Presentation on 6 May 2020 and given at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Virtual Event hosted by IFLA ENSULIB and Preservation & Conservation Sections. The theme for the virtual event was ‘Environmentally inspiring and engaging buildings, research, education and library services.’ The Sonic Histories of Cork City (SHOCC) Project was formed as an interdisciplinary UCC team investigating what locations and spaces in Cork City might have sounded like in various moments in the city’s past and what the locations and spaces currently sound like in the present. In this presentation Elaine & John discuss the sounds of Cork’s ever-changing contemporary spaces using the lens of sustainability, the urban environment and the pandemic of 2020. These changing sounds are explored via SoundCatcher contributions, blog post and soundscape.

1. @SHOCCProjectUCC
The SHOCC Project Records
Cork’s Soon-to-be Forgotten
Anthropocene Sounds
Environment, Sustainability and Libraries with
Preservation and Conservation Section
(ENSULIB) Webinar | 6 May 2021
Elaine Harrington | Special Collections Librarian
John Hough | Senior Technical Officer

2. @SHOCCProjectUCC
Sounds of the City
https://shoccproject.wordpress.com

3. @SHOCCProjectUCC
Preserving Sounds
● Internet memory loss creates a cultural vacuum.
● Information contained within may be used for activities not
yet considered.
● Wayback Machine
● Online repositories
● Data management

4. @SHOCCProjectUCC
Capturing the Sounds of a City
● Use of microphones and recording devices
● Encourage people to listen and record
● Visit locations around the city
● Storytelling using creative sound editing

5. @SHOCCProjectUCC
What makes up a Soundscape?
R. Murray Schafer’s terms
KEYNOTE - Background,
heard unconsciously, (Train
Station)
SOUND SIGNALS -
Foreground, has semantic
meaning (tram bell)
SOUND MARKS - location
specific (Shandon Church
Bells, Foghorns) http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/tag/birdsong/

6. @SHOCCProjectUCC
SoundCatcher: Crowdsourcing Sounds of the Anthropocene

7. @SHOCCProjectUCC
Soundscape: Sounds of COVID19
https://soundcloud.com/shocc-project/covid-technology-sounds

8. @SHOCCProjectUCC
Contact
Elaine Harrington
Special Collections Librarian
UCC Library
University College Cork
Cork
e.harrington@ucc.ie
John Hough
Senior Technical Officer
School of Music & Theatre
University College Cork
Cork
j.hough@ucc.ie
Sonic Histories of Cork City (SHOCC) Project
https://shoccproject.wordpress.com