Category: Art

My Italian holiday – a escape worth waiting for

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

In depths of the pandemic, I thought of nice places I would like to be when we get back to normal.  One place on top of my list was a trip for a summer holiday to Italy! I still have buckets full of places I would like to visit in Italy. I know I have just returned from the USA but that was partly professional travelling and development, with some time spent with family in relaxing Boston – it didn’t feel too overwhelming, urban and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The last couple of weeks spent in Italy was different for me as I did not take any work with me, and it was a holiday.  It was slightly different too as it was mainly my husband and I, as we do often go away with family in the past. So here is a recap on how I relaxed and thankfully it all went very smoothly.

My husband is Italian and had visited Ischia before in the 1980s but I have never been and was looking forward to it. I booked the trip in early Spring so I knew I had something to look forward to even though I have been ‘burning the midnight oil’ with professional commitments. Getting to Ischia was fairly straightforward from flight to airport in Naples then to the port to catch the ferry to the island.  From door to hotel, it took about 12 hours but it was good to enjoy the ferry and sights on the way there.  It was spectacular to see the Bay of Naples as the ferry left the port with the city buildings covering the hillside, and to the right you can see the volcano Vesuvius in all its magnificence. As we left the bay of Naples, there are a few islands to spot, such as Procida, before we got to Ischia’s port.  The ferry trip like I had started my holiday already with the trip past the islands.  One aspects I must mention is the colour of the blue skies and the Mediterranean Sea were beautifully blended to a bright blue canvas and it truly was a vision to behold!

We stayed in a great hotel about 20 minutes from the Port of Ischia and even the taxi ride had me excited as I saw the shops, cafes and places to enjoy great Italian cuisine on the way to the hotel.  The floral promenades and typically Italian island streets made we so happy as I knew I can truly take it ease and gear down to slower pace whilst on holiday.  I had no choice to take it easy as it was a lot warmer than London and you literally have to have a rest if you are not working as it is too hot to spend time out in the heat of an Italian summer.

From the first evening, the views across the sea and the nearby hills were amazing.  The food was great as usual and it was amazing to savour the local ingredients that definitely tastes better in Italy. It was great to have lots of seafood, regional mozzarella, ice cream and pasta obviously.  The nights were cooler for a pre and post dinner or passagiata as the Italians call it. At times it felt like we were straight out of our film set with local children splashing around in the water whilst a few hundred metres away, diners were have meals on the seafront whilst the sun was setting.  There was a nice walk after the restaurants to the Aragonese Castle or to the Port at night. 

During the day, we mainly stayed around the pool as all the beach clubs were mainly booked in advanced.  In the afternoon we went to the parts of the beach that were free for you to pitch your own spot.  It was great to be around local or holiday makers.  We did venture out on a local bus to Moronti Beach, which one of the island’s largest beaches.  It was close to the picturesque Sant’Angelo area and beach.  The volcanic beach sand was so hot, you had make sure you wore your beach shoes as I am sure you could burn the sole of your feet.  The beach itself was beautiful and was inspired seeing so many people swimming and making the most of the good weather, sunshine and warm water.  The bus was not expensive at all but it was a small bus as the streets leading to the beach were sometimes very narrow.  I realised then that I probably won’t drive on the island even if I had planned to.

Ferragosto is a holiday that is celebrated annually on the 15th August and I was looking forward to see how it would be whilst on the island.  We spent the day around the pool and beach but in the evening, we booked into our hotel’s rooftop restaurant for a special taster menu for the celebration.  Whilst there was a DJ and great ambience and amazing views, we could also here the service from the nearest church and the choir singing.  It truly was a special way to spent the night and close to midnight there were fireworks around certain parts of the island. 

For the next couple of days, we mainly relaxed, went for walks and the hardest decision was where we should go to eat that evening.  All in all, I loved Ischia and would to visit again in future years.  I still have some other part in my list to see.  The hotel was very friendly, welcoming, and we felt really relaxed and rested.  I would certainly recommend you visit the island if you have already been to mainland Italy.

Our adventure, as my husband called it, continued to the mainland.  We got the ferry back to Naples and then took a train from Naples to the little hillside village on our next stop for a few days.  We stay with some family who were also on holiday in the Campania region but the Salerno Province of Italy. The location was so stunning with views from the hills overlooking the coast along the Mediterranean Sea.  It was relaxing to sit and admire the view.  The first two nights were stormy with a lightening show in the sky and over the sea but during the day it was sunny and hot. 

We spent some time around the little village where other were also holidaying and it was nice to see the typical narrow roads and hillside architecture.  It really was a coffee culture in the morning and evenings and a great way to get to meet everyone.  In the day we also spent some time at Acciarolli beach – it was great and it reminded me of Maracas – a beautiful beach with similar waves in Trinidad.  It was good to spend time chatting and enjoying the seaside.  The beach clubs were useful if you wanted a cold drink, snack or to use the toilet. They also played music which created a nice beach vibe.  I am grateful to our relatives who invited us to this beautiful part of the country and for their hospitality and kindness during this time.

This was exactly the type of holiday I was looking for – where I can just enjoy the views, local delights, rest and relax.  I did have a few days in London before I went back to work. I felt so relaxed – I didn’t look at my email until the night before I return to work. When I think back to the lockdown days – I am pleased I had this holiday. I have also since heard my husband say that it was a “really good holiday” and we had an amazing time.  I totally agree with him and I look forward to another time when we visit another beautiful part of Italy.

Campus to Cape Cod – a trip to New England

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

The SLA Conference 2024 was arranged in the University of Rhode Island as it was the perfect venue for us to find a location on the East coast of the USA to host a conference within our budget and for the right size for this year.  It was also the 115th anniversary of SLA and I was looking forward to attending as a member of the SLA Conference Committee 2024.

I flew into Boston a couple of days before the start as unable to fly directly to Rhode Island. Boston has always been on my consciousness having friends and family there.  It was in a middle of a heatwave when I arrived and it was great to see a very big and modern looking city.  Having spent one night there, I made my way by Amtrack train to the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. I was unsure about booking my tickets initially but it all went smoothly in the end and the cost was very reasonable.  I got a non-stop train and paid $20.00US extra for business class to be sure that was a reservation to get me there in time.  There were several trains and it was not an issue in getting there.

Arriving at the University of Rhode Island was quieter than I have been before – there were some corn fields and forest close by with a campus spread out with several buildings close by.  It was great to see the wildflowers and planting in the grounds as well as the various campus buildings from the Library, Business School, Multicultural Centre, and many more that we were to use for the next few days.  I saw about five groundhogs and deer on my first few hours around the campus.  Obviously, it was very quiet those few days as it is the summer break but it was great to meet SLA staff, friends and colleagues who I have been working with over the last few years.  I also stayed in the dorms for the student experience, vicinity to the conference locations as well as the cost was affordable.

My obligations as Past President for SLA meant that I had a Board Meeting on the first day and I was as enthusiastic and grateful as ever on how far we have come and how we have all worked extra hard with our Association Management Company to get to this point in record time.  I was pleased to see staff and leaders who work behind the scenes and to meet my fellow board members.  I absolutely do not take this for granted! I feel privileged to be given this opportunity for the last three years plus my time with SLA Europe.  I am just basically ecstatic that we are doing much better and we can celebrate with members, partners and guest in this learning environment in such a special location.  Obviously, we did serious work of strategic planning and building better relationships for the best of SLA for us to last hopefully a long time in future.

I was truly proud that we were organised a programme in such a short space of time and it definitely felt like we were on the right track to give our conference delegates some great insights, knowledge, experience and take-aways. The SLA conference opening and closing keynote speaker was Brian Pichman who gave a motivational and informative keynote on Artificial Intelligence for Libraries and information professionals.  Brian was very cool and genuinely highlighted the current landscape, new technologies pros and cons, and the value of our professional role in this paradigm.  It was great to be in the lecture hall and although the seating was very steep – it was nice to see the 300 plus delegates in one space.  For the next three days, I attended several talks on Generative AI, Information Literary, News Gathering, Leadership and Career Development, technical standards (e.g. engineering standards by British Standards Institute).  We were really happy to have a full exhibition hall and for our partners to full up the exhibition spaces.  We have received great feedback from our exhibitors and partners, and we thank them for being with us in 2024!

