Research Brief

·    clearly identify your research topic

·    outline the scope of the topic by identifying the main subject areas to be covered

·    describe your intended search strategies

In the early 21^st century, Melbourne boasts distinction as a major international city recently awarded two culturally significant status’, having in the last decade become both a UNESCO City of Literature and Slow Food Convivium. Thus my theme is unified among permutations of our 3 most basic nourishments: place, sustenance and knowledge.

UNESCO Melbourne Logo Device & Guidelines via Arts Victoria 2008.

During the research process I expect to develop further queries adjunct to those I’ve already identified regarding this subject, and realise that some will remain unable to be thoroughly satisfied within the limitations of this project. I envisage the progression of the project illuminating the larger story, ie, how to approach, research and structure themes in the history of books and libraries?

Whilst Food as a theme, of itself and in relative information across history, is an interminable subject, represented in many formats and genres of publishing and straddling many categories of cataloguing for example, there are other niche contexts, (recipe copyrights, archiving, realia, rare books)  to explore relative to the history of books and libraries.  Although any of these tangents could warrant an entire blog topic, even the broader evolution of publishing about food across eras is fascinating from the vantage point of the information age and in light of future trends, but just too big a mouthful to bite off here.

Although my preference so far with the theme seems slanted more toward the cultural, rather than traditional scientific areas such as agriculture and nutrition, a food topic cannot exclude consideration of the broader realm of sciences, particularly as the modern trend in food journalism demonstrates a more holistic discourse with consideration to issues such as philosophy, politics and ethics in commerce and consumption. So I expect the weekly posts, including the summary report, to be informed by, and to reflect  such currency and context.

Therefore I intend to encompass as extensive an historical survey as possible, whilst confined to statewide content and national resources. With thoroughness a priority, I plan to utilise a broad range of academic, public, online and diverse printed monograph, journal etc and other types of research resources. I will endeavour to arrange visits to premises pertaining to my theme, eg, academic and/or special libraries. This project will scan a range of government institutions in an attempt to access statistical and other data and analyse holdings. Also considered are a variety of commercial organisations, including boutique publishers, specialist retailers and other unique businesses, such as the library and literary cafes.

As an opportunity to expand my technological skills through construction and development in the Blogger format, I will review widgets and other Web2.0 tools to accommodate a spectrum of graphical representation and other media formats such as video, photographs and illustrations to add dimension and aesthetics to the presentation, thereby addressing engagement and learning styles and exploiting the inherent versatility that the weblog format offers. Curatorial sites offer convenience and currency so I will continue to survey these for content and style inspiration.

Thus I anticipate using physical and online resources in the practice of honing more specialist research skills, by exploring the range of tools beyond general databases and directories, namely other subject and topic based portals, custom and meta-search engines.  I relish learning more about the research process experientially.

References

Arts Victoria 2008, UNESCO City of Literature Melbourne, Arts Victoria. South Melbourne.