Saving flood-damaged mementos

Precious documents and mementos damaged by floodwaters or high humidity can sometimes be saved by simply popping them into the freezer.

State Library of Queensland is urging the state’s flood affected residents and business owners to take some simple steps instead of throwing out damaged photographs and paperwork.

State Librarian Janette Wright said it was important to take care of personal memorabilia because it was all part of the many stories of Queensland.

She said, “State Library is a keeping place for many of those stories but we know there are many other important photographs, letters, diaries, business records, and other documents in the community.”

“Some is in the care of historical societies with much more still kept in family homes and businesses.”

“Recovering from flooding can be an emotional time, and some people may throw out cherished and irreplaceable possessions damaged by water,” Janette Wright said.

“However, in some cases they can be saved, particularly photographs.”

State Library’s conservation expert Grant Collins said there was a link on SLQ’s homepage to simple, home based solutions for preserving books, documents, photographs, films, tapes, and digital media.

He said “In many cases people will be able to dry materials using a domestic fan, some absorbent paper, or a clothesline.”

“Paper documents can be held over for recovery just by popping them into a freezer, within 48 hours if possible. The low temperature means mould is less likely to grow – making the freezer the best way to buy time.”

“The key to recovering most of these documents is to get them dry – pegging film and paper up carefully on a clothesline with fans and dehumidifiers running is a good way to dry things out.”

“Even without electricity you can still dry loose papers by placing them flat, on a table lined with paper towels if possible, and by keeping the pages of books and magazines apart – especially if the pages are glossy.”

Badly damaged precious items may require professional conservation treatment.

The Collection Preservation staff offer advice to organisations and community members, they can be contacted by email conservation@slq.qld.gov.au. 

Queenslanders can also gain free consultation on how to recover their family treasures with the following State Library services:

Conservation clinic
Thursday, 7 Feb, 1–4pm | State Library of Queensland
Bookings conservation@slq.qld.gov.au
If you have a rare book, work on paper, family heirloom, treasured object, film or photograph that has been damaged, professional conservation staff from State Library and Queensland Museum will provide one-on-one consultations to look at your personal treasures and offer advice on salvage.

To expand the reach of this service, Skype sessions will be provided from 9am–12pm on Thursday, 7 February. If you cannot access Skype, email conservation@slq.qld.gov.au.

Media enquiries: 
Cathy Stacey, 3842 9346, 0434 074 372, cathy.stacey@slq.qld.gov.au
 

View presentation by World Wide Web inventor at State Library of Queensland on 2 February

The talk by Tim Berners-Lee at Griffith University Gold Coast on Saturday 2 February will be simultaneously presented at State Library of Queensland in Brisbane.

As part of his iiNet Down Under Tour of Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne, Sir Tim Berners-Lee will now also present live on the Gold Coast in response to a substantial campaign by many sponsors working closely with Gold Coast City Council.

Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web – an internet-based hypermedia tool for global information sharing – while working at CERN (the European Particle Physics Laboratory).

In Australia for the first time in over a decade as keynote speaker at the 2013 Australian Linux conference in Canberra at the end of January, Berners-Lee supports the World Wide Web as a free, democratic tool that should be deployed to benefit humanity.

The talk on the Gold Coast on Saturday 2 February will be presented at State Library of Queensland in Brisbane at 5pm-7pm.

State Library CEO Janette Wright said State Library was thrilled to make the talk available to Queenslanders more widely by presenting it live. 

She said, “We know this talk will be of interest to many more than will be able to travel to the Gold Coast.”

“At South Bank we will present his talk in our auditorium. All are welcome to come and hear from this remarkable individual whose invention has had such an extraordinary impact on every facet of our lives.”

The Tim Berners-Lee Down Under tour is presented by iiNet with support from the Australian Computer Society, CSIRO, linux.conf.au, Partner and Prosper, NICTA, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and The University of Melbourne.

The Gold Coast presentation is sponsored by Gold Coast City Council, Regional Development Australia (Gold Coast), Griffith University, Business Solutions for IT, IT Forum Gold Coast, OntheNet, SAGE-AU, and Silicon Lakes.