It was not all work…there were many social moments to meet other international professionals from our dorms meeting, international 115th anniversary reception, a quiet chat in the gardens, a bar trip to the hotel venues, to dinner in the University’s dining halls and the famous SLA Dance Party in the ballroom.  I haven’t lived in the USA but being in this setting was great for my reality check on the many American school ballrooms movies I have seen in the past. Of course, I loved this part of the conference and it made me happy meeting people and the informal conversations we had.  I do feel it is a special time and I will cherish these memories with nice people at the conference. I also have time to meet some British contacts. I look forward to our future endeavours in person or online.

After the conference goodbyes, I was picked up by cousin to spend time with her family just outside Boston.  It was great to see more of the countryside in this region, and to have her as a local guide for all the interesting sights, cultural and local knowledge that she was able to share with me.  I obviously love the New England side houses and gardens – I never got bored of looking at the various designs and flowers, especially at this time of year when everything was in bloom.  We went to Hyannis on Cape Cod where we drove very close to the area where the Kennedy family estates are on the ‘Cape’.  It did make me curious to how they would have spent their time in the beautiful part of the country.  It was interesting to read on why the Kennedy family have homes there and the glamour they brought to the area.  The beaches were also nice – not too built up but relaxing, clean and warm.  I would certainly recommend going to there and it really had a good holiday vibe with shops and restaurants not far from the coast.

The same day, we also drove to Plymouth which has great significance to the early English Puritan settlers to the region.  Ironically, I also learnt about this history when I was in primary school in Trinidad and Tobago (I did go to a private primary school with British and International expats at the time).  I remember the visual images like the ones I have shared her and it is hard not to remember the story of the ship Mayflower which took these settlers to America. Plymouth has a famous rock which residents are proud of (as my Plymouth-Trinidadian secondary classmate point out). The story of the indigenous tribe and their relationship and coming together with the settlers is now one of the most endearing stories of the American story. The food on my visit was really good as most of the time I was a guest and it good for people to recommend things to me.  The region was famous for lobster, chowder and local specialities and they all takes great.  Even the ice cream had nice flavours and as it was so hot – it was good to try them.

Back in Boston, we spent a day in the city and it was a really contrast to the countryside.  There was a lot of modern skyscrapers, but more relatively old and historic buildings for New England.  We walked in the Haymarket Part of the city which had a very European design to the buildings and we also did a Duck tour on the city streets and on the river in Boston.  It was great to have the tour guide and hear about the history of the city and the buildings in Boston – I do recommend it and it was good to for seeing as much as you can if you time is short.

We also went to Cambridge to see MIT and the Harvard Campuses.  I used to order publications from Harvard Business School Press and even now, the Harvard Business Review is popular with British Library users. The campus, history and architecture were truly amazing to see and the area has a general buzz for those visiting even if there were no classes on for the summer. I know you can book official tours if you want to see more but I am certainly pleased to visit the campus – even if it was only once in my life.

On my last day in Boston, it was recommend that I visit Salem, and it was nice of my family to take me there before we went to the airport. I didn’t know much about Salem but it is a residential and tourist area attraction for the story of the Witch allegations and executions on the 1692.  It was a Saturday afternoon and there were lively activities, ghost tours and several museums to visit if you want to do more.  I am still a bit busy but it would be nice to read more about the Salem Witch Trials and the wider history of the new England region.  They certainly have several places with the names of English towns!

I only had a few days in Boston due to work and family commitments but I certainly like Boston and Rhode Island.  Driving around the region was good and perhaps I can visit again another time to spend more time seeing the beautiful architecture, history and gardens in this part of the world.

Getaways – Finding some time for balance

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

As I have been busy on all fronts, I try to find time to rest, relax, do some fun things and go to out. The best thing about warmer weather is that it encourages you to go out to explore be it in the city or countryside. There are still parts of England I would like to see and pencilling time to have a break is essential for our wellbeing, enjoyment and peace of mind. I am pleased to say that this exactly what I did.

I went to Wales for an Intellectual Property Masterclass training course which I have been meaning to go to for a number of years.  It was good to visit Newport again, and this time we were based on the waterfront.  The train journey and the views were amazing. I also like that the IPO’s office is in a governmental complex in the same location as the Office of National Statistics (ONS).  These are two great governmental department that I have used many times in my career as an information professional. It was also very nice to meet other partners from other locations in the UK.  I didn’t venture to Cardiff as I did last time but it was good to see some towns (e.g. Bath Spa) in the train journey that I hope to visit another time.

I have planned a more relaxing getaway in a seaside town but it was reliant on good weather. Luckily the weather was okay for a trip at the end of May to Bournemouth. I have been before but it was a cold windy day to be on a beach.  The weather was nice and it was a pleasant time to get out of London – which can be claustrophobic if you stay here all the time.  It took about three hours to get there with clear traffic and I can certainly visit again especially if the weather is guaranteed to be good. Bournemouth had a nice seaside but liveable vibe about it and I liked the sandy beaches.  I obviously made the most of the views and one of their best restaurants down there. I like looking at the homes and the spaces they have and therefore the drive and country roads are also interesting whilst down there.

We were on the Dorset coast and the first time I heard about the region was whilst studying Thomas Hardy’s poems.  So it was interesting being in Hardy country.  Our book actually had an image of the hedgerows and therefore it was truly interesting visit World Heritage site Lulworth Cove (better known as Durdle Door) and Jurassic Coast. The drive was along rural roads to country lanes, and therefore there were some nice sites to see along the way.  Durdle Door was really impressive and one of the best social media attractions in the Covid years and therefore I found out about it when most people were visiting it then.  The coast is amazing to see and I admired the persons doing the cliff walk on such a really windy day.  You really have to be fit and wear the right clothes and gear to do these extraordinary cliff walks.

We stopped for a few hours in Shaftesbury on the way back to London.  I have seen beautiful photos of the town over the years and it known for being the famous location in Gold Hill for a Hovis Bread advert.  Apparently, the advert showed people with a Yorkshire accent but obviously the setting was in Shaftesbury.  The drive to Shaftesbury was interesting and seemed popular with local people for the hilly roads, bends and turns!!  It was nice to take some photos on Gold Hill and have a wander around for a little while.  The Friar’s church was good to see with the views over the rolling hills – which were truly beautiful and picture perfect. 

This was a short break outside of London but closer to work and home – I had some other outings.  I attended a celebration of SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) at Small Business Research and Enterprise Centre (SBREC) – previously known as the City Business Library.  I have been visiting this library since the 1990s and it is great to see that they are still around.  It is great that they are funded and based in the Corporation of London. In a right reflection to the city, it was a pleasure to spend their celebratory event in an old Roman Amphitheatre whilst networking to jazz music from the London Guildhall School. In my past role and currently, we have supported each other for providing research and business support for users.  Most frequently, we have been cross-referring to SBREC as we navigate our cyber-attack recovery.  It was great to hear about their current strategy for business in the city and best wishes to SBREC and their staff!

The E17 Art Trail was back aging in June, which celebrates and showcases local artist, arts, crafts and designs. I made time to visit some of the locations in my neighbourhood with a friend who was displaying her artwork in a florist and also checked out the art studios and venues in the vicinity.  It was nice to see some of the regenerated areas of Walthamstow and how new businesses are repurposing old and new spaces.  There was an established artist space for an exhibition and newer multifunctional spaces such as an indoor climbing wall – which in itself looked like art with the multicoloured climbing wall.  The venue also had co-working spaces, a gym, café and family activities.  It is great that this has evolved in this area and it was a great use of space as well as building communities around these activities.

