Claire Cock-Starkey is a writer, editor and researcher specialising in historical miscellanies and natural history. She has written many non-fiction books including, The Book Lovers’ Miscellany (2017) and Bodleianalia (2016). Her latest edition, A Library Miscellany (2018) is packed with unusual facts and statistics, making it the perfect volume for library enthusiasts, bibliophiles and readers everywhere. What…
D-Tech International looks at current library technology in the education sector and how some of the trends highlighted in the 2017 Library Edition of the Horizon Report could benefit your library. Here at D-Tech, we see a lot of evidence that the academic library sector is making changes. There is still a need and great…
Ever since their entrance into the reading scene at the turn of the 21st century, E-Readers have been the subject of mixed opinions. From avid readers who champion the concept of a “modernised” reading experience, to diehard bookworms who treasure the contents of their bookshelves that are chocked full of previous reads: Everyone has weighed…
Right at the heart of the British Museum stands the Reading Room. Completed in 1857 after three years of construction as a result of the Museum’s dire need for a larger reading room, the structure comprised of several of the greatest architectural technologies in-use during the mid nineteenth century. The Reading Room’s dome-shape design was…
As a means of conveyed electronically stored information, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) labels have many potential uses, making them a very versatile tool in a variety of different sectors. Using electromagnetic fields, RFID book tags contain readable information that can be used to track and identify an object, an animal and even a human being.…
Acclaimed as the largest, oldest and grandest libraries in the world by most medievalists, there is evidence that shows the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana dates back as far as the fourth century, where the ‘Scrinium of the Roman Church’ offered both a library and an archive. For unknown reasons, this archive and library were dispersed in…
Every library security installation is memorable for the D-Tech team. It may be particularly challenging, it could revolutionise the way a library operates, or it might be a welcome opportunity to catch up with a client with whom we have a long-term relationship. When we were asked to install an additional self-service unit in the…
When Blackpool libraries sought to improve their services, they turned to D-Tech who installed self-service units in six of the borough’s libraries. To maximise revenue and improve customer experience chip and PIN payment facilities were incorporated, enabling patrons to pay library fees even when they are not carrying cash. Read the full Blackpool Libraries case study…
As 2017 draws to a close, we can reflect on another busy year of exciting installations and new business opportunities. In a time of continued budget reviews and limited resources in the library sector, we are proud to have helped so many establishments to improve their security and efficiency through our cost-effective solutions. We hope you…
Oxford Brookes University came under fire in December for closing its facilities, including the library, following heavy snowfall. Whilst the university defended its position on the grounds of health and safety, many of the disgruntled students took to social media to air their opinions, often referring to the fees they have paid and entitlement to…
School budgets are under constant pressure and despite evidence of a decline in literacy across the UK showing that rates of teenage literacy in England are lower than those of other OECD nations, the school library’s resources are often first to be decimated. That may be because, at the time of writing, it is not…
For this edition of Looking at Libraries, we will be focusing on the national library of Egypt: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Founded in 2002, Library of Alexandria is a modern-day tribute to the historical Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Described as a “Symbol of great cultural and philosophical significance”, the original library was charged with the task of collating…