|
|
The Conjoint libraries are located on the first floor of the James Edward Neild House, next door to the Victorian Artists' Society. The James Edward Neild House was formerly the property of the Australian Medical Association at 426 Albert Street and was acquired by the Hospital in June 1969. James Edward Neild was the inaugural President of the Hospital and was also a long serving editor of the Australian Medical Journal. In 1890 the Australian Medical Journal in Melbourne published a catalogue of books and journals in Melbourne libraries, brought about by Sir James Barrett. The subject of this material was on the physiology and pathology of the eye, ear and throat. At the instigation of Dr RF Lowe and Dr KG Howsam, Medical Superintendent of The Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (granted Queen's patronage in 1960) and with the cooperation of the Committee of Management a professional librarian was appointed in 1954. The Ophthalmological Society of Australia, the forerunner of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists was founded in 1938 and the first volume of the Society's annual volume was published in 1939. Reciprocal exchanges in return for the Transactions of the Ophthalmological Society of Australia began and were stored in boxes at the Society's head office in Sydney. In 1953, after a request from Dr Lowe, the journals were transferred from Sydney to the hospital and The Conjoint Libraries of The Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital and the Ophthalmological Society of Australia (BMA) was created. Today the library still receives over 35 opthalmological journals from round the world in exchange for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (previously The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology). New exchanges are still being initiated. The Ophthalmological Society of Australia collections were based on the libraries of Sir James Barrett, Dr E Gault, Dr George Brew, Dr Arthur Joyce, Dr DV Giri, Dr M Schneider and Dr R Angus. Dr Lowe was a member of The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital Library Committee since its inception and served as Chairman of the Committee at various intervals until his retirement due to ill health in September 1997. He was Chairman of The Ophthalmological Society of Australia's Library Committee from 1953 to 1961 when he became Honorary Librarian. He resigned as Honorary Librarian of the College in September 1997 due to illness. On 27 September 1982, the Committee of Management decided to name The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital Medical Library, The Ronald Lowe Library, to honour Dr Lowe's long and dedicated involvement. In September 1995 the Library launched its internet home page, initially located at the University of Melbourne Department of Ophthalmology, thanks to the hospitality of Professor Hugh Taylor. It was relocated to the RVEEH domain at http://www.rveeh.vic.gov.au/library/ in August 1996. In February 2000, Judith Quilter retired as Chief Librarian after an amazing 30 years service to the library. This dedication has been rewarded by her receiving a Medal in the Order of Australia in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours list. Victorian Doctors in training gave the library 5 stars
in a survey conducted by AMA
Vic in 2002, see "Study facilities- On Duty". Origin of the Name of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of OphthalmologistsThe Ophthalmological Society of Australia was founded
in 1938. In 1969 the Society became the Australian In November 2000, the name was changed again to The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. |
   |
| Library Home | About the Library | Opening Hours | Location | Membership | Contact Us | Collection | Museum | Services | Help |