I guess you know by now that I like gardens and plants.  It was really good to take some walks around the neighbourhood for longer spells or just for my routine walks.  I was planning on visiting a garden in East Grinstead today but I had to change my plans.  However, I still have so lovely photos here of the community gardening in a local church and some of the nice plants in the front gardens in my neighbourhood. 

A David Gurteen Knowledge Café at Ipsos was another event I made time for recently.  It was in the lovely St Katherine Docks in London.  I held a birthday party there once and it had lovely memories for me.  It was nice to finally attend David’s café and be inspired but the discussions, meeting new people and seeing a venue and host in town.  Ipsos presented some interesting and provocative insights on Demography and Politics in their ‘Ipsos 2024 Generations’ report. The discussion was interesting to hear how the world population figures are being predicted and the impact it may have our own lives and resources.  I also live the concept of the Knowledge Café (having hosted one with David at London City Hall and at the British Library).  I hope we continue to use these café in-person to share our knowledge, insights and make new connections.  Over a decade ago, I met someone at one of these cafés who became a friend who then frequently met me at the British Library, presented a session at City Hall for me and even played in the Notting Hill Carnival with me. This friend passed away about three years ago.  So sometimes something as easily accessible as this can have deeper meanings. 

I am likely to be a bit busy the next couple of months with work, conference and family.  I hope to be able to spend some time balancing all these commitments.  Life is short and therefore we have to do everything in moderation but I will certainly make time for balance.

Fact to Fantasy – something for everyone in Libraries

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

I have been mainly working and therefore my photos are my inspiration that keep me going and they also remind me of what I did. Having looked at them yesterday, I realised my photos were all about libraries.  Therefore I am going to give a brief over view of my activities.

Dipping and rising, moving and settling, the Commons remind one of a flock of birds settling on a stretch of ploughed land. They never alight for more than a few minutes; some are always flying off, others are always settling again. And from the flock rises the gabbling, the cawing, the croaking of a flock of birds, disputing merrily and with occasional vivacity over some seed, worm, or buried grain.

Virginia Woolf, The London Scene: Six Essays on London Life

 I have visited the House of Commons Library before in 2011, but it was great to visit it again for the multiple aspects of Library, Information and Research work they do.  A new member of their team is also my ex-volunteering colleague for SLA.  The day was well-planned with great presentations from the heads of services, and it was really interesting to hear their process for providing information that is very important for our lives and for the policy makers who are meant to have our best interest.  I do recall remembering some similarities for when I work at the Greater London Authority and you would see politicians on the screen and workplace all the time. Coincidently, I saw a politician that I had seen before on this trip.  One of the best aspects of the open day is impartiality as information and research professionals in providing information impartially to the Members of Parliament. Now I use my current employer’s ethos ‘for everyone’.  I also remembered that when I was a trustee in a local charity over 18 years ago, we were reviewing our mission and values – and it was the first time we used the word ‘everyone’ in terms of provision.  It is a great reminder on our role in society and as a democracy – it is for everyone. 

The tour of the physical spaces were great to see – from the modern Portcullis House to the Palace of Westminster with the world-famous Big Ben Tour.  The art work and modern features of Portcullis House is light and airy with atrium, art work of politicians on the wall and functional for events such as the Open Day. I saw a TV presenter sitting around but it is not the type of place where you take photos or go to say ‘hello’. The main Palace of Westminster in contrast is medieval in parts and older as it is was rebuilt due to a fire and it is now a World Heritage site. The hammerbeam roof of Westminster Hall was very impressive for the time it was built – considered the largest hall in England and in Europe at the time it was built. Most recently, Queen Elizabeth laid in Westminster Hall on her passing in 2022.  The hall has also been used for foreign dignitaries such as when Barack Obama in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, President Nelson Mandela in 1996, President Charles de Gaulle in 1960 and President Albert Lebrun in 1939. 

The House of Common Debating Chamber, Library and lobbies have magnificent history and artwork but we were not allow to take photo to share on digital media, apart from the ones I gained permission to share on here. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, funny and kept the tour very amusing – just as in my first visit.  The library staff and tour was great and I love the work that they do.  The library is quaint and old – there English heritage furniture from the 1950s and they look great – a bit of a time warp.  It does have great views of the river Thames from the windows.  As you may recall, I also visited the House of Lords for another event last summer but I haven’t visited the House of Lords library – perhaps one day. The debating chamber was in recess so it is different when it is empty and it looks much bigger than it actually is in real life.  It was good to see the microphones hanging from the ceilings, the benches also have speakers so that they can heard over the noise.  The items on the table are just as you see it on TV with a few bibles for swearing in.  Last but not least, there are several reasons why you try to visit one day for such a famous building and I understand you can book tours or speak to your local Member of Parliament.  We ended the day with more talks, tours and fun quiz. I am also pleased that I know some of the staff there too. If you need to do some research and/or find out some information – do check out the House of Commons library website and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) link too.

I have been going to outer London for the Kickstart your Business Project such as Catford Library and Orpington Library.  Although these libraries are in London – they are about two hours away.  It is interesting to see local libraries in these areas and to meet their communities who are attending the workshops.  They all see well used and the staff are doing great work in curating events to collections in their local libraries.  It does feel very reassuring to see that local libraries are places of study, learning, literacy, comfort, cultural, creative and business hubs. I am also seeing several news recently about public libraries being cut and it reminds me that there is still so much to advocate to keep libraries where they are still being used. Let’s hope we continue to appreciate them and the value they add to their communities. 

At the end of February, I attended a webinar on Business Archives.  It is interesting how materials from business is used to tell stories on artists of the day as they were the graphic designers at the time.  There were also interesting archives of stainless-steel manufacturers describing how important the invention was at the time due to its durability but also as it can be used for multiple products such as golf sticks.  This too has inspired me for how we can use the business trade literature collection for storytelling by innovations over time.  You never really get bored in archives or research work! 

Vast landscapes, intrepid heroes, mysterious portals, shadowy forces, enchanted woodlands… Fantasy encompass all of these and much more.  

From facts to fantasy… The British Library’s exhibition

‘Fantasy – Realms of Imagination’ also ran in the last few months.  I am so pleased that I was able to visit it despite having a very busy schedule at work.  I was supposed to visit it when I wrote my Anansi story last autumn but it was great to see the connection with storytelling in all cultures from ancient folk tales, fairy tales, supernatural and epic stories.  With the use of film, sounds, costumes, and of course… inspiration from books, some of our most famous stories were inspired from the humble book.  On display the Wizard of Oz, The Game of Thrones, Beowulf, Milton’s Paradise Lost and some news for me such as Giovanni Battista Piranesi on underground Rome.

Although fantasy can be regarded as simple stories for children where ‘everyone lived happily ever after’ – it was highlighted that fantasy are often dark, ambiguous and complex.  Perhaps just as in real life but the genre allows us to explore these in depth.  The creativity of this genre has fascinated us for years and gives us the ability to look beyond the normal world from different perspectives and conventions. I was happy to see the exhibition well attended as lots of fans for this genre and I too am a fan without realising if we reflect back on our childhood of storytelling in the Caribbean.  It really is amazing that the storytelling has the ability to take us to another dimension!

Chanel – A fashion great

Published on by Seema Rampersad1 Comment

To beat the January Blues, the most overarching theme for me to ‘Connect the Dots’ is fashion creativity and innovations inspired by my visit to the V&A exhibition on Coco Chanel, and work-related research activities.  My dear friend treated me to the Chanel exhibition at the V&A Museum, and I really was looking forward to it as it was only the second time that I visited it the museum.  I know that most of their exhibitions are really popular, but I missed the ones on Christian Dior, David Bowie and Frida Kahlo in recent years. The current exhibition ‘Gabrielle Coco Chanel – Fashion Manifesto’ about fashion designer Coco Chanel was truly an unforgettable experience, and a walk-through fashion, culture, social and human history.  There were so many aspects of her life, her work, innovations and fashion pieces that were phenomenal, beautiful and practical throughout in her lifetime on display at the exhibition.

