Friends of Edinburgh University Library – Annual General Meeting
The 51st Meeting held on Monday 26th November in the 5th Floor Seminar Room, Main
Library George Square
Attendees:
Joyce, Lady Caplan (Chair)
John Scally (Honorary Secretary)
Ivor Guild (Treasurer)
Donald William Stewart (Speaker)
Laura Ingram (Minutes)
David Bennett
M. Bennett
Kenneth, Lord Cameron
Ian Campbell
Prakash Das
Fiona Graham
Peter Freshwater
Andrew Grout
W. Johnston
Margaret Mackay
Joseph Marshall
Margaret Mowat
M. Robertson
Murray Simpson
Margaret Sturgeon
Ainslie Thin
J Wood
J Watkinson
Apologies:
Dr. Ann Matheson
Miss I. Roberts
R. Angus Harkness
Mrs Anne Macartney
Rev. John Murrie
Dr. A. R. (Russell) Forrest
Alasan Roberts
WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
Joyce, Lady Caplan, welcomed all those present to the Annual General Meeting of the
Friends of Edinburgh University Library, and introduced Dr John Scally, who replaced
Sheila Cannell as the Director of Library and Collections in July this year. Dr Scally is
currently serving on a temporary basis as the Honorary Secretary of the Friends.
Apologies were noted as above.
1. MINUTES OF THE 50TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 19TH
JANUARY 2012
Lady Caplan presented the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, held on 19th January
2012, for the approval of the Membership present. The minutes were agreed as a true record.
2. HONORARY SECRETARY’S REPORT – DR. JOHN SCALLY
Dr Scally commenced by noting the tireless work of Sheila Cannell during her time as
Honorary Secretary of the Friends. Sheila retired in the summer, and the Friends would like
to thank her for her hard work and enthusiasm for over ten years as Secretary.
Dr Scally noted that Professor Henry Walton (a long-standing member of the Friends
Committee) Miss Mary Edith Mackenzie, Mr C. J. Shaddock and Dr Arthur Kitchin sadly
passed away this year. We extend our sympathies to their families.
Dr Scally then gave a general report on the activities of the Friends during the past year.
Principal points to note were given as follows:

Friends Meetings and Events (2012)
The Friends of Edinburgh University Library held the following meetings and events in
2012:
 FoEUL AGM
Thursday, 19th January, 2012
The Key Speaker was Dr. James Loxley, who gave a lecture on “Shakespeare in Scotland”.
 Talk by Ian Campbell: “Thomas Carlyle and the University of Edinburgh: the evidence in the
University Library”
Thursday 23rd February 5pm
The talk was accompanied by a display of books and other related material from the Special
Collections.
 Masterpieces II – Private View
Friday, 30th March 2012
Friends of the Edinburgh University Library were invited to attend the private view of Masterpieces
II. The exhibition showcased some of the very best items that demonstrate the richness and diversity
of Library Collections of printed books, manuscripts, musical instruments and works of fine art.
 Talk by Sheila Cannell: “Past, Present and Future Conditional:
Reflections on a Chapter in Libraries”
Wednesday, 20th June 2012
Prior to Sheila’s retirement in the summer, she reflected on her passion for libraries, and on how
library collections and services have changed over her working life. Not known for sitting on the
fence, and with the benefit of her experience, she also took a punt on what might happen in the
next chapter in the history of libraries.
 Talk by Ian Campbell: “Thomas Carlyle and the University of Edinburgh”
Thursday, 15th November 2012
Chaired by Sir Tim O’Shea, the Friends were invited to this event because of their financial
support for the Carlyle project.

The membership of the Friends of Edinburgh University Library as at November
2012 is in the region of 290 members. Annual Membership is £15.00, payable on 1st
August each year. Life Membership is £100.

The Friends have been active in supporting the purchase of documents which might
not otherwise have been affordable to the Library. The total contribution to the
Library from FoEUL in 2011/12 was £17,375, most of which went towards the
purchase of the Gordon Wright Archive. Some other purchases are listed below:
 Clinical cases of Dr. Rutherford & Dr. Gregory in November 1793
 Les Races Bovines - Emile Baudement (1861-62)
 Manuscript ledger recording semen collections from Scottish Bulls (1974-78)
Dr Scally thanked the Friends for their generous donations.

Dr Scally introduced Dr Joseph Marshall (Rare Books Librarian within CRC) to the
meeting. Dr Marshall will henceforth be the Library link for Friends purchases, and
will be in attendance at Business Committee meetings. Joe is responsible for
developing and managing the historic printed collections.

A Friends Administrator is to be appointed shortly, with his/her duties and priorities
to be steered by the Chair of the Friends.

Mrs Fiona Graham continues in a paid capacity as the Editor of the Piper, and Mark
Blackadder continues as designer. The aim of the magazine is to communicate with
members who do not often make it to meetings, and to attract new members. Three
issues of The Piper (numbers 36, 37 and 38) have been produced over the past twelve
months, to very positive feedback from the membership. Articles covered areas such
as an account of the visit of HRH the Princess Royal (Issue 36) and an article
regarding The Lady Smith of Kelvin Veterinary Library, which appears in the new
winter 2012 edition, published in November 2012. Issue 38 also contains a Foreword
by Lady Joyce Caplan, Chair of Friends of Edinburgh University Library, an
introduction to Dr. John Scally, who has replaced Sheila Cannell as the Director of
Library and Collections, as well as details of forthcoming exhibitions and this year’s
Japanese-inspired Christmas cards and calendar.

