…įrom the outset, there has tended to be a dichotomy between those whose libraries are physically in the north and who are giving library service on the spot, vis à vis those whose libraries are physically in the more southerly latitudes but whose collections are oriented to the north. The term “colloquy” was chosen over “seminar”, “symposium”, “conference”, etc., in that its definition – a conversational exchange dialogue – most aptly described the purpose of the meetings. Thus, with the third meeting, the official title has become Northern Libraries Colloquy. Though initially the official title for the colloquies was Colloquy on Northern Library Resources, it was soon evident that Northern Libraries Colloquy was the remembered title. Thus the colloquy at CRREL in Hanover included a visit to the Stefansson Collection at Dartmouth College, in England the participants were made aware of the facilities of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and other British library resources. …Įach meeting is hosted by a library with significant northern resources one of the aims is to acquaint the librarians with the resources of the host Institute and the surrounding area. Participants from Norway, Finland, Denmark, England, Germany and France attended as well as those from Canada, Alaska and mainland United States. However the third meeting (June, 1973) saw more European involvement as it was held at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, England. Again, the only non-North American participant was Harry King from England. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory) facility in Hanover, New Hampshire. The second meeting was held the following June at the CRREL (U.S. As the two days of sessions were very fruitful, it was decided to continue the meetings … All the delegates were from North America with one notable exception Harry King, librarian of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, England. … The responses indicated that the idea was viable and twenty-five librarians were able to attend. Invitations were sent to representative librarians enclosing a questionnaire to be completed regarding their library’s resources. Peel, and a representative from the School of Library Science, H.
The committee included representatives from both sponsoring Institutes, the Librarian of the University of Alberta, B. Jamieson, Assistant Director of the Boreal Institute for Northern Studies. The first colloquy was exploratory, – was it a good idea? Would these librarians have anything in common to discuss? – and was planned by a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. The idea was that numbers should be limited so as to allow the greatest possible informal exchange between participants. From the outset it was agreed that these meetings would be invitational and limited to those librarians whose collections were either physically in the circumpolar north or whose libraries served as a major resource for researchers and other interested in the north. It was jointly sponsored by the Boreal Institute for Northern Studies and the Arctic Institute of North America. Thus the first Colloquy on Northern Library Resources was held in Edmonton at the University of Alberta in June, 1971. Professor Bond agreed that such a meeting would be beneficial and offered the Boreal Institute as the conference site. Bond, then Director of the Boreal Institute for Northern Studies in Edmonton. Shortly after, Garth Graham visited Professor J.J. Garth Graham in charge of a library giving services to the Yukon, and Nora Corley Murchsion, then in charge of a library giving services to researchers and others interested in northern regions, but from a library not located in a northern region, (namely, the Arctic Institute of North America in Montreal) thought it would be a good idea for librarians whose libraries were oriented towards northern regions to get together to exchange ideas and information about each others’ collections and needs.
“The Northern Libraries Colloquies are the result of a casual conversation between two librarians some five to six years ago.
28 of the Boreal Institute for Northern Studies.) (Nita) Cooke in Library Association of Alberta, vol. (Excerpts from “The Northern Libraries Colloquy: a brief history” by Geraldine A. A Brief History of the Polar Libraries Colloquy/Northern Libraries Colloquy 1971 to 1973 – The first three colloquies