I must admit I didn’t know much about Gabrielle Coco Chanel – and learning about the beginning of her life in 1883 is interesting to read on Wikipedia too, with her mother being a laundry woman and her father selling clothes in a nomadic way in France.  With the death of her mother when she was at a young age at 12, she was then brought up with her sister at an orphanage run by nuns. Crucially, she was taught to sew at the orphanage and this played an important factor for the rest of her life.  Her first job was as a milliner …and the rest they say is fashion history. With such as long life of creativity and designs – there are many books written on her journey from orphanage to one of the world’s greatest fashion designers and icons. 

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” – Coco Chanel

Some of the aspects of her life that I really like that were showcased at the exhibition were:

Iconic Fashion Designs – Without a doubt some of her earlier pieces were different from the long skirts and dresses known for at the turn of the 20th century.  At the exhibition, there were real examples of the hemlines going up, and the shoulder and torso exposed more with sleeveless designs.  This was such a change for women at that time in Europe, and it designs seemed to get closer and closer to the dresses that we know today.  Obviously, Chanel’s design are so classic and I was in awe of the fabrics, textiles, sequins, ribbons, beads – and the materials still looking amazing to this day for the items on display.  The exhibition items were probably from private collections, but with an original Chanel brand design and name, there is no wonder that a lot of these were kept by their owners as ‘fashion art pieces’. 

Innovative Twists – Seeing the fashion displayed over this time, it was obvious that interactions with fashionistas, suppliers as well as world trends having an impact on her fashion designs.  Chanel seemed be one of the early advocates for being careful in the sun with using sun cream as evidence by the labelling on some beauty products she provided.  She also designed cuts that made it easy to walk freely, play sports and incorporated materials and features that were new at the time such as gold buttons and her branded logo and was fluid to change styles.

“Nothing is more beautiful than freedom of the body,” she once said, and her designs lived by these words: Chanel’s silhouettes were fluid and androgynous, her designs loose and – in the case of her iconic little black dress, or LBD – democratic. She wanted women to move and breathe in her clothes, just like men did in theirs. Her work was, in many ways, a form of female emancipation.

How Coco Chanel changed the course of women’s fashion | CNN

Gender Empowerment – I loved the ultra-feminine pieces that were ranges from chiffon, lace, beads, textiles from rural communities in Nepal, to masculine cuts and androgynous designs with trousers.  Considering these were early 1900s, clearly Chanel’s goal was to make her styles access to all but also to celebrate the different needs and expression of society, culture and genders.  There was a section with dresses that was so beautifully pink for a youthful person, and I couldn’t help thinking of my own pink graduation dress when I was 16 years old.  I also loved her iconic Chanel Suit and how they represented a whole new dynamic to women’s practical wear, but also power embolden for feminine dressing.  It was spectacular to see all the suits displayed at the exhibition and they certainly still look in fashion today.  I couldn’t help but notice that some of our high street shops in Oxford Street, and in my neighbourhood, still have cheaper imitations of her Chanel designs from her handbag to jackets!

Entrepreneurship – Throughout her life, I think Chanel’s entrepreneurial fashion business can be admired for launching a whole variety of product which had her brand and style, such as her perfumes, handbags, suits and even the ‘Little Black Dress’ that she because famous for labelling. The story of how Chanel No:5 got the name from the fifth sample she received from her perfumier showed that she was willing to move away from the norm of the time – she was looking for ‘a scent that make a women smell like a woman and not a rose’.

Obviously, the Chanel brand is world famous and she was able to have significant international success and recognition from celebrities, world leaders to Hollywood greats – with some Nazi and French Resistance connections in wartime Europe, depending on the time of her long career.  She was also good see the opportunities to incorporate materials and styles of other regions, such as using tweeds from Britain and designs from global suppliers for Ostrich feathers. 

“Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel

Internationally influential, Chanel was very shrewd in building not just a fashion house but a global brand.  She was one of the first persons to use a logo for her Coco Chanel (CC) designs. She also had many staff, partnerships, clientele with a retail network with logistical and intellectual kudos to build global brand at the time – especially for a woman.  She was famously also known as Mademoiselle Chanel.    

Positive Attitude – I particularly like the attitude that Chanel maintained throughout her long life, and the tenacity for her long career from simple orphanage to the height of fashion. Beneath all of her simplicity there was an elegance, allure and experimentation to try new things such as incorporating lace in designs when it previously only used for underwear garments. The exhibition describes this as Chic Simplicity, but it is the type of styles that has lasted for a long time …and will be around for still long time. Her designs like the icon suit, little black dress and the bag are like a metaphor for being full of simple design features with attitude and finer details that will be resilient.  It is ironic that they will never go out of fashion and that is her legacy will live on in the Chanel brand and icon fashion designs.

“I don’t do fashion. I am fashion.” – Coco Chanel

Chanel’s story and designs will inspire generations for ages to come. I see the connectivity with past and the present with a hint of innovation and I am so glad I was able to see this exhibition – which still has some dates available. Chanel certainly is one of greatest-of-all-time French Nationals and Designers. Merci Mademoiselle Chanel!

Dear Santa – favourite things for me please!

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

Dear Santa

How are you? The busy seasonal rush have already started and I thought you would like to see my suggestions for gifts for this festive session:

Books – I am lucky to be near a mainline train station on in my way to work and the St Pancras Christmas Tree, which is usually sponsored by fabulous businesses over the years, has one of the best artificial trees designs this year.  This year the tree is sponsored by Hatchard’s bookshop of London, one of the oldest bookshops being established in 1797.  I first came across Hatchard’s when I used to order books for the library I worked for in the past, and even then, my colleagues told me how special this bookshop is compared to others.  The design has also included audio booths, and a seating area where you can listen to famous stories from Penguin Books.  It is such a great pleasure to see it for the next few weeks and how people are engaging with the tree in the journeys in this festive season. 

Appropriately, there is a Waterstones bookshop directly opposite the tree should you wish to buy some books.  I also popped into my local bookstore this weekend and they too have a great collection of books and gifts that have a local specialism with lots of community products and ideas.  This time of year is the best time for finding some reading time, especially during the holidays.  I am looking forward to reading as a treat this year!

Fashion & Clothing – I buy clothes throughout the year but at this time, there are still so many beautiful clothes in the shops, and it is the one time that we may be able to wear really nice clothes for Christmas Parties.  Therefore I know that some people look for new clothes to wear for the office or family parties… or just for themselves.  This week I also realised that I need a functional work bag, and therefore I am hoping to get some vouchers so that I can buy one that has all the features I would like.  There are also lots of items that are absolutely beautiful in the shops but I know that they are likely to be going on sale soon, and perhaps I can wait if I really want them. 

However Santa, my little secret is that I have been buying stuff online and don’t really need much clothes. I am looking forward to spring and summer next year and perhaps I may resist the temptation to buy something until then.  Psst… our little secret.

Jewellery and Cosmetics – Sadly, I lost a couple of gold earrings in recent years when we were wearing masks. I do have more earrings but since then I have been using more cosmetic jewellery daily, and there are so many beautiful jewellery pieces in the shops.  I also have received make-up from my relatives in Canada, especially for Mac makeup but recently I discovered Ruby Roo by Mac for that instance pick-me-up, and you can’t not have enough lipsticks. I also don’t spend enough time or money on my facial routine as I am toooooo busy, but I hope I can try some self-care items I see in the shops in St Pancras, such as L’Occitane or Neals Yard Remedies.   I will perhaps make it my own goal to buy some of these gorgeous products as treats for my own self-care.  What do you think?

BTW, I probably would like an Apple watch as I don’t have one as yet. I know they are also good for monitoring our health information and analytics, as well being a great communication tool.  Who knows! Perhaps I may get one when my current watch stops working. 

Food & Drink – I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends in December.  I can perhaps try a few new places to eat in my neighbourhood and in north London.  I hear there is a great Colombian restaurant in Tottenham I would like to try, and a great Italian deli in Haringey Green Lanes which sells lots of branded products that you still don’t see in the supermarkets.  I will also start buying all my dried fruits for making my traditional Christmas cake in homage to my Trinidadian heritage.  I do look forward to baking during this season. 