Bookings for the State Library simulcast are essential, please register at slq.eventbrite.com.

Media enquiries:

Cathy Stacey, 3842 9346, cathy.stacey@slq.qld.gov.au

SLQ celebrates Australia Day at South Bank

Dads from all over Queensland will take to the stage and read our favourite tales at the Australia Day Festival on Saturday 26 January at the Parklands, South Bank.

“State Library of Queensland is very proud to partner with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on this event that simultaneously celebrates Australia Day and reading,” State Librarian Janette Wright said.

“This is the first time that SLQ has partnered with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on its Australia Day Festival, which includes live music, a vibrant stage program, creative Australian-themed activities, and fireworks.

“Dads will come together to celebrate the joy and importance of reading to children."

“It is a wonderful opportunity to encourage parents to be their child’s reading role model, and show local families an example of the quality programs that are always available to them for free at SLQ,” Ms Wright said.

As well as storytelling, children can play in a Torres Strait Islands-themed space, including a lighthouse, tinnies and books. Children can create their own watercolour fish, as inspired by the renowned Margaret Lawrie Collection of Torres Strait Islands Materials held at SLQ.

“SLQ is also currently abuzz with our holiday fun program, which is open daily until 25 January,” Ms Wright said.

“Kids can take part in the Top Secret Storytellers Clubhouse on SLQ’s open-air Queensland Terrace, they can stay and play in The Reading Garden, explore the world of fairytales in a family film festival and create their own masks and badges.

Visit slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information about the holiday fun program at State Library or go to australiaday.org.au/qld to find out more about the Australia Day Festival.

Australia Day activities in Queensland are proudly supported by the Queensland Government in partnership with the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council.

SLQ’s children and families Corner at Australia Day Festival
26 Jan 2013, 10am – 6pm
Griffith Conservatorium Green, the Parklands, South Bank

Holiday fun at SLQ
Daily, 10am–3pm, until 25 Jan 2013
State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank

Media enquiries: 
Amanda Edwards, 3842 9803, amanda.edwards@slq.qld.gov.au

Historic Queensland collection returns home

Acting Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek tonight announced the return to Queensland of an important collection of manuscripts, photographs, artworks and medals belonging to prominent colonial politician Sir Arthur Hodgson.

Until recently the Archive of Sir Arthur Hodgson had been held privately in England but it is now back in Queensland in the care of the State Library.

“Dating from the 1860s, the Archive of Sir Arthur Hodgson reveals the rich history of early European settlement on the Darling Downs, in particular Hodgson’s own station Eton Vale, said Mr Langbroek.

“I congratulate the State Library on its efforts to bring this collection home.”

Member for Logan Michael Pucci will open the Grass Dukes and Shepherd Kings exhibition this evening (13 December) at the State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, which showcases the Archive of Sir Arthur Hodgson.

The exhibition includes photos, papers, artworks, manuscripts from the John Oxley library as well as items on loan from private collections.

“These early ‘squatters’ became known in the press of the day as ‘shepherd kings’ and ‘grass dukes’ as they erected fine homesteads, grand stables and woolsheds and transformed the landscape with exotic gardens,” said Mr Pucci.

“Grass Dukes and Shepherd Kings is a fascinating opportunity for people to explore the prized possessions of pastoral life in 19th century Queensland and gain insight into the lives of these early European settlers who grew in political power.

“There were many interesting characters at the time and this exhibition tells their story.”

Other properties featured in the exhibition include Canning Downs, Glengallan, Maryvale, Westbrook, Yandilla and Talgai.

A program of events will be held in support of the exhibition. For more information visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on

Media contact: Alex Bernard 0417 252 563

State Library a Hot Spot for Gamers

Calling all gamers – the State Library of Queensland at the Cultural Centre, Brisbane, needs you to play the latest Queensland-made video and mobile games at a special new exhibition.

Acting Arts Minster John-Paul Langbroek said the Library will showcase the latest from local game developers at Garage Gamer, a free exhibition from 5 January–14 April 2013.

