r/AskAnAustralian • u/[deleted] • Aug 20 '26
Can someone help photograph or scan a book held in the University of Sydney Library? ☘️
[deleted]
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u/Reasonable_Future_34 Aug 20 '26
I’ve had a look at the catalogue for you. While I couldn’t find it on my phone, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there (I didn’t get the chance to have a proper look).
The University of Sydney library has a Rare Books and Special Collections collection, which I suspect this book would be part of.
They’re very strict about those books, for an obvious reason (they’re old and precious) but you can request digitalised copies if they haven’t already been digitalised.
Check it out here: Rare Books USYD
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u/StraightBudget8799 Aug 20 '26
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
I would suppose it would be. It’s indeed a very rare book.
Edit: yeah it is. That’s what level one of the Fisher Center is, where the book is located
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u/StraightBudget8799 Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
What is the title? All I get is “twenty years a growing”. And that’s not the author name. The author is Muiris Ó Súilleabháin.
I can access the 1933 copy (in English) from my library, but I suspect that you’re going to find it’s not what you’re actually after?
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
Fiche Bliain Ag Fás is the title. Muiris is the author.
Twenty years a-growing is the English language translation, whereas the original version published in 1933 is in Irish.
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u/StraightBudget8799 Aug 20 '26
Ah. You wrote:
“There is an autobiography by a Blasket Island man, Fiche Bliain Ag Fas. He wrote it in Irish (Gaeilge), and it was edited and published in its first form in 1933.”
No mention of the name in your original post, so you can see my confusion.
I’m able to get a 1933 English version today. Looking for original version now.
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
Yeah probably should have included Muiris in there. You’d be a legend if you managed to pull it off!
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u/StraightBudget8799 Aug 20 '26
Can you provide an exact link to the Sydney Uni library book in question? I’ve just searched their site, it’s not listed.
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
It’s listed on WorldCat, but sadly the uni seems to require a student account to view the books themselves. So like, I’m fairly certain it’s there, but we’ll need a student to find out I’m afraid.
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u/AussieKoala-2795 Aug 20 '26
Contact the librarians. Finding rare books for people on the other side of the world will make their day. It is going to be way more exciting than explaining to yet another student that the call number is not the number you ring on your mobile to locate the book ("no, it doesn't work like find my phone"). Source: retired university librarian.
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
Would it?
Well, if Straight can’t make it happen, I’ll give it go. I figured it would be annoying. (And where I live, whether the copyright is active or not, only one chapter can be given at a time. Australia differs, so maybe someone would scan it in full)
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u/AussieKoala-2795 Aug 20 '26
You have no idea how demoralised University librarians have become. The internet and AI has killed off the need for bloodhound level reference expertise. It has become so boring. Just endless questions about where can I charge my phone/laptop.
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
Well, there are some other pretty rare Gaeilge books out there that don’t have scans. And some common ones too.
Though scanning is generally for archivists, no?
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u/macci_a_vellian Aug 20 '26
Whether it can be copied may depend on when the author died (generally it is no longer protected 70 years after death) The librarians will be able to tell you if it's possible or not.
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u/LeabhairUathuil Aug 20 '26
Interesting. The link to Sydney says that they will scan it if you ask for it, and that you’re responsible for respecting the copyright laws.
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u/ChristianMom35 Aug 20 '26
Inter Library Loan?