Today's post highlighting something on the 2008 Canadian elections, of interest as the nation goes to the polls again, from the always interesting Map Room blog:
La Presse, a Montreal newspaper, has put poll-by-poll election results from the 2008 Canadian federal election onto a Google Maps interface. (Kudos to them for doing it for the entire country, and in English as well — not something I’d necessarily expect from a Quebec media source.) Being able to get that much detail about the last election is extremely useful in the context of figuring on what’s going on in the current one. More about this at Fagstein. Via Maclean’s.
2008 Canadian Election Results first appeared on The Map Room: A Weblog About Maps on April 7, 2011. Copyright © 2011 Jonathan Crowe. Distributed under a Creative Commons licence.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Endangered Archives Programme updates
Two new additions to the Endangered Archives Programme are noted relevant to "Commonwealth Studies" and described in the British Library's Endangered Archives blog. The comments below are largely taken from this blog and the Endangered Archives Programme website.
The first is a pilot project which will investigate the possibility of rescuing endangered archival materials within the Public Records and Archives Administration's (PRAAD) regional branch in Tamale, Northern Ghana. This project will conduct a survey of the endangered archival materials which are threatened due to inadequate facilities for conservation, overuse and deterioration from humidity and other hazards of the tropical climate. Some of the documents most urgently in need of preservation will be digitised, in order to preserve their content and also as a mechanism for training the Archive's staff.
Many of the documents date back to the pre-colonial and colonial periods of Ghanaian history. They are important not only in terms of preserving the history and culture of northern Ghana but also for their potential impact on historical scholarship, legal matters and public policy.
Located 400 miles north of the Atlantic coast in West Africa, Tamale was founded in early 1907 by the British as an administrative centre for the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. British Direct Commissioners were stationed there, reporting to the governor in Accra on colonial and administrative matters. PRAAD's holdings in Tamale now include these reports, recording colonial disputes, administrative tasks, boundary discussions, court proceedings, land tenure and chieftancy affairs, as well as correspondence with the missionary church in the Northern Territories. The archives also contain historical manuscripts on diverse subjects including slavery and the history and culture of northern Ghana. The extent of the archives is quite large, containing over 30,000 boxes and approximately 2,100,000 individual records.
The second project, entitled, "Before the war, after the war: preserving history in Sierra Leone" aims to relocate, survey and list the endangered collections of the Sierra Leone Archives, and to digitise a selection of the Liberated African Letter Books. These registers record slave ships captured by navy patrols, and list those men, women and children released at the Vice-Admiralty Court at Freetown.The collections also include treaties between local chiefs and the new settlement from 1788 to the 20th century, documents on land disputes; legislative council minutes; Aborigines Department letter books; birth and death records for the colony; and the 1790s journal of John Clarkson, brother of abolitionist Thomas Clarkson.
The rationale for this project arises both from the importance of the Sierra Leone archives to the study of trans-Atlantic slavery, and the terrible conditions of surviving documents following the Sierra Leone civil war. The intention is to put into place a plan to digitise the Sierra Leone archives as part of a wider plan to assist Sierra Leone in the recovery and preservation of documents and materials both in Sierra Leone and abroad, that relate to the history of the country and the African diaspora origins of its population.
Both projects offer exciting opportunities for records not only to be preserved but also allowing these documents to be made use of. The Endangered Archives Programme continues to accept applications and should be consulted by anyone keen to ensure documentary records are not allowed to be lost due to physical deterioration.
The first is a pilot project which will investigate the possibility of rescuing endangered archival materials within the Public Records and Archives Administration's (PRAAD) regional branch in Tamale, Northern Ghana. This project will conduct a survey of the endangered archival materials which are threatened due to inadequate facilities for conservation, overuse and deterioration from humidity and other hazards of the tropical climate. Some of the documents most urgently in need of preservation will be digitised, in order to preserve their content and also as a mechanism for training the Archive's staff.
Many of the documents date back to the pre-colonial and colonial periods of Ghanaian history. They are important not only in terms of preserving the history and culture of northern Ghana but also for their potential impact on historical scholarship, legal matters and public policy.
