Library update from Committee

Dear Members

You may have noticed many changes in the library lately. Changes in location of books etc. our librarian has undertaken extra work to develop our collection. "A library should be like a flowing stream constantly in movement". The Footscray Mechanics Institute Library (FMIL) has been in its current Footscray site since 1913.

Earliest records show FMIL as functioning in 1856! Currently it is open Monday to Friday 10am -4pm. The library has 20,000 plus titles. It is a membership library with a small fee. Check website for details.

The library has two sections - fiction and non fiction. The non fiction area uses the Dewey system. The library is fully catalogued and the catalogue is online, find it on the top toolbar of the FMI website.

The library has a fully functioning stack where books are held in reserve so as to free up space in the main library area, and one can order books from the stack via our librarian. Please give 24 hours advance notice.

The history of the library has been covered in our newsletter "FOOTNOTES". Issue #3 featured an article 'From the Archives', which gives one an introduction to our establishment. From the Fergusons in the 1850's with 2000 books, to our current collection with 20 000+ plus titles! You dear reader can search for our "FOOTNOTES" newsletter which we have archived onto our web site, where all back issues are stored in PDF format. Just click the link on the top toolbar to access.

The FMIL changes have shuffled some of the crime fiction books around in the main library. A large movement of books is being undertaken from donations made by Carmel Shute and Sisters in Crime, Hobsons Bay Historic Maritime Collection, 1000's of titles from Melbourne Libraries, and a huge collection of sci-fi titles from our Committee person Steve Wilson.

The biography section has been updated with low demand titles moved to the stack. This section is being converted to Dewey classification ie non fiction from the older icon based archaic author system. Similarly the non fiction section is being constantly updated with areas of key criteria being added to, and developed from the reserve and by purchase.

Areas include the main trading partners of Australia so members can better have a better understanding of culture history and society of these countries: Japan, China, India and South Korea as examples. If one wants to know more about Iran, given current international situation, there are several titles which give members an idea of the recent reality of that country. More room is being created on shelves with older books moved to the stack and newer tiles entering the main body of the library shelves. 'Wiggle' room so as facilitate book movement is included, so less books on display but cleaner and newer with room for the books to breath.

One major section of collection development is the Science Fiction section. Popular with many members this area has seen renewed interest in recent times. Understand that modern scifi is a different 'kettle of fish 'from traditional sci-fi. Newer genres such as steam punk and  climate fiction (cli-fi) are the 'in' thing. FMIL has 400+ titles in this  area of literature, both trad sci-fi and more recent sub-genres. Members can suggest books for purchase via our librarian. 

Come on in and be part of the new history. Neil (FMI Committee)