Information Matters – Library and Information Studies at the University of Brighton

Today saw the official opening of the National Chess Library at University Centre Hastings (UCH). The collection was officially opened by Charles Clarke, MP, whose father, Sir Richard Clarke, donated his private collection of chess books to the British Chess Federation (now the English Chess Federation), to start the National Chess Library.

Part of the afternoon’s events included the presentation of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Europe award for the best student dissertation to Francess Warrell, who undertook research for her Masters dissertation into marketing of the collection. Frances completed her MA Information Studies at the University of Brighton last year, and has gone on to take up a post at the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum (see posting April 15th).

Frances is pictured below, with her dissertation supervisor, Dr. Nicola Smith, who teaches on the MAIS course in Brighton and is leading the Community History strand on the Joint Honours programme offered by UCH which will run for the first time this September (currently available as Joint Honours with Sociology or Joint Honours with English Literature). Details of all courses available at UCH are available here.

Also pictured below, (flourishing their wands and playing with a Harry Potter chess set), are Margaret Wallis, Head of Co-ordination and Development at UCH, and Sarah Eatwell, UCH Information Services Manager.

Nicola and Frances

Sarah and Margaret