In 1967 when Richard joined the department, initially as a rare book cataloguer, the collection was estimated to be some 40,000 volumes, plus a small collection of papers. Today, largely under his leadership, the Fisher houses over 700,000 volumes, with an additional 3,600 linear metres of archival material. His dedication in building the Fisher into one of the world’s greatest rare book libraries is a legacy that will endure for generations to come.

With the exception of a brief hiatus when he pursued a graduate degree in Bibliography at Leeds University, Richard spent his entire career at the University of Toronto, progressing from cataloguer to Director of the Fisher Library. He built research collections of books and manuscripts in all areas of academic interest over the whole period of recorded history, thereby supporting the twin pillars of the university – research and teaching. He did this by purchase – reading antiquarian booksellers’ catalogues, visiting bookshops, and attending book fairs in search of books and manuscripts – and by gift, encouraging private collectors to donate their libraries. Richard also developed a close relationship with a wide range of Canadian authors, ensuring the preservation of their manuscripts.

Richard lectured and published widely primarily on book history and bibliography. He taught courses in Bibliography, Book History, and Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Toronto and had been a Visiting Professor at Columbia and the University of Virginia. He was a mentor and inspirational influence to generations of students, many of which have gone on to distinguished careers in the area of rare book librarianship.

Richard will be missed by all of his colleagues here at the Fisher Library, and by a wide community of students, scholars, book lovers, friends and family.

A memorial service will be held on November 15 at 5:15 pm at Knox College Chapel, 59 St. George Street.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Friends of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (120 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1A5).

Maria Buda - post taken from UTL News

http://www.accessola.com/data/2/rec_docs/904_InsideOCULAsummer201.pdf

Larry Alford started his term as the new University of Toronto Libraries’ Chief Librarian on August 2nd. Larry is coming from Temple University where he served as Dean of the University Libraries. Prior to Temple, he was at the University of North Carolina for over 30 years, holding many distinguished positions including deputy university librarian and interim chief librarian.  To read more about Larry’s accomplishment, visit the Temple University  bio page.

Welcome Larry!!

Maria Buda (Blurb taken from UTL Staff Update by Margaret Wall)

Canadore College and Nipissing University held a grand opening for the $25 million state-of-the-art facility on Saturday to celebrate the many donors who contributed to the successful campaign.

http://www.nipissingu.ca/about-us/newsroom/Pages/Library-Opens-its-Doors.aspx

Our speaker this year will be Dr. Alexandra Gillespie : The Rise of the Machines? A Medievalist Rethinks the Printing and Digital ‘Revolutions’

“My talk will be about the way that we have modeled our thinking about the shift from print to media on our assumptions about the last ‘revolution’ in communication technology-  the advent of printing. Recently, scholars have begun to describe the conditions of manuscript production that prepared the way for the invention of the press, and that gave shape to the changes wrought by printing. Might a more nuanced understanding of the past help us to understand the present better as well?”

http://individual.utoronto.ca/gillespie/

Event details:

University of Toronto Mississauga
Faculty Club, 3140 William Davis/South Building

Wednesday May 11, 2011

Cash bar and Complimentary Appetizers 5:00 pm

Dinner: 6:00 pm

For Members and Non-Members: $33.00 +tax

Directions:

University of Toronto Mississauga Campus
3359 Mississauga Road North
Mississauga L5L 1C6

Directions and parking information can be found online :

William Davis/South Building is 02 on the map. The closest parking is available in Lots #4 and #9 (pay & display).

http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/fileadmin/root/images/UTMMap-color.jpg

Parking information:

http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/index.php?id=1653

Those wishing a tour of the U of T Mississauga Library before or after the dinner please contact Pam King

(pam.king@utoronto.ca)

To register: http://www.accessola.com/ocula/spring-dinner

Deadline: May 2, 2011

To see the full list of Pecha Kucha speakers and poster presenters and to register, please visit: http://wnyoacrl.org/conference

WNYO ACRL/OCULA Spring Conference
Innovation in Libraries
Friday, April 29, 2011
________________________________________

Thanks and if you have any questions please contact the Spring Conference Planning Committee:

OCULA - Jennifer Peters-Lise, Seneca College, jennifer.peters-lise@senecac.on.ca
WNYO ACRL - Kevin Manuel, Brock University, kmanuel@brocku.ca

For details, see: http://www.accessola.com/ocula/bins/content_page.asp?cid=451-2995-3009

When:      Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Where:     University of Toronto Mississauga

]]> http://www.accessola2.com/ocula/wordpress/2011/03/14/ocula-spring-dinner-save-the-date/feed/