Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database

Between 1514 and 1866 an estimated over 10 million people of African descent entered the Americas via the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database was launched last year by the Emory University Digital Library Research Initiative, to help researchers, students and the general public  track and better understand this part of history.
The open access (free) online database offers information on nearly 35,000 voyages across the Atlantic - approximately 82 percent of the entire slave trade. Although not complete, Voyages provides a look at the contours of the trade, over four centuries, across four continents, and through these patterns allows insight into its impact. Researchers can look at particular voyages, examine estimates of the extent of the trade, and search by names. The website includes essays, introductory maps, a selection of images and lesson plans and links to other related resources.
The project is the result of collaborative research drawing on data in archives and libraries around the Atlantic world.
The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database is freely available online at http://www.slavevoyages.org/

Laptop use - internet connectivity

In response to requests for increased network access we have begun investigating wireless access. We have also identified and made live a number of open access network points in the library area - these provide Internet connectivity for users requiring a web connection from their own personal laptop computers. These are signposted with a red sticker and you will also see posters around the library area. Cables can be borrowed from the enquiry desk in the Small Hall.


Stand-alone usage is also accessible wherever usable power sources are located in public areas, unless the area has been designated a quiet study area.

Fratricide and Fraternité: Understanding and Repairing Neighbourly Atrocity

Opening Conference: FRATRICIDE
part of the Fratricide and Fraternité:Understanding and Repairing Neighbourly Atrocity Mellon Sawyer Seminar Series.
25 – 26 February 2010

Beveridge Hall, Senate House, University of London


An interdisciplinary conference exploring the causes and consequences of neighbourly atrocities across history, cultures, and continents.

Panels include:
• Fratricide and mythology
• Neighbourly identity
• Fear thy neighbour
• Logics of neighbourly violence
• A discussion with Jan T. Gross (Princeton), author of Neighbours
• Statement 710339 and Q&A with film-maker Refik Hodzik on the legacies of Srebrenica


This series comprises 2 conferences and 6 seminars organized by the Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London


The events are free and open to all. Advance registration required.
For further information and to register go to www.sas.ac.uk/human_rights.html
or email kirrily.pells@sas.ac.uk

Australian and New Zealand Library and Archives Group (ANZLAG) Workshop

The annual ANZLAG (Australia and New Zealand Library and Archives Group) workshop will be held on Monday 10th May 2010, and hosted by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library, in Senate House, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU.


This is both an advance notice and a call for presentations and papers.

We are interested in presentation on the following themes:

* Australian and New Zealand (and Pacific) literature collections in the UK
* UK publishing of works by Australian and New Zealand authors, and researching publishers archives
* Notable library and archive collections in the UK and Europe

We also plan a round table on issues relating to current publishing including legal deposit and parallel importing.

Researchers, librarians and archivists are all encouraged to contact me with suggested topics - and we would encourage anyone interested to get in touch. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested.

Further details of programme and cost will be sent out once available

Books added to the collection in December 2009

A list of new books added to the collection can be found on our new books page.

New titles this month cover titles as diverse as elections in Australia; constitution making in Guyana; federalism in Malaysia; arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh; a report on South Afrian youth; the enclosure of range lands in Namibia; Zambian trade unions and maternal health in West Africa.

Facebook

We have now published a Page on Facebook - Facebook members can become Fans and keep up to date with the Commonwealth Studies Library, including Blog RSS feeds. Just search for Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library....

Do let us know any feedback, as this is a new service and hopefully a new way of keepiong in touch with people.

Maps workshop postponed

Due to a conflicting event the Maps workshop programmed for Friday January 29th, 2.00pm has been postponed - further information will be posted opnce a new date has been set