Library Review - Spring 2008

Visitors

The Library continues to be a hive of activity, Genealogy enquiries both made in person and via e-mail dominate the scene with researchers recently visiting from New Zealand and Australia and others from closer to home. We also had a visit from Janice and Anne Coulthwaite who had been searching for their Grandfather for over two years. They had found many other family graves and decided a visit to the Island was called for. We were having no luck in finding their Grandfather, however during the visit by a lucky happenchance Georgia Le Maistre was in the Library and became involved in the quest. This resulted in not only the finding of Grandad but in a happy donation consisting of three diaries kept by their Great Aunt during the Occupation. For the full story keep your eyes on the JEP.

Brenda Ross accepting a donation of occupation diaries from Janice and Anne Coulthwaite

Media

Recent findings at Haut de La Garenne have meant that resources were stretched in the library when the media descended on the Island; however staff and volunteers coped well with the demand placed on them. Everyone who visited us was polite and professional and thanked everyone for the service received.

New Members

The Library has welcomed new members who have been impressed with the wealth of material in the collections. Brenda and Anna would like to invite existing members to re visit their Library to view some of the more interesting items we hold.

Students

We have been fortunate recently with students doing work experience from both Trident and Highlands. These students specifically request to come to the Société Library as they have an interest in local matters including History this generally means that they make a real contribution and have proved to be an asset in the Library.

Volunteers

As ever we depend so much on our volunteers it is difficult to know how to thank them. We always need volunteers for special projects and would hope to allocate something they were genuinely interested in. A recent new recruit is Mike Britton who is currently studying towards an Open University degree and caring for his young son, has an interest in maps and prints and has indexed all our maps on to an excel spread sheet which is searchable. Mike joins us when ever he has a spare hour or two so we are very flexible. We have other volunteers who cover on a regular basis and are essential during holidays and sick leave so IT knowledge is not always a necessary requirement. So thanks once again to all our wonderful volunteers.

Brenda Ross - Librarian