If you’ve visited the reading room here at the Caird Library (or if you’ve read our excellent Lloyd’s research guides) you’ll know that we have a complete run of this world-famous shipping newspaper from 1779 on.
But, did you know that from 1933 we also have it on microfilm, AND that we still subscribe to the print edition of the paper, published daily? The microfilm comes every six months and can be used in the repropgraphics room next to the E-library. The print edition comes daily and is kept in the reading room, and discarded after six months. And there’s also the website, accessible from the E-library.
The thing is, we’re not sure that the current print edition is used enough for us to keep subscribing. Most of our readers are more interested in the historical Lloyd’s list, for information on merchant navy ship histories and the departures of passenger vessels for family history.
Anyone care to comment? Is it enough to have the microfilm version every six months? Are we being simply sentimental by continuing our daily subscription to the current Lloyd’s list? Let us know what you think.
Renee (Digital Resources Librarian)
Frankly, I thought that an important maritime reference library would consider it essential to make available the latest information about an industry in which change is a constant feature. Six month old information is scarcely contemporary when major changes take place overnight to the very structure of the shipping world. Public ignorance is a present curse of modern shipping, and the removal of the only daily maritime newspaper (with a track record going back to 1734) breaks a vital thread and merely exacerbates this lack of awareness. I cannot believe that Lord Sterling would approve!
Comment by Michael Grey August 30, 2007 @ 2:42 pm