Located 400 miles north of the Atlantic coast in West Africa, Tamale was founded in early 1907 by the British as an administrative centre for the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. British Direct Commissioners were stationed there, reporting to the governor in Accra on colonial and administrative matters. PRAAD's holdings in Tamale now include these reports, recording colonial disputes, administrative tasks, boundary discussions, court proceedings, land tenure and chieftancy affairs, as well as correspondence with the missionary church in the Northern Territories. The archives also contain historical manuscripts on diverse subjects including slavery and the history and culture of northern Ghana. The extent of the archives is quite large, containing over 30,000 boxes and approximately 2,100,000 individual records.
The second project, entitled, "Before the war, after the war: preserving history in Sierra Leone" aims to relocate, survey and list the endangered collections of the Sierra Leone Archives, and to digitise a selection of the Liberated African Letter Books. These registers record slave ships captured by navy patrols, and list those men, women and children released at the Vice-Admiralty Court at Freetown.The collections also include treaties between local chiefs and the new settlement from 1788 to the 20th century, documents on land disputes; legislative council minutes; Aborigines Department letter books; birth and death records for the colony; and the 1790s journal of John Clarkson, brother of abolitionist Thomas Clarkson.
The rationale for this project arises both from the importance of the Sierra Leone archives to the study of trans-Atlantic slavery, and the terrible conditions of surviving documents following the Sierra Leone civil war. The intention is to put into place a plan to digitise the Sierra Leone archives as part of a wider plan to assist Sierra Leone in the recovery and preservation of documents and materials both in Sierra Leone and abroad, that relate to the history of the country and the African diaspora origins of its population.
Both projects offer exciting opportunities for records not only to be preserved but also allowing these documents to be made use of. The Endangered Archives Programme continues to accept applications and should be consulted by anyone keen to ensure documentary records are not allowed to be lost due to physical deterioration.
Education in Zimbabwe
The Britain Zimbabwe Society/Oxford African Studies Centre annual Research Day this year is on the topic of Education in Zimbabwe.
It will be held at St Antony's College, Oxford on 18th June 2011.
The Research Day is an annual event that focuses on academic research, but includes other practitioners to provide a wider context for the academic papers. It gives priority to researchers from Zimbabwe and to doctoral students in need of a supportive, informed environment in which to introduce their work. Academics and non-academics are equally welcome. There is a long lunch-hour to allow plenty of time for networking, and the day will be preceded this year by a book launch on the Friday evening.
The panels will cover:
- education in schools;
- the historical and contemporary role of universities;
- global links in the provision and accreditation of education and skills training; and
- the growing role of the military in providing education and training.
Invited speakers include Dr Teresa Barnes, Assoc Professor History Dept, UIUC; Dr Gerald Mazarire, Head of History at University of Zimbawe; Dr Elaosi Vhurumuku, lecturer in Science and Science Teaching at Wits University; and Mrs Nomathemba Neseni-Nyoni, Executive Director of the Institute of Water and Sanitation, ZW.
Further information at http://www.britain-zimbabwe.org.uk/
It will be held at St Antony's College, Oxford on 18th June 2011.
The Research Day is an annual event that focuses on academic research, but includes other practitioners to provide a wider context for the academic papers. It gives priority to researchers from Zimbabwe and to doctoral students in need of a supportive, informed environment in which to introduce their work. Academics and non-academics are equally welcome. There is a long lunch-hour to allow plenty of time for networking, and the day will be preceded this year by a book launch on the Friday evening.
The panels will cover:
- education in schools;
- the historical and contemporary role of universities;
- global links in the provision and accreditation of education and skills training; and
- the growing role of the military in providing education and training.
Invited speakers include Dr Teresa Barnes, Assoc Professor History Dept, UIUC; Dr Gerald Mazarire, Head of History at University of Zimbawe; Dr Elaosi Vhurumuku, lecturer in Science and Science Teaching at Wits University; and Mrs Nomathemba Neseni-Nyoni, Executive Director of the Institute of Water and Sanitation, ZW.
Further information at http://www.britain-zimbabwe.org.uk/
Australian Newspapers
Now available on Trove is an increasing collection of digitised Australian newspapers. The Newspapers collections have been digitised as part of the ongoing Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program (ANDP).
The project aims initially to digitise four million pages, and currently has nearly two million pages available, with the remainder awaiting digitisation or adding of metadata to allow searching.
In this collaborative project titles and issues have been selected by State and Territory libraries, and have a focus on state titles, and material published prior to 1955 (for copyright reasons). Some material has been included after this date (including the Australian Women's Weekly) where copyright permission has been granted.
