SCOLMA: A chronology of fifty years, 1962 to 2012

This is a revised and up-dated version of the chronology that originally appeared in ARD 43, 1987 at the time of SCOLMA's Silver Jubilee. It attempts to record major incidents, initiatives and publications in SCOLMA's history, and includes failures and false starts as well as successes. It is accompanied by a list of those who have held office on the SCOLMA Committee.1961 Following publication of the Hayter Report (University Grants Committee. Report of the Sub-committee on Oriental, Slavonic, East European & African Studies. London, HMSO, 1961), the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the Institute of Race Relations, the Overseas Development Institute and the School of Oriental and African Studies and Institute of Commonwealth Studies in the University of London jointly fund a "preliminary survey to ascertain what material is available in London and Oxford for the study of African affairs" conducted by Miss O.B. Bertie, a freelance researcher. In December, following the completion of the survey, the Royal Institute of International Affairs calls a meeting attended by representatives from nineteen U.K. libraries with Africanist collections.1962 Foundation of SCOLMA on 2nd April: "to facilitate the acquisition and preservation of library materials needed for African studies and to assist in the recording and use of such materials".First issue of SCOLMA's newsletter, Library materials on Africa (LMA) edited by Donald Simpson.1963 Publication of 1st edition of SCOLMA directory of libraries and special collections on Africa, compiled by R.L. Collison, London, SCOLMA, 1963. 122pp. covering 142 collections.Grant of £2,500 obtained from the Leverhulme Foundation allows the engagement of Miriam Alman as part-time Bibliographer to work principally on compiling a list of periodicals published in Africa.1964 Publication of Theses on Africa accepted by universities in the U.K. and Ireland, comp. Barry Bloomfield, Valerie Bloomfield and Jim Pearson. Cambridge, Heffer, 1964. x, 74pp., including 1,142 entries.Pilot scheme initiated for the co-operative purchase of publications from Nigeria using the University of Ibadan Bookshop. Ten member libraries participate.Representative of SCOLMA invited to serve on the Committee of the African Studies Association of the U.K. (ASAUK)1965 "Periodicals published in Africa" Parts 1 & 2 issued as Supplements to LMA 3(1) May 1965 and 3(2) November 1965.Discussions initiated on a possible U.K. co-operative area specialisation scheme.1966 Area Specialisation Scheme comes into operation on 1st January. Individual libraries agree to assume responsibility for a particular country or discipline and to make special efforts to acquire current publications. Nineteen libraries participate in the country coverage and six in subject coverage."Periodicals published in Africa", Parts 3 & 4 issued as Supplements to LMA 3(3) March 1966 and 4(1) July 1966.Publication of U.K. publications and theses on Africa, 1963, ed. Jim Pearson. Cambridge, Heffer, 1966. x, 94pp and U.K. publications and theses on Africa, 1964, ed. Julia Allen and Anthea Garling. Cambridge, Heffer, 1966. x, 89pp.1967 On the expiry of the Leverhulme Foundation grant, a further grant is obtained from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) for £2,250 to enable the continuation of SCOLMA's bibliographical work until June 1969.Publication of U.K. publications and theses on Africa, 1965, ed. Anthea Garling, Cambridge, Heffer, 1967. x, 92pp.Publication of 2nd edition of SCOLMA directory of libraries and special collections on Africa, comp. R.L. Collison. London, Crosby Lockwood, 1967. vii, 92pp. covering 157 collections."Periodicals published in Africa" Part 5 issued as Supplement to LMA 4(2) January 1967.Nigerian co-operative acquisition scheme abandoned: "increasingly difficult to maintain local co-operation". …