LHRT NEWS AND NOTES

A British Warship Chased an American Ship for 7 Hours on Christmas Eve 1776 and Captured It. Onboard Was a Copy of the Declaration of Independence That Just Resurfaced in London

Is it history or is it hoarding?

A great podcast which explores the history of the collections held by one of Australia’s oldest libraries. Journalist Annabel Crabb asks us to consider if these collections are history or hoarding in a multi-episode deep dive into the story of the State Library of New South Wales and its collections. History Or Hoarding? With Annabel Crabb

A glimpse into a 1950s library

Step back in time and have a look at this wonderful film from Libraries Tasmania about library services in Tasmania (Australia) in the 1950s. It includes a glimpse at the Archives, Children’s Library Bookmobile, book repairs, book processing, microfilm, librarian training, school libraries and more about all the library had to offer. Enjoy! For All Who Read.

https://kathleenmccook.substack.com/p/ordinary-revolutionary-war-soldiers?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=321273&post_id=204446654&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=51xvh&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

• Governor Dick Thornburgh’s (1980s) contributions to libraries
• Altoona Area Public Library’s LIFE service for people with disabilities (1970s)
• Altoona’s (1982) fundraising telethon — an innovative approach to fundraising
• Librarian Janis M. Lee, A Mass Murder, and Defending the Privacy of Library Records (late 1980s)

Find Bernadette’s full blog at https://palibhist.blogspot.com/

“From pirate stories to pocket Bibles, Dr. Phil Mead reveals how early American soldiers relied on books as currency, comfort, and tools for survival.”

Dear LHRT Members,

To those of you going to Chicago, wishing everyone a wonderful ALA Annual Conference! A few things to keep on your radar:

ALA’s 150th Anniversary Display – Docent Volunteers Needed

If you’d like to volunteer as a docent at the 150th anniversary display at conference, ALA would love your help. Please fill out this form to sign up: Airtable | Everyone’s app platform

ALA Connect Lounge – Friday Programming

Most of Friday will be reserved at the ALA Connect Lounge (2026.alaannual.org/ala-connect-lounge) for anniversary-related activities. ALA is looking for LHRT members who would be interested in giving a brief, casual talk (roughly 10–15 minutes) on an interesting moment in ALA history – as focused or wide-ranging as you’d like. If this sounds like you, there’s a section for that in the volunteer form linked above.

Edward G. Holley Memorial Lecture – Cancellation Notice

We’re sorry to share that the Edward G. Holley Memorial Lecture, scheduled for June 28 at 10:30am, has been cancelled. Please stay tuned for news about the Library History Seminar, coming this fall.

Summer Board Meeting

The LHRT Summer Board Meeting will be held via Zoom on June 30, noon–1:00pm EST. Please reach out to me directly for the meeting link if you are interested in attending.

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Jennifer Bartlett
Chair, Library History Round Table, 2025-26
Associate Dean for Engagement, Learning, and Public Services
University of Tennessee
John Hodges Library
jbartl22@utk.edu

Find details and read the introduction for free at: https://academic.oup.com/book/62719/chapter/562491419

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260527-plots-love-letters-and-diplomacy-the-medieval-secrets-being-revealed-by-ai

500 Years Ago, Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebook Was Cut Up and Separated. Now, the Inventor’s Manuscripts and Drawings Are Reconstructed in an Online Archive

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/500-years-ago-da-vincis-notebook-was-cut-up-and-separated-now-the-inventors-manuscripts-and-drawings-are-reconstructed-in-an-online-archive-180988922

By Christian Thorsberg

Smithsonian Magazine