Bathurst Old School of Arts Library Collection facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bathurst Old School of Arts Library Collection |
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Part of the Bathurst Old School of Arts Library Collection in closed reserve at Bathurst City Library
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| Location | Bathurst City Library, 70-78 Keppel Street, Bathurst, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1855–1950 |
| Owner | Bathurst City Library |
| Official name: Bathurst Old School of Arts Library Collection; School of Arts book collection; Bathurst Books | |
| Type | state heritage (movable / collection) |
| Designated | 22 October 2004 |
| Reference no. | 1712 |
| Type | Recreation & Entertainment Objects |
| Category | Collections |
| Builders | Various authors and publishers. |
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The Bathurst Old School of Arts Library Collection is a special collection of old and rare books. It's kept at the Bathurst City Library in Bathurst, Australia. These books were collected between 1855 and 1950 by different authors and publishers. This collection used to be a lending library and a place for people to find information. Now, it's a valuable historical collection owned by the Bathurst City Library. It was officially recognized as a heritage site in New South Wales on October 22, 2004, because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back: The Bathurst School of Arts
How the School of Arts Began
In 1855, a place called the Bathurst School of Arts and Mechanics Institute was started. It offered early science and technical education in Bathurst. The School of Arts received land and built its own two-story building by 1861. This building was on the corner of Howick and William Streets. A large public hall was finished in 1874, which helped more people join.
Learning and Entertainment
During the 1870s, the School of Arts received money from the government. This was to help with "the intellectual advancement of the people." The School of Arts offered many different activities. These included lectures, readings, social gatherings, and even some unusual shows. They also had ambitious and sometimes expensive courses.
In 1873, the School of Arts committee wanted to open a college for working people. For some years in the early 1880s, they managed government money for technical training. But by the late 1880s, the Department of Education took over. In 1894, the School of Arts sold its unused land to the Department of Public Instruction. A new college was built there, finished in 1898.
The Library Collection's Journey
The Old Bathurst School of Arts Library Collection likely began soon after the School of Arts started in 1855. By 1913-1914, the library had nearly 20,000 books! In the 1940s, the collection was still on the first floor of the 1862 School of Arts building.
The Bathurst City Council took over the collection in 1956. This happened when they acquired the Old School of Arts building. The collection now has about 2,000 books. These books were separated from the main library collection and stored away from public access. They have never been available for borrowing. However, people can view them under supervision.
What's in the Collection?
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The Old Bathurst School of Arts Collection has about 2,000 books. This is about 7% of the 30,000 books the library had in its busiest time. The collection is stored in a special compactus (a moving shelf system) in a staff-only area of the Bathurst City Public Library.
Types of Books
The collection includes books from as far back as 1700. Most are non-fiction and reference books from the 1800s. Many focus on Australian history and culture (called Australiana). This shows the original educational purpose of the School of Arts. The library is also adding some books back that were removed earlier. These tend to be fiction books from the mid-1900s.
Important Documents and Records
The collection also has useful old catalogues. These lists show what books were held in 1899 and what was added between 1900 and 1907. There's even a stocktake from 1982.
Some very valuable items are in the collection. One is a book from 1792 with pictures of old Sydney Town.
Here are some other important documents found with the books:
- Catalogue of the Bathurst Mechanic's School of Arts 1899: This book lists authors, subjects, and types of books.
- Supplementary Catalogue of the Bathurst School of Arts for the Years 1899 to 1907: This lists authors and book titles in alphabetical order.
- Original Bathurst School of Arts Minute Book: This book records how the School of Arts and its library were created.
- Ledger of periodicals, magazines, and reviews: This book, starting in 1895, lists magazines bound into volumes.
- Stock Book No.3: Starting in 1948, this book shows the starting number for each section. It gives an idea of the collection's size in the mid-1900s.
- School of Arts Visitors Book 1899-1913: This book recorded visitors to the School of Arts.
- Fees register: This book lists the names of members of the Bathurst School of Arts.
How the Library Worked
The 1899 catalogue includes the rules for the Bathurst School of Arts Library. These rules cover topics like the librarian's duties, how books were recorded, and what happened with lost or worn-out books. They also explain fines and how new books were added. These rules, along with the minute book, help us understand how the library operated.
The books were organized into sections:
- A-Travel &c. (travel and similar topics)
- B-Science
- C-Biography (stories about people's lives)
- D-History
- E-Poetry and Drama
- F-Miscellaneous essays, Sports &c. (various essays, sports, and other topics)
- Ref Lib-Reference Library (books not for borrowing)
Within each section, books were given a running number as they were added.
Condition of the Books
The books were in good condition as of May 2004. The local climate helps keep them well preserved. The area doesn't have high humidity. The library's air conditioning runs 24 hours a day, keeping the temperature constant. The library also has a plan to control pests. The storage area has low lighting and is far from natural light.
Experts recommend that the collection should be kept as it is and not expanded. They also suggest that books should not be loaned out. People should only view items under supervision. They recommend special care, like de-acidification, to help the books last longer.
Overall, the books are in good condition and stored well. However, some of the very rare and valuable items need more specific conservation work.
Changes Over Time
In 1913-1914, the School of Arts library had about 19,746 books. They loaned out 28,277 books that year. When the Bathurst City Library took over in 1956, the collection was probably even larger. The current collection is smaller because some books were removed by the Bathurst City Library in the 1950s.
Why This Collection is Important
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This collection of about 2,000 books is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was the main collection of reference and historical books at the Bathurst School of Arts from 1855 to 1956. The books date back to 1700, with many from the 1800s focusing on Australia. It includes rare and valuable books. It also shows what information was available to people in this important regional town long ago. Researchers can learn a lot from this collection about Australian history, the School of Arts movement, and how local libraries used to work.
The Bathurst Old School of Arts Library Collection was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on October 22, 2004. This means it meets certain important criteria:
Demonstrating History
This collection of about 2,000 books is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was the main collection of reference and historical books at the Bathurst School of Arts from 1855 to 1956. The books, some from 1700 and many from the 1800s about Australia, offer a look into the past. They show what information was available in a major regional center.
Connections to Important People
The collection is important locally because it's linked to the people who started and maintained the Bathurst School of Arts and its library. It also has local importance because some books have notes or bookplates from local citizens.
Artistic and Technical Value
The collection has high local importance for its beauty and skill. It contains many valuable and important books.
Social and Cultural Importance
The collection is very important to the local community. This was shown during a project to list heritage sites in the Central West.
Research Potential
The collection is important for research. Scholars can use it to study regional Australian history, the School of Arts movement in New South Wales, and how local libraries operated in the past.
Rarity
This collection is rare because it's one of the few surviving historical book collections from a major regional School of Arts library. In 2004, only a few other School of Arts libraries were still operating in New South Wales. Most of those had newer fiction books. This collection is special because it has mostly non-fiction and reference books, especially about Australia. This shows the original educational role of School of Arts institutions.
Representative Example
The collection is important because it's a great example of a book collection from a regional School of Arts library. With its old catalogues, it shows the range of non-fiction and reference books that were historically available in a major regional center in New South Wales.