There are several festive things that is on the shopping list at this time of year.  I also buy a few drinks to enjoy this time of year for friends and…myself.  It also a prelude to New Year’s Eve when it is nice to have some bubbly champagne or prosecco to celebrate the new year.  I do like to buy my friends some drinks too. 

There are some traditional things that you only every eat this time of year such as Panettone, mince pies, roast Turkey and all the trimmings, snacks, treats and lots of new discoveries. I look forward to trying new flavours and ideas for what is trendy this Christmas time.   

Happiness and Peace – For my own personal peace, I would also ask you for music but as I have a subscription to a music streaming service and You Tube, I can enjoy music when I want and I do look forward to relaxing this holiday to music. I have also missed a few key films this year but I also look forward to my holidays when I look at a lot of film on Netflix that I wasn’t able to find the time to see.  And perhaps I can go to the cinema too when I am on leave.

This special year has been a busy year for me, and I have been burning the midnight oil into the early hours on most days to get through my workload and commitments.  I have not given myself too much time to relax or to switch off, and I am actually dreaming of summer holidays by the seaside looking out at the horizon on a clear day with blue skies. 

It has been really hard the last few months with the world still in conflict and I hope this will be a time humans can change.  I have little hope that there every be total peace on this Earth.  However, if there is a bit of Santa magic… I would love a bit of calm, respect for one another and peace for fellow humankind.  This will bring true happiness in the basic and most simple form in a time when it is most needed. 

With this, I wish you all the best for your busiest month of year and hope you get some extra rest soon.  Happy Holidays too!

Love,

Seema xx

Spooky Storytelling – from Ananse to Ghost Stories

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

The oral tradition of storytelling has been with us from the beginning of time as humans tell stories to each other or relay folktales of those passed on from generation to generation. This is something I definitely experienced growing up in Trinidad & Tobago when elders will tell stories of La Diablesse, Soucoynant or Lagahoo.  I remember the time when people actually believed it too! As children you would actually be told that there are jumbies (ghosts) to scare you from going somewhere, especially if someone thought it was dangerous.

However, I do think it is still an amazing oral storytelling tradition that should carry one for a long time.  However this particular art of storytelling happened way before colonialism, and it was one form of the oral traditions brought over by Europeans, Africans and other cultures to the Caribbean.

https://colnect.com/en/stamps/stamp/545608-Lugarhoo_Phantom_and_Soucouyant-Folklore_Local_Spirits_and_Demons-Trinidad_and_Tobago

“Ananse, also known as Anansi, Aunt Nancy, Anancy, Hapanzi, Nanzi, name given to an Akan character who has become famous throughout Africa, the countries in the Caribbean region, and beyond because of his insight, intelligence, and wisdom.”

– Encyclopedia Britannica

Talking about a long time, the tales of some of the characters mentioned are refined over many years in the Caribbean from enslaved Africans whose Ananse stories was brought over the Atlantic Sea to the Caribbean.

Spider tales are based around the Ghana regions of West Africa and the Anansi is based on Akan language which means spider. The narrative of the stories are great for engaging with children especially before the age of modern technology where families would sit together in the evening and tell stories.  Ananse is truly great to still being used to entertain and teach us all the stories of good, evil, wit and humour.  The story of Ananse still takes centre stage as a protagonist or antagonist.  It truly is entertaining how the characters are still playful with other creatures such as the Chameleon and the Spider which was an example of a children’s event on this topic at the Story Museum.  This was also used for the adult carnival designers recently in Trinidad by carnival designers with artistic splendour to tell the folktale. 

http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Folklore/folkcharacters.htm

The stories of more scary characters were developed over time with colonial impact merging African, European and Indigenous stories and characters. Lagahoo is the werewolf character similar to those on European, the femme fatale in La Diablesse with her beauty, sex appeal but one goat holf has fascinated young minds for a few centuries. 

The soucouyant, as a ball of fire flying around homes around midnight to suck the blood of women and men were real stories told when growing up.  If you had a mark on your skin like a love-bite or bruises skin – most still say that it may have been a soucouyant! In those days of growing up in the Caribbean, the night were warm and most people went to sleep by midnight (unless you were a teenager looking at TV). There is something spookier though as it is less built up and I would feel just the same in an isolated rural place on a windy cold night. 

There are other interesting scary characters in stories across the Caribbean area and they have their own regional twists to the story such as the one on the Silk Cotton Tree and Papa Bois, which has similar narratives from Guyana, Jamaica to America.  I have attended a great talk at the British Library by performance storytelling company the Crick Crack Club which story telling of these characters and it was truly heart-warming in a scary way that characters and stories were also told. 

As you can imagine – the is real value on storytelling to build cultural value, character and identity is recognised in most educational and cultural programmes.  Whilst researching the topic, it was great to see these stories used in libraries, schools, theatres and other settings for children and families. 

In all other cultures, scare stories are also told and with the introduction of moving images – the horror film genre is one of the most common forms of scary storytelling.  I still have the ability to jump when a scene frights me or give me the goosebumps.  I haven’t even seem the Blair Witch Project as it made me feel seasick because of the cinematography used, perhaps with handheld camera. I recently saw the Exorcist on television and there are others over the years that are still very spooky. 

The horror genre seems to have replaced the oral story telling in the modern age but there are reality TV programmes that tell ghost stories and other creepy phenomenon. The real-life evidence of haunted homes are enough to give anyone a fright.  In winter, it is especially dark and cold with many reasons why it is easy to be afraid, especially is you are on your own in a big old house! There are also real-life stories of some of the more tradition real-life murders in the city such as the Jack the Ripper story – which still has the ability to grip us to this day. 

There are may be other British folklore tales and this is celebrated as rich cultural heritage on British Tourist site with guides for tours and activities from abandoned castles to the Sleepy Hallow and Headless Horseman. 

I read recently that folklorist Sara Cleto from the The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, the season around winter solstice, has been one of transition and change. “For a very, very, very long time, [the season] has provoked oral stories about spooky things in many different countries and cultures all over the world”. There was also a mention of Charles Dickens story ‘A Christmas Carol’ which spoke about ghosts and spirits of the past, present and future.  This has as much fascination then and it still has now.

There is still a creepy opportunity to get involved in these stories for Halloween and other parties around this time of year.  The last few days in the city and in my neighbourhood, I was able to see evidence of spiders… too.  It is a great way to ensure that we keep these little stories alive to pass on tales from one generation to another.

Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary – from block party to global phenomenon

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

Since the turn of the year, I have been seeing great celebrations for hip-hop culture not just coming from the USA where it originated, but from the global phenomenon that had earned its credentials on the world stage.  In recent weeks, I have been learning half-century since the birth of this genre, it is traceable to a house party on 11th August 1973.  The party was in an apartment building on Sedgwick Avenue, New York, where a young Clive Campbell – better known as DJ Kool Herc – used two turntables to loop percussive portions of the same record to create a continuous flow of music as mentioned in this celebratory page ‘It’s Bigger than Hip Hop’ by the BBC. 

  • SONY DSC

Coincidently, I spend a couple of hours last night listening to the BBC’s dedicated show called the ‘For the Love of Hip Hop’, as well as some great live show from regional Leicester.  This just demonstrates how hip-hop has grown organically to a global phenomenon.  I must add a disclaimer that I am not an expert on hip-hop, but I’m still learning some music to new artists (thanks to my son). And when I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago – we knew the big hits, but not necessarily some of the rarer music.  What I do like is being around to see how the genre grew, and evolved to what it is today. 

You can also tell from this timeline that there has been many momentous achievements over the years from the more mainstream song like ‘Rapper’s Delight’ (which even my soul-loving white husband knows), to the first time a hip-hop tune was played on MTV.  Since then there have been many stars and clear timeline of albums, awards, and entrepreneurial explosions in the last 50 years. 

Hip Hop is obscure, and it is not something that only journalists or musicologists care to research. Most people, whether they like music or not, have come into contact with Hip Hop. 

