Dr Rachel Franks

Project Officer, Scholarly Engagement – State Library of NSW

Conjoint Fellow – The University of Newcastle

Libraries for the People: 11th Australian Library History Forum

18-19 November 2014

@cfwriter / #alhf2014

Bodies and Books:Crime Fiction Novels and the History of Libraries

Introduction

Photo: Taken by author, of a volume in her private collection

Collecting Crime Fiction

Photo: Barnes and Noble, http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/2940011823787_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF NEW SOUTH WALES,SYDNEY

SUBJECT-INDEXOF THE BOOKS IN THE

AUTHOR CATALOGUESFOR THE YEARS

1869-1895

REFERENCE DEPARTMENT

SYDNEYTURNER AND HENDERSON, PRINTERS.

1903

FICTION, WORKS OF––– BY COUNTRIES

––––––AMERICAN–––

––––––ARABIC–––

––––––AUSTRALIAN–––[This sub-heading was made in past years to

include not only works of fiction written by Australians, but also those written by other writers, which deal with Australian history, scenes, and adventures.]

––––––AUSTRALASIAN–––contd.–––

The Public Library of New South Wales (Reference Department), Sydney (1903). Subject-Index of the Books in the Author Catalogues for the years 1869-1895, pp. 304-305

21.5% of Titles are Crime Fiction

Library Programming

Albury City LibraryMuseum:

Crime Scene

Photo: Albury City, http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/leisure-and-culture/libraries-and-museum/librarymuseum

Local Studies

Opportunities to explore . . .

•Public Transport Timetables

•Street Frontages

•Floor Plans of Local Buildings

•Product Availability

•Environmental Features

•Local Regulations

A detective and a

librarian walk into a

bar . . .

Detective “Librarian” Dan

Images: Flickr, https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4068/4479445069_b347e8df5d.jpg and https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4068/4479445069_b347e8df5d.jpg

A restoration of order . . .

Images: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Conan_Doyle, Fandom for Equality, http://fandomforequality.com/2013/08/01/representation-my-dear-watson-some-suggestions-for-elementary/ and Elementary Fans, http://elementaryfans.com/elementary-1-19-snow-angels-to-be-rebroadcast-on-december-26/

Libraries aren’t always safe . . .

Image: Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306878162080603377/

The Bibliomystery

Images: Dewey decimated, Good Reads, http://www.goodreads.com/Murder of a stacked librarian, Good Reads, http://www.goodreads.com/Dewey death, Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/117375134013239940/

Images: The Gutenberg murders, The bookshop blog, http://bookshopblog.com/2011/04/20/the-mystery-league-great-crime-fiction-or-only-super-deco-dust-jackets/

The silence of the library, Good Reads, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079480-the-silence-of-the-library

Library History in Crime Fiction

Themes include . . .

•Attitudes

•Class

•Gender

•Race

•Environmental Change

•Technological Change

Or how things stay the same . . .

QUIET PLEASETHIS ROOM IS FOR PRIVATE STUDY ONLY

NO CARRY BAGS PERMITTED

Reilly, M. (1996/2008). Contest, p. 61

Photos: Taken by author, of volumes in her private collection

Tough guys need libraries too

Photos: Taken by author, of volumes in her private collection

Crime may indeed repell (sic), but – it fascinates, always.

Gask, A.C. (1923). The Red Paste Murders, p. 255

Photo: Taken by author, of a volume in her private collection

Thanks to. . .

•Ellen Forsyth

•Michelle Head

•Maggie Patton

•Richard Neville

•Anne Doherty

•Edwina Duffy

•Dr David Jones Questions?

•@cfwriter

•crimefictionwriter at gmail dot com