“Queensland is home to some of Australia’s most successful game developers, as well as many independent developers making their mark internationally,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Brisbane-based Halfbrick Studios mobile game Fruit Ninja is on one-third of all US iphones.

“So it makes sense to encourage our local gamers to have fun at Garage Gamer, and play the latest video and mobile games created by Halfbrick, Defiant Development, Curious Bear, Disparity Games, Visual Outbreak and others.

“The action-packed program features more than a dozen creative workshops for all ages and abilities, special after-hours game nights, talks and conversations, a gaming trivia night, and an album launch with the world’s first videogame musician, 7Bit Hero.”

Mr Langbroek said the Australian gaming sector, valued at $2.5 billon (2011/12) by the IBISWorld Industry Report on Video Games in Australia, is a growing industry, with Queensland accounting for approximately 17 per cent of the national market.

“It’s exciting to see the creativity and diversity of these locally created games, and to be able to showcase this sector in our State Library – a place dedicated to sharing the stories and achievements of Queenslanders,” he said.

“The Newman Government is dedicated to fostering an innovative, creative environment in Queensland, where companies like our leading games developers can flourish. The gaming sector is a great example of arts, innovation and technology working in partnership to create world class product.”

For more information on Garage Gamer visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for the full program of activities.

Media contact: Alex Bernard 0417 252 563

Summer holiday fun at SLQ

State Library of Queensland heads to the Parklands, South Bank this summer for an extravaganza of storytelling, singing and activities.

“Yuletide Story Garden, produced by South Bank Corporation in partnership with State Library of Queensland, runs from 13–24 December and is the perfect finale to the very successful National Year of Reading,” State Librarian Janette Wright said.

“This is the first time that SLQ has partnered with South Bank Corporation to deliver a Christmas program that focuses on reading and storytelling.

“South Bank Corporation has produced a large-scale, six-metre wide storybook structure – which unmistakeably heralds the 12-day, pop-up story garden – and provides a backdrop for SLQ’s performance program and the Corporation’s commissioned work of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Grin and Tonic Theatre Company.

“It is a very exciting opportunity to give local families a taste of SLQ’s program of free learning activities for children available throughout the year.

“Performers will include the internationally renowned Lissa (Melissa Western) and Nee Nee (Antony Dyer), popular children’s entertainer Tim Jackman, musician and ‘Murri Claus’ Getano Bann, comedian Sean Choolburra, Mitchy Mayhem and his Puppet Patrol, actor Paula Nazarski, director Anthea Patrick, and Indigenous performer Mark Sheppard, who is well known for his one-man show Chasing the Lollyman.”

On 13 December from 10am, Yuletide Story Garden will feature Murri Christmas, an annual event presented by SLQ that engages children and families in song, dance and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Murri Christmas celebrations will also be held at SLQ on 6 and 20 December at 10.30am in The Corner.

“After we count down the 12 days until Christmas at South Bank, SLQ will launch its holiday fun program on 5 January,” Ms Wright said.

“Kids can take part in the Top Secret Storytellers Clubhouse on SLQ’s open-air Queensland Terrace, they can stay and play in The Reading Garden, explore the world of fairytales in a family film festival and create their own masks and badges.

“SLQ will then return to the Parklands, South Bank to celebrate Australia Day on Saturday 26 January as dads from all over Queensland take to the stage and read from the pages of some of our favourite Australian tales.”

Visit slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information.

Yuletide Story Garden is part of Sugarplums & Possum Chums – A South Bank Christmas. For the full program, go to www.visitsouthbank.com.au.

Yuletide Story Garden
Open daily 10am–4.30pm, 13 – 24 Dec 2012
Riverside Green, the Parklands, South Bank (next to Streets Beach)

Murri Christmas
Thu 13 Dec, 10am – 12.30pm (Murri Claus arrives at 10.30am)
Riverside Green, the Parklands, South Bank (next to Streets Beach)

Holiday fun at SLQ
5 – 25 Jan 2013
State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank

SLQ at Australia Day Festival
26 Jan 2013, 10am – 5pm
Griffith Conservatorium Green, the Parklands, South Bank

Media enquiries: 
Amanda Edwards, 3842 9803, amanda.edwards@slq.qld.gov.au

Make books part of your holiday fun with the Summer Reading Club

State Library of Queensland is inviting children to get tangled up in fairytales, myths and legends as part of their popular Summer Reading Club.

