RLUK

The 19th Century Pamphlets Online project is holding a one-day conference at the University of Liverpool on Friday 20 March 2009. This event marks the launch of a major new digital resource, providing desktop access to more than 23,000 19th century pamphlets covering the political, social and economic issues of their day - the result of sponsorship and investment from RLUK (Research Libraries UK), JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) and JSTOR.

The conference will seek to place 19th century pamphlets within their historical, literary and cultural contexts, and to consider the potential of their digitisation for research and teaching.

Confirmed speakers include: Miles Taylor, Professor of History and Director of the Institute of Historical Research; Laurel Brake, Professor of Literature and Print Culture at Birkbeck, University of London; and Brian Maidment, Research Professor in the History of Print at the University of Salford. The day will be introduced by John Belchem, Professor of History and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.

The conference will take place within the Victorian grandeur of the University of Liverpool's Foresight Centre. It will begin with registration at 10:30 and conclude by 4:30. After the formal part of the day there will be an opportunity to visit the University Library's recently refurbished Special Collections & Archives, to view the pamphlet collection of the Earls of Derby (the Knowsley collection) and participate in a reception. A full programme will be made available nearer the time.

Participation in this event, which includes lunch and refreshments, is free, thanks to the generous sponsorship of RLUK (Research Libraries UK). However, places are limited and will be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. To reserve your place or request more information about this event or the 19th Century Pamphlets project, please email Grant Young at grant.young@bristol.ac.uk .

About the project and its collections

19th Century Pamphlets Online will provide access to some of the most significant collections of pamphlets held in UK research libraries. This includes the personal collections of Joseph Hume (from UCL) and Joseph Cowen (Newcastle), the family collections of the Earls Grey (Durham) and Earls of Derby (Liverpool), the Foreign Office and Colonial Office collections (Manchester), and selections from the large collections held by LSE and the University of Bristol. In all, more than 1 million pages (about 23,000 pamphlets) will be digitised and made freely available to UK users via JSTOR in early 2009.

The 19th Century Pamphlets Online project was instigated by RLUK and is led by the University of Southampton. It has received major funding from the JISC in the second phase of its large Digitisation Programme. For more information about this project and the JISC Digitisation Programme, please see http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/digitisation/pamphlets