Week 1 Starting with books

I started my research with the aims of finding some effective search terms and some books to provide comprehensive, in depth information on my topic.

I began with the State Library of Victoria Catalogue, selcted for its authoritative information and quality subject headings. After a keyword and more accurate subject search, "children's libraries history" proved to be an effective search term, however, few items were available. The relevant titles were in off-site storage and required a one day wait for retrieval. I requested two items and visited the SLV to study them. I gained a thorough understanding of the history of children's libraries in the United States generally and in Bendigo, Victoria. I also found some cute photographs! This research helped me to clarify the scope of my topic - I decided to focus on public children's libraries, rather than school or private children's libraries. I really enjoyed reading in the domed and Redmond Barry Reading Rooms, however, this process is obviously time consuming.

I found the ideas about why children's libraries developed interesting. Australia's development of children's libraries seemed to be influenced by the United States and Great Britain but to have ocurred later in the twentieth centruy in Bendigo - I wanted to look for information about an urban area in Victoria and perhaps other Australian states to compare. I also wanted to look for information particular to Great Britain to see if ideas were similar or different to those of the United States.

I next searched Swinburne University LibraryCatalogue, selected as a quality, academic source of information. Given that the amount of material I found so far was limited, I broadened my search to "public libraries". This was successful in finding items particular to Fitzroy, Melbourne and Great Britain. I was pleased to find Contents notes in some catalogue entries which made selecting relevant books easier - even though subject headings did not include the term "children's" there appeared to be relevant chapters. Next, I'll collect my books from Swinburne library and see what is revealed.