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Displaying sound: the National Poetry Library's vinyl collection, 2019–2024

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2025

Will René*
Affiliation:
Assistant Librarian, National Poetry Library, the Southbank Centre, Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1 8XX UK Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This article explores how the National Poetry Library has developed its historic collection of vinyl LPs over the course of four years, describing the challenges of balancing the preservation of audio objects with their accessibility and discoverability, and examining the opportunities this unique collection presents in building new audiences.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of ARLIS

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References

1. Hinrichs, Heide, Tang, Jo-ey, and Haines, Elizabeth, “Shelf documents: art library as practice – an introduction.” in Shelf Documents: Art Library as Practice, ed. Hinrichs, Heide, Tang, Jo-ey, and Haines, Elizabeth. (Antwerp: b_books Verlag, 2022), 21Google Scholar.

2. “Poetry vinyl,” National Poetry Library 2018, <https://www.nationalpoetrylibrary.org.uk/visit/our-collections/poetry-vinyl>.

3. “Vinyl Countdown: Introducing the National Poetry Library's Vinyl Collection,” Southbank Centre 2022 (blog), <https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/blog/articles/vinyl-countdown-national-poetry-library-vinyl-collection>.

4. “Plastic Language,” NTS Radio, <https://www.nts.live/shows/plastic-language>.

5. “Sound of the Year Awards,” Sound of the Year Awards, <https://www.soundoftheyearawards.com/>