Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (3rd edition)

摘要

Although only in its third edition, the Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections has a lengthy history, stretching as far back as 1966. This was the year the newly formed Rare Books Group of what was then the Library Association embarked on its flagship project to create a directory of British and Irish rare book collections. This took nearly 20 years to come to fruition with the first edition, under the eventual editorship of Moelwyn Williams (project luminary Stanley Roberts having died before completion), not appearing until 1985. A revised second edition, again produced under the auspices of the Rare Books Group and edited by Barry Bloomfield, who also died before the book appeared in print, was published in 1997. There then followed a gap, perhaps would be editors were deterred by the fate that befell Roberts and Bloomfield, before work began on this third edition nearly three years ago. The Directory is again produced under the auspices of the same special interest group of the Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP, previously the Library Association), whose revised title of Rare Books and Special Collections Group now mirrors that of its lead publication. The new editor is Karen Attar, Curator of Rare Books and University Art at Senate House Library, University of London. Attar's blog on the trials and tribulations of producing this edition can be found at http://specialcollectionsdirectory.wordpress.com. The book continues to be published by CILIP under its Facet Publishing imprint.