone: What A Long Strange Trip It's Been by Jann S. Wenner

Generalities: Fear Of Falling – The Inner Life Of The Middle Class by Barbara Ehrenreich

University: The Prevailing Influence: Hart House And The Group Of Seven by Catharine D. Siddall

Fiction: Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Canadian Poetry: The Nightmare Alphabet by Sean O’Huigin

Hart House has many books that may be a great escape during the quiet first weeks of school, or anytime you need a break. Pop up to see us and you may just find what you never knew you were looking for!

Richard III...minus Al Pacino.

"Conscience is but a word that cowards use, Devised at first to keep the strong in awe."
--Richard in Act V, Scene III

Sir William Shakespeare's Ricahrd III will be playing at the Hart House Theatre from September 15th until October 2nd. To prepare yourself for this historical affair, why not stop by the Hart House Library first and familiarize yourself with the play?

Richard is suave, calculating and brutal. Come and meet one of Shakespeare's greatest villains!

Student tickets are available for $12, as well as $10 student tickets on Wednesday nights. Visit http://www.harthouse.ca/hart-house-theatre/richard-iii to find out more.

James Reaney, [b.1926-2008]

On the first of this month was the birthday of beloved James Reaney, a Canadian poet, playwright, professor and critic. He was born in South Easthope Ontario and led a thoroughly literary life, inspired by the noteworthy Northrop Frye. Reaney was awarded his PhD, here at the University of Toronto, in 1958. Having taught at both the University of Western and the University of Manitoba, Reaney's accomplishments did not end with his students. He won three Governor General's Awards and launched a successful career in writing drama. Several of his plays have been performed at Hart House's very own Theatre.

Beginning in September, the Hart House Library dedicated a display to several of James Reaney's books to begin educating people about his influence on Canadian literary culture.

James Reaney's style has been referred to as "Southern Ontario Gothic." Margaret Atwood was also quoted as saying that without "[Reaney's short story] The Bully, my fiction would have followed other paths."

"Clouds"

These clouds are soft white horses
That draw Weather in his wagon
Who bears in his old hands
Streaked whips and strokes of lightning.
The hooves of his cattle are made
Of limp water, that stamp
Upon the roof during a storm
And fall from dripping eaves;
Yes these hooves have worn away mountains
In their trotting over Earth.
And for manes these clouds
Have the soft and various winds
That still can push
A ship into sea
And for neighs, the sable thunder.

Reaney's poetry demonstrated a true playfulness, as shown in "Ice Cream," a poem from his collection Souwesto Home, currently on display at the Hart House Library.

"Ice Cream"

The local poet is riding his bike uptown
On a fairly hot summer day
Bent on Jumbo's Ice Cream Booth
Before mailing a poem to Chimaera at the Post Office
At Jumbo's Ice Cream Booth there are
Thirty flavours including --
Licorice, fudge, lemon, orange, apple, grape,
Banana, chocolate, cherry, Maple Walnut (my favourite)
Vanilla, of course, peppermint, strawberry, raspberry --
Weren't there some vegetable ones? Do I remember --
Onion ice cream?
And this pair of double dip skim milk flavours
Cost only a nickel each!
And the ceiling was of pressed tin!
So, I plunk down a nickel for a Maple Walnut!
And so out the door bent on making the cone
Last till I reach the Post Office Door --
The Post Office is French Provincial with four clocks.
The poet holds his bicycle up with his left hand.
Walks slowly licking as he proceeds.
Two little girls say scornfully: "He's acting
Just like a little kid!"
But he thinks -- "Isn't that what life is all about?"

One website remarked that James Reaney has treated the contrasting worlds of innocence and experience, the underlying forces of evil in everyone, love's power to redeem and the process of growth from childhood to adolescence and maturity. He has done so with talent and grace. This year, James Reaney would have been 84 years old and his works remain alive with each re-reading. Isn't that what literature is all about?