There are hopes that work on this resource will continue after the four year project is completed and the initial four million pages added. The resource is a valuable source for historians, and included advertisements and other material making it a rich source for studying social history.
The project aims initially to digitise four million pages, and currently has nearly two million pages available, with the remainder awaiting digitisation or adding of metadata to allow searching.
In this collaborative project titles and issues have been selected by State and Territory libraries, and have a focus on state titles, and material published prior to 1955 (for copyright reasons). Some material has been included after this date (including the Australian Women's Weekly) where copyright permission has been granted.
There are hopes that work on this resource will continue after the four year project is completed and the initial four million pages added. The resource is a valuable source for historians, and included advertisements and other material making it a rich source for studying social history.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Nigerian Political Pamphlets
With news of the delay in the Nigerian elections it seems timely to promote the Political Pamphlets collections again.
The Political Pamphlets collection includes material published by political parties, trade unions and pressure groups; including material such as election campaign material, manifestos rules and regulations etc. As well as pamphlets, leaflets and booklets the collection includes posters, flags, paper hats and stickers and badges.
Material relating to Nigeria currently available on the catalogue dates from 1957 to 1998, and includes materials from parties such as the: Action Group of Nigeria; All Peoples Party; Alliance for Democracy; Dynamic Party; Kano People's Party; Mid-West State Movement; National Party of Nigeria, Nigerian National Alliance; Nigerian National Democratic Party; Nigerian Youth Congress; Northern People's Congress; People's Redemption Party; Progressive Peoples Party; Social Democratic Party; Socialist Workers and Farmers Party of Nigeria; Talakawa Party; Unity Party of Nigeria and the Workers Party of Nigeria.
We're always happy to accept new material for the collection. Please contact the Commonwealth Studies Librarian if you have material relating to elections, political parties or other political campaigns.
The Political Pamphlets collection includes material published by political parties, trade unions and pressure groups; including material such as election campaign material, manifestos rules and regulations etc. As well as pamphlets, leaflets and booklets the collection includes posters, flags, paper hats and stickers and badges.
Material relating to Nigeria currently available on the catalogue dates from 1957 to 1998, and includes materials from parties such as the: Action Group of Nigeria; All Peoples Party; Alliance for Democracy; Dynamic Party; Kano People's Party; Mid-West State Movement; National Party of Nigeria, Nigerian National Alliance; Nigerian National Democratic Party; Nigerian Youth Congress; Northern People's Congress; People's Redemption Party; Progressive Peoples Party; Social Democratic Party; Socialist Workers and Farmers Party of Nigeria; Talakawa Party; Unity Party of Nigeria and the Workers Party of Nigeria.
We're always happy to accept new material for the collection. Please contact the Commonwealth Studies Librarian if you have material relating to elections, political parties or other political campaigns.
Friday, 1 April 2011
ACU Titular Fellowships – 2011
Blog readers may be interested in, or interested in further promoting the following ACU (Association of Commonwealth Universities) Titular Fellowships for 2011.
The ACU Titular Fellowships provide opportunities for staff from member universities and employees working in industry, commerce or public service in a Commonwealth country to spend periods of time in other member universities or relevant institutions outside their own country. Preference will be given to workers in the following priority subject areas: agriculture, forestry and food sciences, biotechnology, development strategies, earth and marine sciences, engineering, health and related social sciences, information technology, management for change, professional education and training, social and cultural development and university development and management.
A summary of the awards is as follows:
• University of Wales Swansea Fulton Fellowship
Is tenable at the University of Wales Swansea. Awarded for any of the priority subjects listed above.
Country of Tenure: United Kingdom
• The Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Fellowship
at least one Fellowship open either to professionally qualified accountants or to established members of university faculties or related fields. Tenable at a Commonwealth university which either provides courses approved by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, or provides courses in, or closely allied to, business education. Section A of the nomination form may be completed either by the head of the candidate’s firm/company, or by the Executive Head of the proposed host university.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• Wighton Titular Fellowship in Engineering
Is open to full-time staff, academic or technical, of engineering departments in any of the developing country universities in membership of the ACU. Intended especially for the enhancement of laboratory teaching capacity.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• The University of Manitoba Fellowship
tenable at the University of Manitoba. Awarded for any of the priority subject areas listed above.
