Anti-Slavery journals available online in British Periodicals e-resource

Library members interested in slavery may be interested in looking at the British Periodicals database, available in the library.

ProQuest's British Periodicals is a large database of periodicals, charting the development and growth of the periodical press in Britain from its origins in the 17th century to the Victorian 'age of periodicals' and beyond. The database includes digital copies of each page of the titles included, in a high resolution bitonal facsimile, and includes illustrations and advertisements. The full text of each publication can be searched.

Some titles of specific interest include:

• Anti-Slavery Reporter (1825-1833)
• Anti-Slavery Reporter and Aborigines' Friend (1840-1931) and
• Freed-man. A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Interests of the Freed Coloured People (1865-1868)

The ability to search the full text of these titles provides much benefit to users as well as helping preserve the print copies retained. Access to databases is via the ULRLS Libraries webpage at http://www.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/resources/databases.asp

Books added to collection in October 2009

New items added to the collection in October covered most of the regions, but with an emphasis on catching up on some cataloguing of publications from the Pacific.

Click to view all items added to the Reference Collection in October

Commonwealth Studies Library Workshops

Our programme of free workshops offer short practical sessions to help you discover and make use of the wealth of information available at the Commonwealth Studies Library. Book your place by emailing icommlib@sas.ac.uk (please indicate any particular areas of interest so workshops can be tailored to your needs)

Colonial Blue Books and Annual Reports: Discover the wealth of statistical and social data contained in these annual reports, full of rich information on all aspects of colonial administration and life in the colonies.
Thursday January 14th, 2.00pm, NG14, Ground Floor Library, Senate House.

Maps: Explore the Senate House Library and Commonwealth Studies map collections and discover how to find maps in other libraries, and hidden in books and reports.
Friday January 29th, 2.00pm, Map Library, Ground Floor Library, Senate House

Finding and using census data for historical research: What information is contained in census reports? What can they tell us about people’s lives? How reliable are census reports and what questions should we ask when using these?
Friday February 12th, 2.00pm, NG14, Ground Floor Library.

Workshops are usually held in the Ground Floor Library, North Block, Senate House, Malet St, London WC1E 7HU. Workshops start at 2.00 and last for approximately an hour. Further details for each workshop will be available closer to the time. Places are limited so please pre-book in advance.

We can also arrange workshops for specific research groups or groups of students. For advice or assistance, telephone David Clover, Commonwealth Studies Librarian, 020 7862 8840 or email icommlib@sas.ac.uk

Corruption Perception Index - Transparency International

Transparency International has recently released its Corruption Percpetion Index, measuring the perceived level of public-sector corruption in 180 countries. The index is produced using a variety of expert and business surveys.

Commonwealth countries appear throughout the spectrum of results, led by New Zealand who leads the poll as being perceived as least corrupt. Also in the top 10 are Singapore (3rd equal with Sweden), and Australia and Canada (who share joint 8th place with Iceland).

Above the worst scoring countries of Somalia and Afghanistan, the lowest Commonwealth (and recent Commonwealth) nations are Papua New Guinea (154th equal), and Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Cameroon (sharing 146th equal with Ecuador, Russia and Timor-Leste).

Transparency International in releasing the Index noted how corruption acted to block good governance and accountability and notes that countries which are perceived as the most corrupt are also those plagued by long-standing conflicts, which have torn apart their governance infrastructure.

You Said - We Did

Thanks for feedback received so far. Some things that we've done over the last couple of weeks are:

- placed signs in readings rooms reminding users that eating and drinking and not allowed and of the need for quiet conversation only.
- we now have both till and card machine available, so you add photocopying/printing credit to your card and pay fines on any library floor
- we will soon be stocking supplies of pens and library bags and other merchandise
- we hope to replace PCs in the NG rooms soon with new machines that can be linked to the Senate House Library printing system.

Please do keep us informed about any improvements we can make

Electronic Journals on Africa

An initiative arising from the 2008 Paris-Nanterres meeting of the European Librarians on African Studies (ELIAS) is a Wikipedia listing of African Studies journals available online.

The initial list was compiled from lists held by four institutions: Uppsala, Leiden, Frankfurt and ASAUK, creating a comprehensive list of more than one thousand African studies journals.

Locating this list within the digital encyclopedia Wikipedia has two advantages:
-the list of African Studies Journals is now available for a wide audience
-the list can be expanded and improved by anybody with knowledge about e-journals on Africa.

The list can be accessed via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_studies_journals

This is not a definitive list: it is work "under construction". The list will be expanded (ISBN etc) and updated in the future. It would be nice if all African Studies Journals would get their "own" page in Wikipedia, like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aequatoria and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Affairs

New on Intute - Pakistan Conflict Monitor

Intute is a free online service that helps you to find the best web resources for your studies and research. Recently added to Intute is the following resource, do check the website and its own blog for new resources.

Pakistan conflict monitor

The Pakistan Conflict Monitor is maintained by the Human Security Report Project at the School for International Studies at Simon Fraser University. It aims to highlight research about conflict and international security relating to Pakistan. This includes coverage of terrorism, Al-Qaeda, fundamental Islam, the links with the Taliban in Afghanistan and more generally government and development initiatives. The site summarises and links to key research data, press releases and reports. Information is generally available from 2009 onwards.

