Provenance Research Seminar: Librarians and Provenance

The talk will present some case studies from Richard’s career, that illustrate not only why provenance can wholly alter our perception of a book but also shed light on the potential complicity of librarians in crimes and horror that lie behind books’ availability. The Library profession continues to project reassuring narratives of its own neutrality, casting themselves and their predecessors as heroic custodians of inclusive cultural refuge. Such narratives, however, risk obscuring the motivations and often deeply problematic actions of these institutions. Looking at examples from the Nazi era and from British institutions’ engagement with colonial theft, Richard will consider layers of obfuscation and concealment, from the words used to describe items to the conscious manipulation of provenance information. By focussing on several libraries, it will become clear that this is a deep-seated trait of the profession and its place in the culture. As the wider cultural heritage sector intensifies its efforts towards transparency, it is time for librarians to do the same.

Speaker Biography: Dr Richard Espley 
Since March 2023, I have provided leadership for the National Art Library, working closely with colleagues across the wider V&A Research Institute and Archives. One of my key areas of focus is finding optimal ways to develop our extraordinary collections and optimising their use, building a vibrant and diverse community of readers. After twenty years of working professionally in several remarkable libraries, from the National Maritime Museum to Senate House Library, University of London, I understand that the way such collections are built up, especially how they are augmented or distorted by donors and private collectors, is a fascinating reflection of fundamental cultural forces. I am actively researching issues of provenance and the ways in which libraries control issues of cultural value.