State Librarian Janette Wright said the Summer Reading Club offered free creative activities designed to inspire and entertain children aged from preschool to 16 years these holidays.

“You can visit your local public library or jump online for exciting competitions and games, view recommended reading lists, chat with other book lovers, read book raves and complete stories from leading authors,” said Ms Wright.

“Wherever you are, on the beach or out bush, parents can make sure reading is part of their children’s holiday fun,” she said.

The Summer Reading Club is a free national literacy program developed by State Library and run online and through public libraries across Australia.

“Last year, nearly 20,000 Australian children registered for the Summer Reading Club, and read more than 150,000 books over the summer period, ” said Ms Wright.

“With 2012 the National Year of Reading, even more libraries are taking part and we’re hoping to see that reading list grow even longer,” she said.

Some of Australia’s favourite authors and illustrators have already joined the Summer Reading Club, which this year focuses on exploring and untangling fairytales, myths and legends from all over the world.

Participants can follow Tristan Bancks’ blog on untangling creativity, read Martin Chatterton’s fractured fairytale, finish off Kerry Brown’s What Happens Next story, and get to know Wendy Orr, Peter Carnavas and other authors and illustrators.

“With the program being run nationally, we hope to ignite a life-long passion for reading for kids from every corner of the country,” said Ms Wright.

The Summer Reading Club is delivered by State Library of Queensland with support from the Australian Library and Information Association, and their Public Libraries Advisory.

To sign up, jump online at www.summerreadingclub.org.au or visit your local public library.

Summer Reading Club
3 December 2012 – 31 January 2013
www.summerreadingclub.org.au or at your local public library

Media enquiries

Alexia Saeck, 07 3840 7784, alexia.saeck@slq.qld.gov.au

Do you know when your family arrived in Queensland?

State Library of Queensland is sharing records from the SS Oronsay passenger ship that helped many migrants start their new life in Queensland.

As part of The Voyage of a Million Questions, SLQ is inviting Queenslanders to explore and share a wealth of records that could relate to their own family’s history.

State Librarian Janette Wright said that the series of events was a great opportunity to discover some of Queensland’s historical resources.

“If your family migrated to Australia from the United Kingdom after World War Two, they may have been passengers on the SS Oronsay,” Ms Wright said.

“SLQ will hold a resources seminar, in partnership with Queensland State Archives and National Archives of Australia, on 23 November to show people where to begin researching this fascinating part of our history.”

In addition to this seminar, SLQ is encouraging Oronsay passengers and their descendants to come and document their story using the HistoryPin app at a ‘pin-a-thon’.

“People should bring along at least five images from an Oronsay journey and some memories and our staff can help with the rest,” Ms Wright said.

“This is a chance to share your family’s journey with the world.”

On 30 November, the heritage of the Orient Line ships, including the Oronsay, will be uncovered at a white gloves tour.

“We invite people to put on the white gloves and explore some of the original shipping guides and promotional materials to get a taste of what life was like on board these ships.”

The Voyage of a Million Questions is a celebration of the thousands of voyages that brought new settlers to Queensland and the resulting legacy of our state’s rich cultural diversity.

From 12 – 30 November, displays, workshops and activities exploring Queensland’s seaboard migration will be held at the Queensland Museum, Queensland Maritime Museum and State Library.

These events are part of the larger Queensland Migration Heritage Partnership, a collaboration of Queensland Government cultural agencies and the community.

Find out more and share stories at qldmigrationheritage.com.au.

Calling for next wave of Indigenous literary stars

State Library of Queensland’s Indigenous writing competition black&write! which has already produced a Deadly Award winner, is now seeking two new literary stars.

State Librarian Janette Wright said the successes of the inaugural black&write! Writing Fellows from 2011 were a testament to its strength in developing outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and editors across Australia.

