Library News

Over the past few months, a group led by Iain Foreman LBPA, AIAS, FISP, a professional photographer, has volunteered to examine, conserve, and catalog the extensive collection of old photographic material held in the society library. In the main, this contains 10" x 8.5", 6" x 7", and 5" x 4" glass negatives along with lantern slides, some of which are hand-tinted, and a few stereoscopic slides. Some date to the 1860s. There is also a collection of prints plus, of course, bound and loose engravings, lithographs, etc. On December 19th, 1992, a meeting was held and a group formed to be known as the 'Visual Records Group'. Since then, several meetings have been held and substantial progress made. It was decided to ask members to contribute any photographic collections or single items of archaeological, ecclesiastical, industrial, or topographical interest or indeed any other relevant material. This could be done as an outright gift, loan, or by sending to us to copy and return the originals. It is our hope that in the near future we can publish parts of our collection by way of slides for lecture use, postcards, booklets, or by commercial use, even to produce our own calendar and, of course, in our own publicity. We would also be interested in hearing from members who may be able to help in taking photographs at excavations, sites, building recording, etc. and will be issuing guidelines to help you. The idea is to be able to help any local group in need of a photographer for a special project or even an emergency need for photography, e.g. of a threatened site or building. Photographs of meetings, special occasions, outings, etc., are useful for records of the K.A.S. at work and so promoting our activities, e.g. in the press.

If material is given/loaned, you will be asked to sign an agreement to pass copyright to the K.A.S. The reason for this is to save time and any problems should the work be used in the commercial world when a copyright form would have to be agreed and signed before publication, perhaps many years later. If requested, members can at the same time reserve their rights to fees, restrictions on publication, and to be credited by name. It would be helpful if affiliated societies and groups would at this stage supply a named person 'photographic liaison officer' so that contact can be made at short notice on either side. Any person who considers they could help should feel welcome to write to our Group at Maidstone Museum, giving details of any collection or photographs they may have or if they can assist photographically. Iain Foreman or one of the committee members will contact you in due course. Rochester upon Medway City Archives and the local Studies section of the Medway Group of Kent County Council Libraries have joined to form a Local Studies Centre at the Clocktower, Civic Centre, Strood, ME2 4AW. Genealogical sources such as parish records, census returns, and local directories can now be consulted at one location. Researchers will find a wide range of printed material, maps, and illustrations as well as local government and diocesan records relating to the area. Booking is necessary only if there is a need to examine archival material or items held on microfilm or microfiche such as census returns or local newspapers. Open Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays, 9 am to 6 pm, and the first and third Saturdays in each month, 9 am to 1 pm. For further details, telephone: 0634 732714.

Peter Draper,
Hon. Librarian, K.A.S.