Job title
Picture Librarian
What do you do?
I look after the art and photographic collections for the RHS.
This includes:
- Overseeing the picture enquiry service
- Ensuring best practice in the care of the collections
- Conducting visits for individuals or groups
- Liaising over exhibitions
- Managing the digitisation programme
- And anything else to do with pictures!
What made you decide to do this job?
I studied Art History and English at university, spent several years working in picture libraries, then qualified as a Librarian before becoming Picture Librarian for the RHS Lindley Library five years ago.
Being able to work in an art collection within a library is really the best of both worlds for me.
What do you love about your job?
I love botanical illustration, as it has that perfect combination of beautifully crafted art that has a purpose beyond being just aesthetically pleasing. The botany is always important. There is a real ‘wow’ factor with the pieces in our collection.
I am happiest when sourcing pictures for someone - either a student wanting to consult original drawings for inspiration or someone writing a book and need the best illustrations in order to publish it.
We are involved with so many aspects of RHS work – supporting the commercial business with Licensing and print on demand, as well as the more academic interests of the library users.
I am also Secretary to the Picture and Photographic Advisory committees, so get involved with RHS shows too.
There is always so much going on, whether it’s a new exhibition we are planning or working with volunteers on a project to improve the housing of some drawings.
Why and how is your job important to the RHS?
The art and photographic collections perform various functions. They serve to document plants in cultivation, of leading artists’ work and of the work of the RHS.
We have photographs of the Chelsea Flower Show dating back to 1913, illustrations of flowers and fruit that were historically important, but no longer available and portraits of our founding fathers.
The library collections are regularly consulted by people with the widest possible interests: plant registrars, National Plant Collection holders, amateur enthusiasts and academic researchers or professionals.
The maintenance, safe keeping and care of these collections is vital not only for the objects themselves, but for the history of a society that is more than 200 years old.
My job is to make these collections accessible for the largest number of people to appreciate, while at the same time ensuring their longevity.
The library collections are another way of enabling people to engage with the RHS.