Irish Legal History Society King's Inns and the battle of the books, 1972 : cultural controversy at a Dublin library
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Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 10
1851826866
ISBN 13
9781851826865
LCCN
Z 664 .K56 .
Category
Ireland
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Publication Year
2002
Publisher
Pages
xvii, 192 pages
Subject
Ireland
Tags
Series Name
Abstract
Kenny recounts a major cultural controversy that marked the recognition of the King's Inns Library as an important part of the heritage of modern Ireland. In 1972 thousands of non-law books from King's Inns were sold at Sotheby's in London. The sale was criticized as the random dispersal of an irreplaceable collection and it raises vital questions about the proper care of libraries, about the relationship of general knowledge to professional expertise and about the problematic nature of Irish identity in a post-colonial era. The books were sold because King's Inns was in financial difficulty, a difficulty exacerbated by the fact that the benchers had recently renovated their kitchens. The government was kept informed by the benchers of their plans but failed to respond to a proposal that might have resulted in all of the volumes remaining in Ireland. Kenny suggests means of avoiding acrimony or major controversy in connection with any possible disposal of books by King's Inns Library in the future.
Description
Content:
1. 'A memorable series of sales' -- 2. Christopher Robinsons and the foundation of King's Inns Library -- 3. 'Anxious to increase': 1832-1892 -- 4. Copyright and other privileges, 1801-1963 -- 5. Plans for selling, 1960-1963 -- 6. Sotheby's promise, 1969 -- 7. 'Nothing of Irish interest'? -- 8. The removal van -- 9. Questions in the Dail -- 10. First sales, April 1972 -- 11. 'Be blowed to your protests' -- 12. Second sales, November 1973 -- 13. So, what was actually sold? -- 14. Another storm brews -- 15. Lessons for the future -- Appendices.
1. 'A memorable series of sales' -- 2. Christopher Robinsons and the foundation of King's Inns Library -- 3. 'Anxious to increase': 1832-1892 -- 4. Copyright and other privileges, 1801-1963 -- 5. Plans for selling, 1960-1963 -- 6. Sotheby's promise, 1969 -- 7. 'Nothing of Irish interest'? -- 8. The removal van -- 9. Questions in the Dail -- 10. First sales, April 1972 -- 11. 'Be blowed to your protests' -- 12. Second sales, November 1973 -- 13. So, what was actually sold? -- 14. Another storm brews -- 15. Lessons for the future -- Appendices.
Biblio Notes
Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-185) and index.
Item donated by Graham Price.
Categorized by organization (Irish Legal History Society (ILHS)), then author/editor, then year.
Item donated by Graham Price.
Categorized by organization (Irish Legal History Society (ILHS)), then author/editor, then year.
Number of Copies
1
Library | Accession‎ No | Call No | Copy No | Edition | Location | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main | 236 | IRE ILHS KENNY 2002 | 1 | Yes |