– Nick Siullo in the book ‘Communicating hip-hop: how hip-hop culture shapes popular culture’.

So how can you tell what is hip hop? Like with anything new that has grown so exponentially – it is now a really passion to document this, with hip hop now being looked at from an academic perspective for its’ impact on social change and culture. There is are some great terms mention in the following The Kennedy Center on the key identifiers and features, as well as glossary for the terms used, especially of you want to keep with the flow… or the ‘in crowd’. 

The Kennedy Center states in this article that hip-hop scholars attributes these six elements:

  • DJing – the artistic handling of beats and music
  • MCing, aka rapping – putting spoken word poetry to a beat
  • Breaking – hip hop dance form
  • Writing – the painting of highly stylized graffiti
  • Theatre and Literature – combining hip hop elements and themes in drama, poetry and stories
  • Knowledge of self – the moral, social and spiritual principles that inform and inspire hip-hop ways of being.

Source: The Kennedy Center

It is interesting to see that music and self-expression sits at the heart of the genre.  Hip Hop has had an immense impact on the world, but it was created by youth culture in the first years with roots in inner city urban life with social and economic struggles, with territorial expression on what would have been a multicultural New York. The invention of a culture enabled people to find a self-expression on these struggles with hope, and punching ambition.  In the later years, the genre is blamed for misogyny and for glamourising territorial gang culture, but if this was their reality – it is captured in their lyrics.  It is also a relief to see female artists have since developed as superstars too in the genre, and women have earned their place in hip hop history too.

“I developed these theories that all these elements of our urban culture were beginning to seem like one big thing. This was in 1978.”

— Fab 5 Freddy

Hip hop has influenced other cultures and subcultures too.  Where there was music – there is dance, fashion, and art.  At the same time, New York’s subway trains were public property in the light term for graffiti artists and tags.  Street art has always been around but hip-hop also found expression in graphic art and marking of tags by gangs. The is a reference that graffiti started in this link Black Web America: ‘This creative expression is made up of written words used to spread a specific message, whether it be social, political or something a bit more personal from the inner elements of an aerosol spray can. Hip-Hop’s connection to graffiti dates back to the late 1960s, originating in the predominately Black and Latino neighborhoods of New York City where hip-hop music and street subcultures formulated‘.

Graffiti still exists but street art has exploded in the last decade in our spaces, and now another independent global artform. I am not able to visit the Bronx, but I know that even London has paid tribute and homage to the subcultures and hip-hop artists.  Recently there was also a large paper poster celebrating Notorious B.I.G’s anniversary album ‘Hypnotise’ in my neighbourhood.

In the last 50 years, there has been a plethora of new inventions and innovations on how we consume music. From the mechanical ability and skill to play music in house parties to the technical ability to mix, scratch, bebop, create lyrics – as well as engage and perform.  I love how this grassroot movement started, was very low budget, as well as ‘the technology’ not being as sophisticated as it is now in 2023.  For the future, one thing guaranteed is that the genre and the mechanics will evolve with time and innovations. 

 

There has been a lot of change in technology with the development of listening and playing musical equipment. From the larger record decks to personal devices tape decks, sound and portable music innovations has changed to ultra-modern listening and entertainment equipment. Dr Dre and Jay-Z, amongst others, are now successful entrepreneurs with a lucrative billion-dollar industry.  Dr Dre is known for his production styles as well as creating the headset Beats as well as other innovative products with his company being sold to Apple Inc in 2014.  

As expected, there is a lot of resources available online for researching 50 years of Hip Hop! From references shared on this Wikipedia page, to those provided by research organisation and libraries and digital content.  Such as this link from Albert S Cool Library and University of Memphis Libraries. I am discovering so much more about the genre and how it has grown from a back yard groove to worldwide celebration of the creativity and expression of lives in other languages and countries. It is a good time to recognise the artist and everyday person who has shared their creativity with us and hope that the genre is around in another 50 years for its 100th Birthday! Happy Birthday Hip Hop!

An odyssey with purpose and beyond the normal

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

A genuine odyssey is not about piling up experiences. It is a deeply felt, risky, unpredictable tour of the soul.

– Author: Thomas Moore

In my return trip from Milan in April, my husband called me a jet setter as I was flying to India the next day.  This is really unusual for me as I have always had an international remit in my work as an information professional but didn’t need to travel due to the technology and postal services of the day.  However, due to my commitment as President of SLA and work-related meetings – I had been travelling most of April and May. I had three weeks of work between Italy and India with a break to Toronto and Detroit but what is even more relevant – is that I had to work in India, Detroit and Toronto where it didn’t actually feel unnatural.  I just had to make sure I was focussed on the tasks and deadlines I had to deal with on those weeks away.  I am also fully aware of my airmiles, and you will be glad to know that I have no travel plans for the next few months.

Last month I mentioned my trip India – which was so special and I am still taking time to absorb all the implications that comes with travelling to an ancestral land that had great resonance on my family and life.  I know if I never go to India again – it would have been one of my wishes come through, and just being there for under two weeks help me to put some missing pieces in the puzzle.

Earlier in April for the Easter break, I had visited Milan.  Since the 1980s, Milan has also been on my list to visit as I looked at Italian football and a USA fashion show which used to show the fashion runways in Milan, Paris and New York.  I have also spent several hours looking at football with my husband in the 1990s when there was only one television in our home and no internet or digital media to distract me – although I also enjoyed looking at football then too.  My trip to Milan was to see the city but also to go mainly to a football game at the San Siro Stadium before it is knocked down and rebuilt.  The trip on the subway to the stadium was great as I had never used the subway in Italy before, and it was interesting to be travelling in a modern way in an old city.  The build-up to the game was amazing and I was able to take in the atmosphere on a fabulous spring day with the usually stalls, smell of food and souvenir on sale.  It was a good game and the AC Milan fans are renowned for their atmospheric presence and songs.  The Curva Sud was full of flags and tifosi chanting during the game. There was a great family atmosphere with children attending the game at the Easter weekend.  I remember the camera shots of the glamourous Italian fans in the 1990s when women dressed very different to British fans.  With globalisation, most of the football fashion sense where similar to those found in any city now. 

Some of the other attractions around Milan were the new skyscrapers that were built in the financial district, as well as residential areas of the city.  In recent years – I kept seeing the Bosca Verticale on social media, which was coincidentally within walking distance to our hotel.  It was an ultimate green living wall and the design was intended to make a statement as well a ‘best in show’ (pardon the pun) for environmentally sustainable design for an urban residential building.  It was really impressive on the skyline and I will remember how beautiful it was with other homes and a community around it – there was older buildings and parks nearby. 

In contrast, we took a walk to the main central areas of Milan around the famous Duomo and nearby Galleria.  It was a busy Easter Sunday and the piazza was very busy with tourist taking photos and have something to eat.  There seemed to be hardy any local Milanese around at the Easter weekend, but I guess it comes alive in the normal week.  The trams in Milan were also good to see but I didn’t get a chance to try one. Bergamo is not far from Milan and we also wanted to visit it after hearing great stories from family and friends.  We got the train from Milan Central Station, and we were there in less than one hour.  On arrival at Bergamo, the avenue led straight to the hill top Alta Vista which was the medieval part of the old town.  It was good to walk around and see the buildings, shops, street entertainment and enjoy some lunch in the nice restaurants. The town looked very affluent, and I liked spending the day there.  One other part of Milan I didn’t know about until recently was the Canals area of the city.  It is not like Venice but there are several restaurants and a good vibe if you want to spend the time looking at the sunset which reflects beautifully on the canal.

