Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/57 |
Title | Helen Martin |
Date | 20 December 2001 |
Extent | 1 minidisc, 1 cd, 1 file, 1 AIFF file (595.8 MB) |
Creator Name | Martin; Helen; information manager |
Description | Interview with Helen Martin, information manager for the Guardian. Conducted by Andy Murdoch on 20 December 2001. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1: Track 1 00.30 History of library which started in Manchester 00.40 Refers to old staff and how Geoffrey Whatmore who ran the library moved to the BBC library 01.22 Micheal Frayn's play based on Guardian librarian 03.21 London library started in early 60s, when Guardian moved down. Led by Ken Murphy, who later became archivist 05.30 Describes the old library in the Sunday Times building 06.25 Lots of interaction which the Sunday Times journalists 07.45 Library was mostly cuttings and was in charge of indexing
11.50 Move to 119 Farringdon Road, London in 1976 - revamped library. 12.00 Asked to take over the library in 1979 14.04 Decision to move away from cuttings in the late 1970s to minitrieve didn't work - six week backlog 16.13 Attempt to merge library with the city library didn't work 17.23 Invited to Fleet Street to see 'World Reporter' computer system which became 'Profile' 21.45 No training given to journalists when Profile became available to them 21.45 Change in status of librarians - journalists asking for things they couldn't do themselves. 24.20 First PC and concerns over health and safety - black screens on windows and PC shields in case of radiation 26.40 In 1984 the library divided between 'archiving' and 'research' 26.40 Trainee librarians introduced to take care of archiving 29.15 Survery into media libraries and research services by University of North London
30.30 Discusses relationship with foreign journalists - 'they were almost our best customers' 32.26 Social circle largely revolved around Guardian 34.42 Relationship between Guardian and City University 36.57 Relationship with AUKML - previously had little contact with other newspaper librarians
41.12 Setting up of Fleet Street Exchange 47.28 Winding down of cuttings - eventually stopped in 2000
50.30 Benefit of exchange of information through AUKML. Move of librarians to editorial desk 52.28 Problems of change within the Guardian
|
Access Status | Open |
Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
Format | Electronic record |
CD recording |
Printed document |
Minidisc recording |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Helen Martin |
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