SOAS

I got the train to Russell square in central London in a gloomy, rainy morning to visit SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) library. After the summer renovation, the library looks more contemporary and dynamic. SOAS has one of the world’s most important academic libraries. The collection with 1.2 million volumes, archival materials and increasing network of electronic resources makes it one of the leading international centres for research learning and teaching in African, Asian, and Middle-Eastern subjects. I have been there before but this time I had an appointment with Dominique Schwarb who is subject librarian of Middle East and central Asia.

She patiently toured me through the Middle East and Islamic sections. Then in her room, we talked in detail about SOAS services, acquisition, cataloguing and classification.

First she talked about Customer service which operates similar to the other academic libraries i.e. enquiries are answered at help desk, reference librarian desk, phone and emails. They also offer library tours, information skills sessions and one to one sessions.

Then we talked about acquisition, selection of materials and vendors. She gave me a list of different resources SOAS purchasing their materials, considering the diversity of languages and subjects it was quite interesting.

I was interested to know the way different resources are catalogued in diverse languages, classified and retrieved. She explained these processes in details and also about SOAS Millennium Library management system which their OPAC is accessible to public. They apply DDC21 and MARC21.This visit sparked some fresh ideas in my mind to imply in our LRC.

Finally she mentioned about professional networks mailing list in this area and special peer group partnership with British library and BULAC.

At the end, I took some photos for my blog. Thinking to myself “I learned a lot through this visit. She was really a professional Librarian who generously shares her knowledge with me.” I left SOAS and the sun was shining!