“We know the project is already making a difference to Indigenous literature in this country – with South Australia’s Ali Cobby Eckermann recently winning a 2012 Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indigenous Writing for her black&write! verse novel Ruby Moonlight,” Ms Wright said.

“We also have first time author Sue McPherson from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, who was a finalist in the same award for her young adult fiction novel Grace Beside Me.

“Sue has just returned from Ubud Writers Festival in Bali where she was a guest author, and an excerpt from her book was translated into Indonesian.”

black&write! invites published or unpublished Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander authors to submit novels, short stories, poetry or children’s books to the competition, which closes on 31 January 2013.

Two 2013 Fellows will both receive $10,000 prize money, professional manuscript development from black&write! Indigenous editors and a valuable publishing deal with respected Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books.

manuscripts edited and now with Magabala Books in preparation for publication.

“Jillian Boyd and Tori-Jay Mordey have written and illustrated a children’s book entitled Bakir and Bi, and Teagan Chilcott has written a young adult fantasy novel Rise of the Fallen.

“We are looking forward to seeing their books on the shelves early next year and hope these successes will inspire others to enter.”

Ms Wright said black&write! is well on its way to achieving its bold aim of revitalising and expanding contemporary Indigenous writing in Australia.

“This is a chance for talented Indigenous authors to be a part of a growing and thriving community of talented writers, illustrators and editors.”

Application forms are available at www.slq.gov.au/whats-on
Entries close 31 January 2013

Norman Tindale and the politics of anthropology

State Library of Queensland will host a symposium set to explore the impacts of anthropological research in Aboriginal communities on 24 September.

Cultural heritage professionals will focus on the career of Norman Tindale and why his name is so prominent in Australian anthropology, linguistics, native title, and Aboriginal history.

Tindale has at times been criticised for the invasive nature of his research and treating Aboriginal people as scientific objects.

However, other people are grateful for his foresight in collecting such a vast amount of data, and his goodwill in donating his photographs, field journals, and related materials to the South Australian Museum.

State Librarian Janette Wright said that The legacy of Tindale: Photography and the politics of anthropology and Native Title is a day-long symposium that questions the responsibilities of those working with this material, and discusses the need to bring the past to life in an accurate way.

“The symposium is an important part of the Transforming Tindale exhibition program, on show at SLQ until 9 December,” Ms Wright said.

“Transforming Tindale is designed to provide a thought-provoking journey into the Tindale collection, what it means to Aboriginal people, and its place in Queensland’s history.

SLQ has copies of genealogical information and photographs from the Tindale collection, held by the South Australian Museum, for the Queensland Aboriginal communities of Mona Mona, Yarrabah, Palm Island, Woorabinda, and Cherbourg as well as two northern New South Wales communities at Boggabilla and Woodenbong.”

Ms Wright said the Tindale collection had come to be valued by some as a resource for researching their own family history.

Transforming Tindale curator Michael Aird will speak at the symposium about the work he has done in curating the exhibition, understanding the historical context of the collection, and finding a way to give it back to communities.

Artist Vernon Ah Kee will talk about his personal connection to the Tindale collection and how he has used photographs of his family members in the collection to produce portraits that speak of the personalities behind the scientific images.

Speakers also include Daniel Browning (ABC Radio National), Henrietta Fourmile Marrie, Dr Marcus Waters (Griffith University), Prof Bruce Rigsby (UQ), Dr Nancy Williams (UQ), Flo Watson (Jinnadirran Training and Consulting Services), Lindy Allen (Museum Victoria), and Jeanie Bell (Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education).

Visit slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information about The legacy of Tindale symposium and Transforming Tindale.

The legacy of Tindale: Photography and the politics of anthropology and Native Title
Mon 24 Sep, 9.30am–4pm
State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank
Bookings slq.eventbrite.com or 3840 7768

Transforming Tindale
Open daily 10am–5pm until 9 Dec
Free exhibition at State Library of Queensland

Media enquiries: Amanda Edwards, SLQ Communications
07 3842 9803 | amanda.edwards@slq.qld.gov.au