Just across the Atlantic was my next trip for the MLA|SLA Conference in Detroit 23. It was a unique experience going to the conference was SLA President 2023 and one I didn’t expect to happen.  I was immensely proud to be representing SLA and working with Board of Directors this year in bringing a collaborative conference, especially as it was too expensive for us to host on our own this year.  The conference committee provided very complementary content on leadership, management and related topics to educate, empower and enlighten information professionals.  It was great for me too to hear from experienced panellists on the insights, opportunities and issues that are relevant in the sector.  I certainly came away feeling enthused and inspired to carry on this work in my day job, and in the profession. I am also a lot more aware of Medical Sciences Libraries and how important MLA is to its’ community.  They are more academic than perhaps a specialised library and it was great to see how seriously their roles and libraries are for the future of medicine and healthcare professionals.  It was great to be warmly welcomed by their staff and volunteer leaders, and I am pleased that we were able to collaborate successfully this year. 

The sponsors and exhibitors at the conference were great to see, and they remind me how technology-focus our roles are, as well as giving us a real user-based and user-experience format to meet and discuss information provision, research and access at conference.  Realistically we are able to benefit with their support, and they also have an opportunity to speak to us directly or as a group when we meet.  I hope we can continue to build stronger and sustained relationships for the future.

I practiced on the greatest model of storytelling we’ve got, which is “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” I told those stories many, many times.

– Author: Philip Pullman

Detroit itself was an interesting city and is well-known for being a ‘Motor city’ due to the motor industries in the regions.  There was definitely a motor theme as I stayed in the Detroit Marriot which is part of the General Motors complex at the Renaissance Center.  There was also a car display on my first day, and the grand prix is also happening soon.  Motown music is also the other aspect that the city is famous for, and as I was busy the five days I was in Detroit – I was unable to visit the Hitsville museum.  Perhaps next time. 

On arriving in Detroit, I had to get my bearings as the position of the conference on the riverfront in Detroit meant that we can see Canada clearly from the USA and the beautiful turquoise water of Lake Erie between the two countries.  I loved looking at the sunrise in the morning, and figured out the position of the hotel from the sunrise. I thought of freedom fighters like Harriet Tubman who may have made similar freedom passages. It was also great to see the tribute of the city as a passage to freedom in Canada for enslaved people. There was also a statute of an indigenous American with his canoe, and I can easily envision him and his people using the Lake to go to surrounding land, and perhaps to even fish.  At the MLA|SLA Conference – it was recognised that the land around the conference belonged to three tribes including the Anishinaabe tribe.

The final hours in Detroit, I spent with conference delegates (friends) at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and it was great to see a world class collection as well as to be surprised with the artefacts from faraway lands and civilisations. 

The time in Detroit made me more aware of the many new technical and subject areas about my profession, as well as the local area and history.  I look forward to catching up with old and new contacts in the next few weeks, and perhaps seeing some again in the future. 

I actually spent two weekends and a bit in Toronto on my way to and from London as I initially could not find a direct flight to Detroit. It was my second visit in 14 years – it seems I have always been aware of Canada as my auntie would visit us in Trinidad, and we had photos in our family album from her life and family in Canada.  As she mentioned to me in the 1980s – Canada is new, clean and great place to live.  It still looks amazingly clean and modern compared to other parts of the world. 

I mainly spent my time with family and taking trips to downtown or in suburbia in their subway or buses.  It was great to see some of the sights and areas of interest again, such as the financial district, main squares, gardens and lake shore.  There are some impressive mainly new architecture, shops, creativity hubs as well as art centres.  I used to send information and books to King Street West – and it was nice to see it again.  Around the area I stayed, there were a large Asian community with great restaurants.  As with most major cities – the cost of living has increased a lot in the last decade and it seems so too in Toronto. 

My mother (who lived for a while in Canada) and auntie have both passed on and I thought of them often.  It was great to see other relatives and friends.  I was able to see some friends who keep in touch by social media as it is still one of the best ways to let people know what you are doing, where and how you can connect with them.  I didn’t plan to see a baseball game at the Rogers stadium but we saw the fans leaving the game after a win a few weekends ago, and the vibe was really feel-good with the Blue Jays kit looking amazing in the spring sunshine.  I was also able to visit two gardens with my auntie and it was also nice to see other Toronto folks enjoying the beauty and good weather around the lake and downtown.  As I have close family in Toronto – it is likely that I will visit again one day. 

That’s what the American odyssey is really about: Leaving home. Leaving home and coming home, and trying to understand the difference.

– Author: Tom Bodett

India – A Trip to my Ancestral Roots

Published on by Seema RampersadLeave a comment

Being Indo-Caribbean, India has always been on my bucket list to visit. Growing up in the Caribbean, we had great influence of India in our lives and consciousness in our heritage, culture, religion, and social structures.  My ancestors and parents were proud of our Indian heritage and there are so many ways we carried on traditions and stories almost 175 years after Indians arrived in the Caribbean.

As SLA President, I have been asked over a few years to present to SLA Asia and I remember telling Past President Tara Murray-Grove that this is one of the best aspects of making connections with the library and information community in India.  In the last few years this relationship has grown stronger and I was able to meet a few contacts in Charlotte in 2022.  It was only a few months ago, I was invited by Galgotias University to participate in the 11th International-Library and Information Professional (I-LIPS) Summit 2023 in Greater Noida, India.  I was invited to participate and therefore the cost of me attending and presenting at the conference was a lot less than if I was to self-fund on a holiday.  I knew this was an opportunity that I could not miss, and it was a dream come through to visit India – the land of my roots and ancestors. 

One of the first steps to get to India with a British Passport, was to obtain a visa.  This took a few weeks to sort out but it made me realised that although my great or great-grandparents were from India – it does not give me an automatic right to visit. Therefore, I would suggest that you give yourself time to arrange this if you plan on visiting.  After my third visit trying to arrange the paperwork for the visa – I got it.  I felt both happy and sad for my ancestors who perhaps went to the Caribbean, and never made it back to India.

My first task to India was the I-LIPS 2023 conference at Galgotias University based in the Greater Noida region of Delhi.  It is a private university and is one of the most accessible and affordable for students. The grounds were spread across few sites – with the conference held in the conference hall and other seminar and training rooms.  It was great to spend the first day with the students buzzing around, and meeting so many amazing library and information professionals from across India and internationally. We met the Chancellor of the university who told us the plans for the new site as well as the international insights we can share on many issues.

One of the most beneficial aspects of this trip for me is to spend time with the British Library’s Chief Librarian Liz Jolly, and IFLA President Barbara Lison. I know this was an opportunity to learn from champions and great role models in the library and information field.  It was also great to meet the highly qualified and professional library and information community in India – these include SLA Asia leaders and respected professionals such as Dr P K Jain, Dr Debal C Kar (our host) and his team, Dr Nabi Hasan and his team, Dr Parveen Babbar and other professionals who are driving forces and collaborative in the Asian community.  As SLA President, I am proud of what they do as for the information and knowledge ecosystem in their regions and internationally. It was my honour to meet and thank them personally.  I hope this close and special friendship will continue for many years to come. 

The conference was great in terms of content and subject areas on Partnerships, Sustainable Development Goals, Entrepreneurial Empowerment, Networks of Library and Information, new Digital Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Skills and Competencies of Library and Information Professionals, etc. I was able to meet SLA volunteers and leaders and it was great to meet in person.  I will be in touch soon with those who expressed interest on how we can continue to work together and collaborate, at least virtually, on the many aspects of professionalism and leadership in the sector.

It was great to see the cultural and social aspect of hosting an event in India.  The inaugural lighting of a light and the symbolism of this really sets occasional for enlightenment and clarity.  I was also so impressed with traditional India dress and the beautiful sarees being worn as working attire.  I love sarees and as I am only used to wearing them at weddings and prayers – I wasn’t brave enough to wear one on this occasion but if I meet me SLA Asia or India community again – I will make an extra effort to wear a saree or Asian wear.  I am also pleased that Dr Kar arranged a cultural evening with music, dance and song for us to experience the rich culture of India.  I felt totally at home in many aspects, and proud that the Indian diaspora still celebrate this culture outside of India.

