Alan Ball Local History Awards 2007
The Alan Ball Local History Awards were established to encourage local history publishing by public libraries and local authorities. This is the twenty third time that they have been awarded. Organised by the Library Services Trust, they are an established part of the library awards scene, and provide publicity for local studies, both nationally and locally, particularly in the winners' home areas. While originally all entries were of printed items, in recent years the judges have welcomed increasing numbers of non-print items such as websites: one of this year's winners for instance is an online newspaper index.
The judges met in February 2008 and decided to make three Awards, the maximum number permitted. They also felt that one entry should be Highly Commended and another should be Commended.
The Awards are:
Bedfordshire County Council for Bedfordshire Women's Land Army Internet Archive. This is well structured, easily navigable, and a good example of a library working with a local historian to provide newly researched historical information within an existing website.
City of Newcastle upon Tyne for Victorian Villains by Barry Redfern, a detailed account by a former police officer of prisoners in Newcastle Gaol in the years 1871-1873. The judges were impressed by the meticulous research, the quality of writing and the copious illustrations in a work that throws much light on the social conditions of the time.
Somerset County Council for The Somerset Wetlands edited by Pat Hill-Cottingham and others. The judges thought this an admirable volume, beautifully produced and illustrated, the work of many writers who have contributed a well co-ordinated collection of essays on every aspect of the Wetlands.
Highly Commended is:
The City of Dundee for Time Train Dundee by Matthew Fitt, which would certainly have received a full Award had their not been a limit of three. A genuinely enjoyable history of Dundee for young people, with humorous writing and cartoons, it was felt to have a highly original approach that should attract the interest of youngsters who are less likely to read a more formal academic account.
Commended is:
Burnley Borough Council for Heritage Appraisals 2004-2007, six volumes covering sub-areas of Burnley that examine their history, the development of different building types and uses, open spaces, changes over the years, and much more. The judges were impressed by the standard of production and the meticulous research, but also by the fact that library resources had been skilfully used to produce something so valuable in a present-day planning context.
Updated: 17 November 2008