New Principles for Old Libraries? Collection development policies in the historic setting

Report of the 15th Annual General Meeting
in Guildford, 2004

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The AIL held its annual meeting at the Guildford Institute of the University of Surrey on Saturday, 19 June 2004. This was the Association's first visit to Guildford. The Guildford Institute was founded in 1834 as the Guildford Mechanics' Institute and has enjoyed a partnership with the town's university since 1982.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford, Cllr Keith Taylor and Mrs Lucy Taylor,
with the Association's Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Forster.
Cllr Taylor is holding the new AIL bookmark.

As usual, the event was a convivial one with an emphasis on giving people a chance to network. The occasion also offered the opportunity to explore the host institution and other places of local interest. There was a welcome reception in the Institute's Assembly Room on the evening of Friday, 18 June 2004, hosted by the Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford, Cllr Keith Taylor and Mrs Lucy Taylor. The Mayor welcomed delegates from as far away as Newcastle upon Tyne and Penzance to their fifteenth annual gathering. Miss Sue Telfer, Chairman of the Institute's Library Committee, drew attention to a fascinating exhibition on writers inspired by Surrey, presented by Surrey County Council with additional paragraphs and books from the Institute's collections.

Delegates to the Guildford annual meeting enjoy the welcome reception.

The annual meeting itself commenced at the Guildford Institute on the Saturday morning with a welcome and introduction by Professor John Harding, Chairman of the Management Committee. Two talks followed by Guildford Institute members. Russell Chamberlin spoke on The history and character of the Guildford Institute describing the Institute's significant past role in the life of Guildford, its gradual decline along with other institutions of its type and the successful efforts to save it and to re-endow it with energy and purpose. Matthew Alexander's talk, entitled Libraries, museums and myths, drew attention to famous local traditions of surprisingly recent origin, such as the Pilgrim's Way and the early history of Guildford's 'Sword of State', which were perpetuated in writings on Guildford and Surrey but which had no foundation in fact.

Mrs Clare Miles, Librarian of the Guildford Institute, Mr Peter Read,
and Mrs Annabelle Read, Librarian of the Morrab Library in Penzance.

Clare Miles, Librarian of the Guildford Institute, then took delegates on a tour of the library. The projected building alterations would, she hoped, include a refurbishment of what were unworkable shelving arrangements and the provision of additional storage space in the basement.

Mrs Clare Miles, Librarian of the Guildford Institute,
conducting the tour of her library.

After lunch (a key feature of any AIL annual meeting and a particularly splendid example in Guildford), delegates visited two important local landmarks in the town of Guildford. Dr Richard Christophers, formerly of the British Library, led a tour around the Royal Grammar School (founded between 1557 and 1566) which boasts an ancient chained library given by Bishop Parkhurst and now housed in the headmaster's office. Delegates then visited the Hospital of the Blessed Trinity, a complex of almshouses founded by Archbishop George Abbot in 1691 that still provides accommodation to the elderly members of the local community today. They were given a tour of the Hospital by the former Master, Mr John Moss.

 
The visit to the chained library at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford.
and to the Hospital of the Blessed Trinity, Guildford.

On returning to the Guildford Institute, the formal business of the gathering took place - the annual general meeting - with Mr Geoffrey Forster in the chair. The annual report and accounts reported a year of increased activity, not the least of which was the work undertaken on the AIL's website by Dr Fergus Wilde at Chetham's Library, Manchester, and the design and production of a bookmark advertising the website guided by Mrs Krystyna Smithers, the Association's Secretary.

An important part of the AGM is the president's address which was given by Dr Robert Anderson, the recently retired Director of the British Museum. Dr Anderson looked ahead to an expanding association in terms of both the number of members and the goals pursued. He is to present the AIL's greetings and is to refer to its activities and future aims at the first international gathering of mechanics' institutes and athenaeums in Melbourne, Australia, in September 2004.

The meeting concluded with a lively discussion centring on possible future projects and opportunities for co-operation between Association Members and other like-minded bodies such as the Cathedral Libraries and Archives Association and the Historic Libraries Forum.

Following the AGM, delegates enjoyed tea before making their respective journeys home. The Association's thanks are given to everyone at the Guildford Institute for providing such a memorable and enjoyable event. The Association's Members now look forward to a busy year. The 2005 annual meeting will be held at the Saffron Walden Town Library Society.

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