Post on 12-Jul-2015
transcript
Dr Rachel Franks
Project Officer, Scholarly Engagement – State Library of NSW
Conjoint Fellow – The University of Newcastle
Libraries for the People: 11th Australian Library History Forum
18-19 November 2014
@cfwriter / #alhf2014
Bodies and Books:Crime Fiction Novels and the History of Libraries
Introduction
Photo: Taken by author, of a volume in her private collection
Collecting Crime Fiction
Photo: Barnes and Noble, http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/2940011823787_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF NEW SOUTH WALES,SYDNEY
SUBJECT-INDEXOF THE BOOKS IN THE
AUTHOR CATALOGUESFOR THE YEARS
1869-1895
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT
SYDNEYTURNER AND HENDERSON, PRINTERS.
1903
FICTION, WORKS OF––– BY COUNTRIES
––––––AMERICAN–––
––––––ARABIC–––
––––––AUSTRALIAN–––[This sub-heading was made in past years to
include not only works of fiction written by Australians, but also those written by other writers, which deal with Australian history, scenes, and adventures.]
––––––AUSTRALASIAN–––contd.–––
The Public Library of New South Wales (Reference Department), Sydney (1903). Subject-Index of the Books in the Author Catalogues for the years 1869-1895, pp. 304-305
21.5% of Titles are Crime Fiction
Library Programming
Albury City LibraryMuseum:
Crime Scene
Photo: Albury City, http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/leisure-and-culture/libraries-and-museum/librarymuseum
Local Studies
Opportunities to explore . . .
•Public Transport Timetables
•Street Frontages
•Floor Plans of Local Buildings
•Product Availability
•Environmental Features
•Local Regulations
A detective and a
librarian walk into a
bar . . .
Detective “Librarian” Dan
Images: Flickr, https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4068/4479445069_b347e8df5d.jpg and https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4068/4479445069_b347e8df5d.jpg
A restoration of order . . .
Images: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Conan_Doyle, Fandom for Equality, http://fandomforequality.com/2013/08/01/representation-my-dear-watson-some-suggestions-for-elementary/ and Elementary Fans, http://elementaryfans.com/elementary-1-19-snow-angels-to-be-rebroadcast-on-december-26/
Libraries aren’t always safe . . .
Image: Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306878162080603377/
The Bibliomystery
Images: Dewey decimated, Good Reads, http://www.goodreads.com/Murder of a stacked librarian, Good Reads, http://www.goodreads.com/Dewey death, Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/117375134013239940/
Images: The Gutenberg murders, The bookshop blog, http://bookshopblog.com/2011/04/20/the-mystery-league-great-crime-fiction-or-only-super-deco-dust-jackets/
The silence of the library, Good Reads, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079480-the-silence-of-the-library
Library History in Crime Fiction
Themes include . . .
•Attitudes
•Class
•Gender
•Race
•Environmental Change
•Technological Change
Or how things stay the same . . .
QUIET PLEASETHIS ROOM IS FOR PRIVATE STUDY ONLY
NO CARRY BAGS PERMITTED
Reilly, M. (1996/2008). Contest, p. 61
Photos: Taken by author, of volumes in her private collection
Tough guys need libraries too
Photos: Taken by author, of volumes in her private collection
Crime may indeed repell (sic), but – it fascinates, always.
Gask, A.C. (1923). The Red Paste Murders, p. 255
Photo: Taken by author, of a volume in her private collection
Thanks to. . .
•Ellen Forsyth
•Michelle Head
•Maggie Patton
•Richard Neville
•Anne Doherty
•Edwina Duffy
•Dr David Jones Questions?
•@cfwriter
•crimefictionwriter at gmail dot com