Remember to check the website for a complete list http://www.intute.ac.uk/

Tallents papers now listed on ULRLS Archives catalogue

We're very pleased to announce that the papers of Sir Stephen Tallents, relating mainly to his role as Secretary of the Empire Marketing Board (EMB), are now available on the ULRLS Archives Catalogue.

The material in this collection covers the Board's origins, some of its activities, including the "Buy British" campaign, the EMB Film Unit and liaison with the Commonwealth Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Melbourne, Australia, and its administration and break-up. Files include reports, correspondence, notes, memoranda, EMB publications and press cuttings. There are also papers relating to Tallents' book about the EMB, "Empire Experiment", including draft chapters, notes and correspondence. Other material consists of reviews of Tallents' "The Projection of England" (1932) and to his period as Public Relations Officer at the General Post Office (1934 - 1936). There is also material relating to documentary film producer John Grierson, including correspondence, press cuttings, articles and publications and correspondence with Leopold Amery relating to his autobiography "My Political Life" (London 1953) and his links with the EMB.

Your feedback!!! 6 weeks later

Its now over 6 weeks since we re-opened within the Senate House Library. We're largely settled in to our new space now, though a few small snagging problems remain. We'd like to hear your feedback on what you think of the changes, anything positive of course, but also anything that still needs fixing or improvement.

If you're in the Library feedback forms are available at all service points - otherwise add a comment or please email your thoughts to icommlib@sas.ac.uk.

A summary of any comments and our responses will follow on this blog

Spice up your life!

As the colder weather approaches you may be thinking of spicier foods, we're thinking about books and government reports on spices and the spice trade within the Commonwealth. The Library collections include many reports and other publications on specific crops and commodities. To get you into a warmer mood here's a selection on spices to whet your appetite:

Zanzibar. Committee Appointed to Discuss the Rationalization of the Clove Industry.
Report / (chairman: G.D. Kirsopp).
Zanzibar, 1929.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 ZAN

Troup, Robert Scott, 1874-1939.
Report on clove cultivation in the Zanzibar Protectorate.
Zanzibar : Govt. Printer, 1932.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] SB307 C6 TRO

Kirsopp, G. D. (George Dougal), 1888-
Report of a mission appointed to investigate the clove trade in India and Burma, Ceylon, British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies / by G.D. Kirsopp and C.A. Bartlett.
London : Published on behalf of the Government of Zanzibar by the Crown Agents for the Colonies, 1933.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 KIR fol

Grenada. Inquiry Into the Nutmeg Industry of Grenada.
Report / (Chairman: D.E. Jackson).
St. George's : G.P., 1951.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9248 GRE fol

Zanzibar.
Report of the Clove Mission to India, Jan. 6th - 20th. 1958.
Zanzibar, 1958.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 ZAN

Ly-Tio-Fane, Madeleine.
Mauritius and the spice trade : the odyssey of Pierre Poivre / [documents] Edited by Madeleine Ly-Tio-Fane.
Port Louis, Mauritius : Esclapon, 1958.
[Mauritius. Archives Dept.] Publication ; no.4.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 LYT

Bartlett, C. A.
Clove growers association commentary.
Zanzibar : Zanzibar Nationalist Party, 1959.
Microfiche
ICOMM Ground Floor Libr M841

Zanzibar clove industry : statement of Government policy and report / by R. A Crofts.
[Zanzibar] : Zanzibar Protectorate, [1959]
Contents: Zanzibar Protectorate. Legislative Council. Statement by Government on the development of the clove industry.--Crofts, R. A. Report on the Zanzibar clove industry.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 ZAN

Bastin, John Sturgus, 1927-
The changing balance of the early Southeast Asian pepper trade
Kuala Lumpur : Dept. of History, University of Malaya, 1960.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 BAS

Saw Huat Guan.
The production and potential of spices in West Malaysia with special reference to pepper, clove and nutmeg.
Kuala Lumpur : Malaya University, Faculty of Agriculture, 1971.
Microfiche 3 cards.
ICOMM Ground Floor Libr MF163

Grenada. Commission of Enquiry Into the Affairs of the Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association.
Report / (chairman: E.R. Ward).
St. George's : G.P., 1971.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9248 GRE fol

Mayers, J. M.
The nutmeg industry of Grenada
Kingston, Jamaica : Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of the West Indies, c1974.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9248 MAY fol

Moore, M. P.
The state and the cinnamon industry in Sri Lanka
Colombo : Agrarian Research & Training Institute, 1978.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 MOO fol

Sheriff, Abdul.
Slaves, spices, & ivory in Zanzibar : integration of an East African commercial empire into the world economy, 1770-1873
London : J. Currey ; Athens : Ohio University Press, 1987.
ICOMM Ground Floor Libr DT447 SHE

Nandakumar, T.
The global spice trade and the Uruguay round agreements
Geneva, Switzerland :, London : International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, Commonwealth Secretariat, 1996.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9210 NAN

Brizan, George I.
The nutmeg industry, Grenada's black gold
Grenada? : s.n., 1979?]
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9248 BRI

Brizan, George I.
Black gold revisited, 22 years later 2001
Grenada : The Author? : St George's Government Printery, 2003.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9248 BRI

Douglas, Claude J.
The Battle for Grenada's black gold
St. Andrew, Grenada : Maryzoon Press, c2004.
STACK SERVICE [ICOMM] HD9248 DOU

Books received in September 2009

A short list this month due to moves and the settling in process - October will be a fuller list though

Click to view all items added to the Reference Collection in September.