On the third day of the conference, it was great to make the trip to the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in Agra.  The bus and the conference group who went on the trip made it fun and interesting with song and lunch on the way there and back – it was the first day to see life in India outside the conference.  The Taj Mahal itself was magnificent and visually appealing, especially as it was built in the 17th century.  The area around the site was splendid and the love story of Shah Jahan and his third wife Momtaz makes it truly one of rarest monuments to love on Earth.  The surrounding garden, buildings and architecture with the use of scientific, artistic and international design at the time is a must-see – and I thank our official tour guide for sharing his knowledge and insight with us. 

The link with Agra Fort in Agra was new knowledge to me too. The building again was impressive for the size of the site and initially seemed very much like a fort but once you get inside – the living quarters, social areas, the pavilions, views, harem, garden and emperor’s areas are exceptional.  The architecture was great and hearing how it was used at the time made it interesting. The British Army was also based there, and you can see where the gold once decorated the ceiling and towers.  The saddest part is knowing that Shah Jahan was held as a prisoner there by his ow son. The fact that you can actually see the Taj Mahal from Red Fort is heart-warming, as well as live connectivity of the story and era of the Mughals.

On a Sunday morning, we had a great drive from Noida to Delhi.  It was good seeing Delhi from the aircraft when I flew in, but I know it would be a lot bigger than I anticipated once we got inside the city.  The topic of a lot of the discussion a lot of the time as how India has overtaken China as the country with the most population in the world.  Going into any city – it became more urban, busy and crowded.  It was fabulous to see the buildings, the street traders, the various types of transport and the people.  It was Sunday and was not too busy in parts but as we got closer to Red Fort Delhi, it was busy as it was a public holiday weekend and lots of Indians were sightseeing too.  Red Fort in Delhi was on a large site and the building was so impressive.  It was great to see the colours but also the white marble of the some of the other buildings in contrast.  It was also reminded of some of the items I saw in the British Library’s Asian Collection on the Red Fort. We spent a couple of hours walking around and you probably need a whole day to take in all the surrounding gardens, but we were on a tight schedule. 

We also went to have lunch in Old Delhi, and this is where we saw more people going about their lives – selling, buying, socialising, dinning and going to the mosque.  It was very busy on the ground and we had to stick together just in case we got lost.  It was really great that we had Mr Bose accompany us and tell us all the facts on the local sights.  We also went for a drive around New Delhi and at this point of the day – it was extremely hot to be walking around.  So we took photos of India Gate and other parts of Delhi with just a brief stop. 

I hadn’t much time to work out my areas of interest before going to Delhi and really saw it as a work-related trip rather than a holiday.  So the second visit to the Humayun Tomb in Delhi was a great treat, and very much worth visiting.  It was not as busy was the Taj Mahal was very much linked to it as the tomb of the Mughal grandparent Humayun.  The design was Turkish and Persian in design with red hues, and the surrounding gardens and building was an oasis of calm and green in a bustling city.  It is one of the sites visited by Barrack Obama when he visited India and President of the USA. 

We saw the many old and new parts of Delhi and it was interested to see how planning and new areas were added to this ancient city.  My mind could not help thinking of history and how civilisations have developed over time.  There were really pretty parts with trees and gardens, but perhaps having more time as a tourist will give you more time to explore this great city!

On the Sunday evening we had an amazing dinner hosted by SLA Asia at the India International Centre in Delhi.  It was a great diplomatic area with dinner and social areas.  I was able to talk to our best supporters and sample of more of the delicious food.  I have grown so fond of people who truly are grateful to show appreciation for what IFLA and SLA are doing – I feel a real sense of responsibility and representation for my role at the conference and being in India.  I do intend to nurture these relationships and make sure we continue to support each other and the next generations in our common goals and ambitions for the profession, libraries and information services. 

Another special meeting was hosted by Dr Sangeeta Kaul from DelNet.  I heard Sangeeta present the work of DelNet at the I-LIPS 2023 Conference and was truly impressed with the vision, drive and dedication for serving their 7700 library members in 33 Indian states.  The meeting on Monday at DelNet headquarters in Delhi was fully of admiration and praise for the work they do for the last decades.  The organisation is built with great values and purpose, which has made it a success in many areas of leadership development, best practices, library and information knowledge sharing, and technological advancement.  DelNet whole-hearted seeks the best interest of the sector and the professionals who are central to this role.  After seeing the history, tour and work of DelNet – I have immense respect and admiration to the current leader Sangeeta, her staff and team.  They truly are carry on the great legacy of DelNet founder Dr H K Kaul.  I personally wanted to than Sangeeta for hosting us at The Grand Hotel for its convenience to their headquarters. Barbara and I were also part of a conference at DelNet, which was well attended by experience professionals and students in their network as well as 1000+ who logging in online on the webinar.  I hope I see Sangeeta and her team again, and would love to return the favour for what we do here in the field in the UK, or for SLA internationally.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) hosted a talk to their staff and interns on Tuesday which was organised by their head librarian Dr Nabi Hasan.  I have known Nabi since 2020, and he has become a true friend and supporter as an information professional but also in my role in SLA.  Nabi is the Chair of SLA’s Education Committee and joint-chair of the SLA’s Annual Conference Committee 2023. I was able to give a talk on librarianship and information sector to student and staff who also inspired me with their great library, faculty and campus grounds.  It was nice to see how busy it can be and apparently some students stay up chatting to each other in the grounds late into the night.  Nabi pointed out that the interns got their places through a competitive process and that they are gifted and talented – I hope this ensures the future is in good hands.  I also thank the staff for showing me the study areas, and other parts of the university. 

I recently made contact with Indian artist and UN awarded winner Ihitashri at the British Library, and at her art exhibition at the Nehru Centre in London. Ihitashri was able to arrange visits to the Nationals Rail Museum and the National Museum in Delhi.  It was great to be greeted by staff and curators at both these museums.  I was welcomed and showed around by staff who had specialist curatorial knowledge of the collection and gave me insightful knowledge of the exhibition. 

The National Rail Museum asked me to open their new exhibition which linked historic sites to the rail network – and it truly was an honour to open the exhibition. The curators of the National Museum collections show me their permanent original exhibition, including Buddha’s relics and items from 2000-3000 years ago.  I was blown away by the items in the collection and the knowledge imparted on me by their staff.  I thank all of them for their time and efforts for making my impromptu visit very special.  I hope I can return the favour one day!

As part of my work, the British Council arranged a conference at Delhi Public Library (DPL) for World Copyright Day 2023.  I was able to Neeti Saxena (British Council) and meet again Dr R K Sharma (DPL) and his team.  The event was extremely well-organised and I was able to have a tour of the office and library areas.  The Delhi Public Library is responsible for 33 libraries across the city.  I admired the leadership and experience of Dr Sharma and thank him for his hospitality in having me spend the day at Delhi Public Library – and to see the role he has in doing this for DPL.

Dr Kar insisted that I spent my last free days visiting Jaipur and I certainly did not regret it! I was able to visit Jaipur with a train journey on one of their newly launched trains from Delhi Caant Station.  I felt safe travelling by train to Jaipur as Professor Dr Santosh Gupta from the University of Rajasthan was receiving me and showing me around this gorgeous ‘Pink City’. We visited the Amer Palace and City Palace – both of them were great at show Indian architecture and artwork.  We were able to see some of the items such as fabrics, jewellery and music that make this city special.  We had a great lunch with local dishes in one of their new eating areas.  At short notice, Dr Gupta was able to arrange for me to give a talk to staff and students for the Rajasthan Medical Library Association. It was truly nice to speak to 35 plus on issues in the profession and meet the attendees.

My last visit in Jaipur was also at an amazing temple overlooking the city.  It was beautifully made in marble and stained glass but we were unable to take photos of it.  I also visited a Ganesh temple near it as the sun was setting over the city. I was also surprise to see the more modern building of the city new the World Trade Shopping centre. I was truly pleased that I was able to see another area of India outside of Delhi. I do realised that India is a big country and there are some many diverse areas and regions to visit. Perhaps I can visit again another time.

I also wanted to repeat my deep appreciation and thanks to all who made my visit to India truly inspiring, heartwarming and special. As Nabi said to me – “it is like coming home”.