Country of Tenure: Canada
• The George Weston Limited, Canada, Fellowship
in agriculture, forestry, and food science/ food technology
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• The University of Oxford Fellowship
Is tenable at the University of Oxford. Awarded in any of the priority subject areas listed above.
Country of Tenure: United Kingdom
• The Jacky McAleer Memorial Fellowship
in memory of Jacky McAleer, a former member of staff of the ACU, and in recognition of her long and outstanding service to the ACU. Awarded in the field of information technology, with priority given to the computerisation of record systems or computer-assisted learning.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• The Gordon and Jean Southam Fellowship
Is open to nominees of any of the Canadian universities in membership of the ACU. Awarded for any of the priority subject areas listed above.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
Applications will be considered ONLY if the applicant is approved by the Executive Head (Vice-Chancellor, President or Rector) of a university in ACU membership. The ACU will also consider applications approved by the chief executive officer of a Commonwealth inter-university organisation.. Fellowships will be tenable for up to a maximum of six months.
The closing date for applications is 1st July 2011.
For further information and details of how to apply, please visit the webpage at http://www.acu.ac.uk/member_services/fellowships_mobility/acu_titular_fellowships or email acuawards@acu.ac.uk
The ACU Titular Fellowships provide opportunities for staff from member universities and employees working in industry, commerce or public service in a Commonwealth country to spend periods of time in other member universities or relevant institutions outside their own country. Preference will be given to workers in the following priority subject areas: agriculture, forestry and food sciences, biotechnology, development strategies, earth and marine sciences, engineering, health and related social sciences, information technology, management for change, professional education and training, social and cultural development and university development and management.
A summary of the awards is as follows:
• University of Wales Swansea Fulton Fellowship
Is tenable at the University of Wales Swansea. Awarded for any of the priority subjects listed above.
Country of Tenure: United Kingdom
• The Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Fellowship
at least one Fellowship open either to professionally qualified accountants or to established members of university faculties or related fields. Tenable at a Commonwealth university which either provides courses approved by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, or provides courses in, or closely allied to, business education. Section A of the nomination form may be completed either by the head of the candidate’s firm/company, or by the Executive Head of the proposed host university.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• Wighton Titular Fellowship in Engineering
Is open to full-time staff, academic or technical, of engineering departments in any of the developing country universities in membership of the ACU. Intended especially for the enhancement of laboratory teaching capacity.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• The University of Manitoba Fellowship
tenable at the University of Manitoba. Awarded for any of the priority subject areas listed above.
Country of Tenure: Canada
• The George Weston Limited, Canada, Fellowship
in agriculture, forestry, and food science/ food technology
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• The University of Oxford Fellowship
Is tenable at the University of Oxford. Awarded in any of the priority subject areas listed above.
Country of Tenure: United Kingdom
• The Jacky McAleer Memorial Fellowship
in memory of Jacky McAleer, a former member of staff of the ACU, and in recognition of her long and outstanding service to the ACU. Awarded in the field of information technology, with priority given to the computerisation of record systems or computer-assisted learning.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
• The Gordon and Jean Southam Fellowship
Is open to nominees of any of the Canadian universities in membership of the ACU. Awarded for any of the priority subject areas listed above.
Country of Tenure: Any Commonwealth country other than home country
Applications will be considered ONLY if the applicant is approved by the Executive Head (Vice-Chancellor, President or Rector) of a university in ACU membership. The ACU will also consider applications approved by the chief executive officer of a Commonwealth inter-university organisation.. Fellowships will be tenable for up to a maximum of six months.
The closing date for applications is 1st July 2011.
For further information and details of how to apply, please visit the webpage at http://www.acu.ac.uk/member_services/fellowships_mobility/acu_titular_fellowships or email acuawards@acu.ac.uk
ULRLS changes its name
From 31 March 2011, Senate House Library and the eight Libraries of the Institutes of the School of Advanced Study, including the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library, will operate under the collective title of Senate House Libraries (SHLs).
The individual titles and names of the Institute Libraries are retained but the previous umbrella operating name, University of London Research Library Services or ULRLS, is replaced.
The individual titles and names of the Institute Libraries are retained but the previous umbrella operating name, University of London Research Library Services or ULRLS, is replaced.
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