Book closes on life in libraries; RETIREMENT: Patrick spread the word about local history.Byline: By Tony Collins EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT A SENIOR Birmingham librarian is calling time on a major chapter of his life after nearly half a century. Patrick Baird is retiring after 45 years working for library services in Birmingham. The head of local studies at Birmingham Central Library Birmingham Central Library is the main public library in Birmingham, England. The main body containing the music library, collections, and reference library is located on several floors over Paradise Forum, with the main entrance and lending section in Chamberlain Square. has spent most of that time spreading the city's "incredibly fascinating" history to local people, including schools, as well as responding to requests from around the world. Patrick, aged 61, from Redditch, who officially retires today, said: "I have worked for Birmingham library service for 45 years and I am still learning something new every day. "Birmingham has an incredibly fascinating history but people don't appreciate the history which the city has. "It is quite incredible how many interesting figures have had associations with Birmingham, ranging from the Chamberlain family to inventors such as Matthew Boulton Matthew Boulton (September 3, 1728 – 18 August 1809) was an English manufacturer and engineer. Boulton was born in Birmingham, England where his father, Matthew Boulton the elder, was a "toymaker" (a manufacturer of small metal articles of various kinds). and James Watt. "The author Barbara Cartland Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland DBE CStJ (9 July 1901 – 21 May 2000) was one of the most successful writers of romance novels of all time, specialising in historical love themes. was born in Edgbaston, and Sax Rohmer Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward (February 15, 1883 - June 1, 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was a prolific English novelist. He is most remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu. , who wrote the Fu Manchu books, lived in Ladywood as a youngster." Widower Patrick joined the library service from school in 1963, and began work as a junior library assistant in King's Norton. He then transferred to the old central library in Ratcliff Place, where the inner ring road now passes, before moving to what became the local studies department and is now the archives and heritage section. He became schools liaison officer, responsible for taking local history to schools, in 1974 and, seven years later, moved to his present post as head of local studies. "My role combines keeping the department going to answering calls from all over the world, from people tracing their family history to people doing surveys on historical figures such as Boulton and Watt The firm of Boulton & Watt was initially a partnership between Matthew Boulton and James Watt, formed in 1775 to make steam engines at their Soho Foundry in Smethwick, near Birmingham, England. The partnership was passed to two of their sons in 1800. ." His career brought him into contact with celebrity historian Dr Carl Chinn. Carl said: "He has been a mine of information about Birmingham for 40 years and more, and has played a vital role in local history. He helped me when I was a postgraduate researching my PhD in the mid-1980s." Patrick will continue as secretary of a local history association that he formed 30 years ago. CAPTION(S): Patrick Baird is retiring after 45 years with Birmingham's library service. |
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