posted on 2024-09-06, 05:49authored byAlbert Harrison
In a study of the function of the academic library, specifically, the university library, the historical method is particularly suitable. For, according to the renowned English historian, Stephen Potter:
History is a gambit. More precisely the writing of history is a double or treble gambit. It is a way of saying ‘I think’ and ‘what about this’ in a tone which is supposed, simply by adding the word ‘History’ to silence argument.
It lis also a way of saying ‘Nothing surprises me because it’s all happened before, if not more so.’ It is a method therefore of making recent events seem a good deal less remarkable than people who have the temerity to write about recent events would lead us to suppose.
The development of the modern concept of librarian- ship in universities exemplifies this, and a review of the history of certain features of academic libraries will, I hope, show how it does so, and why the modern concept has arisen.
An inaugural lecture given in 1973 at the University College of Rhodesia by its Librarian, Mr. Albert Harrison.
History
Publisher
University College of Rhodesia (now UZ)
Citation
Harrison, A. (1973) The release of the muses: an inaugural lecture given in the University of Rhodesia. Salisbury: University of Rhodesia.
IDS Item Types
Other; Book
Copyright holder
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) (formerly University College of Rhodesia)