Although Dr Scally is currently acting in the capacity of temporary Honorary
Secretary, the Director of Library and Collections will henceforth be an Ex-Officio
member of the Friends Committee, and will work with the Chair and the
Administrator to set the annual programme of meetings and events for the Friends. A
new Secretary will be recruited shortly from the Committee.

Library and collections Business Administrator, Helen Murphie, will continue to
provide support in relation to the management of the Friends accounts in the
University, and in assisting with the transitional arrangements.
Lady Caplan thanked Dr Scally for his comprehensive report and for his hard work over the
past few months in supporting the Friends. She also welcomed Dr Joseph Marshall to the
Friends.
3. HONORARY TREASURER’S REPORT – MR. IVOR GUILD
The accounts were circulated to the Members present, and Mr Guild apologised for the fact
that the accounts had not been circulated in advance of the meeting.
Mr Guild noted the following:

The additional £1,000 spend was for the Piper.

Friends’ administration costs for the year came to £1,000.

Overall, there was a loss of £9,000 for the year, but this is not a major concern as the
Friends still have access to £59,000 of assets, and the loss is fully accounted for.
Mr Murray Simpson noted that the £16,000 donation from the Friends for the Gordon Wright
collection will show in next year’s accounts, which is why this year’s expenditure is not as
high as anticipated.
Mr Guild asked those present to approve the accounts. This was agreed.
The Accounts statement is attached.
4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
Nominations for election of officers and members of the Committee were invited prior to the
AGM. Nominations had been received for Professor Ian Campbell and Dr Andrew Grout,
who were both proposed and elected to the Committee.
The sad passing of Professor Henry Walton was noted for the Minutes.
The current members of the Committee were re-elected.
Lady Caplan welcomed Professor Campbell, Dr Simpson Dr Grout to the Friends Committee.
5. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
Lady Caplan thanked Mrs Fiona Graham for her work on the Piper and the Christmas Cards,
and Dr Scally and his team, as well as the Library staff, for their administrative support.
It was noted that the Christmas Cards and 2013 Calendar were available for sale immediately
following the AGM.
Lady Caplan invited comments and questions from the Members present. It was noted that
the website is currently out-of-date and difficult to find, and that there is a second site (also
outdated, but not currently appearing via search engines). Dr Scally apologised on behalf of
the Friends Committee for the outdated nature of the websites and noted the need to
reanimate the administrative aspect of the Committee so that the Friends are not affected by
changes in Library staffing, but rather administered separately. Dr Scally assured the Friends
that the website will be reviewed comprehensively and linked to directly from the Library’s
Homepage in the New Year, when a new Friends Administrator is appointed.
Lady Caplan summarised that this has been a year of consolidation, and that next year she
anticipates the restructuring of some of the Committee roles’ remits, as well as the
appointment of a new Friends administrator. She reiterated that it is important too that the
Members feel that this is their own organisation, and they have input into how it is run.
Feedback and suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated.
Lady Caplan thanked the Friends for their support in attending today, and throughout the
year.
TALK BY DR DONALD WILLIAM STEWART
Dr Scally introduced Dr Donald William Stewart, who hails from the Isle of Lewis, and is
currently working on the Carmichael Watson project (centred on the papers of the pioneering
nineteenth-century folklorist Alexander Carmichael).
Dr Stewart gave a talk on “Submerged temples, underground houses, barps, and Ancient
Duns: an antiquarian friendship in the late nineteenth-century Outer Hebrides”.
Lady Caplan and the Members present thanked him for his entertaining and highly
informative presentation.
Dr Scally once again thanked all present for their attendance today.
FRIENDS COMMITTEE MEETINGS (2013)
Friends Committee Meetings (Committee Members only) for 2013 are as follows:
DATE
TIME
VENUE
Thursday, 14th February 2013
3.30pm to 5.00pm
Room 1.09 (Main Library, George Square)
Tuesday, 14th May 2013
3.30pm to 5.00pm
5th Floor Seminar Room
(CRC, Main Library, George Square)
Tuesday, 17th September 2013
3.30pm to 5.00pm
To be confirmed in due course
PROPOSED FUTURE FRIENDS EVENTS (2013) (TO BE CONFIRMED):
 AGM Business, 30 minutes. Speaker. Alan Warner, Writer in Residence. English
Literature. Using libraries and the internet in writing. Being a writer in residence.
 Professor Chris Breward. Principal ECA. Wed 20 February 4-5.30pm. Ask him for title in
relation to Libraries or Museums.
 Gordon Wright, ex-Publisher. Tuesday 23 April 4-5.30pm. A career in publishing and
photography – the Gordon Wright Archive at the University Library.
 Summer Visit. The Lady Smith of Kelvin Veterinary Library, Easter Bush. 12 June 2013.
2.30–4.30pm. Bus to be organised between George Square and Easter Bush.
Full details of confirmed future Friends events will be distributed in due course.