BRITISH CAVE RESEARCH
ASSOCIATION 
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BRITISH CAVE RESEARCH
ASSOCIATION |
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Contact Us |
BCA
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BCRA > Library The National Caving Library is maintained and operated by BCRA. It comprises a reference section at Matlock, an archive section at Glutton Bridge near Buxton, and a heritage section, currently also at Glutton Bridge. The library consists of a large collection of books and journals on caving topics from Britain and abroad, which is frequently updated. The Association maintains journal exchanges with many caving clubs worldwide. The library is managed by BCRA on behalf of BCA. (However, please note that ownership of individual items may remain with the donor and that for the avoidance of doubt neither BCRA nor BCA asserts ownership of the total collection). The National Caving Library is open to all personal callers, whether or not they are members of BCA. However, the services of the librarian (e.g. photocopying; answering postal enquiries) are only available to members of BCA Enquiries about the library can be sent to our librarian. Items for Deposit should not be sent to the librarian, but to our general office address in Great Hucklow. Please mark such items clearly as "BCRA Library Deposit". |
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| News | ||
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1 July 2008: The storage facility at Ednaston, and the temporary office at Cromford have now closed and all BCRA's material except that in the reference library at Matlock has now moved to new premises at Glutton Bridge, near to Buxton. BCRA appointed a part-time paid librarian in Autumn 2007 and she is now working on the cataloguing of BCRA's collection. The reference library continues to operate from Matlock for the time being. In addition to the task of documenting and cataloging of the heritage collection and the reference material (including journal exchanges), we need to catch up on mundane tasks like the preparation of contents lists of Cave & Karst Science and Speleology for the web site. The launch of Cave & Karst Science Online in the summer of 2008 means that we now have the infrastructure in place to offer an online bibliography service for our publications, but this requires some data-entry tasks by volunteers. Please contact us if you can assist. |
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| How to get to the Library | ||
| The Reference section of the National Caving Library is situated alongside that of the Peak District Mines Historical Society at the Local Studies Department, County Offices, MATLOCK, DE4 3AG. The County Offices are located up the steep hill (Bank Road) running due east from Crown Square in the centre of Matlock. Both collections are available as a reference source only (material may not be removed). The opening hours are 0900 to 1700 hours, Mondays to Fridays. The person in charge of the Department is Mrs Ruth Gordon to whom visitors should introduce themselves with their current membership card. Members are also asked to record their visit in the BCRA Visitors Book. | ||
| The Archive section of the National Caving Library is situated in Glutton Bridge near to Buxton, where it occupies the ground floor of "The Studio". Members wishing to work here should contact our librarian in advance to establish when she will be available and the premises open. | ||
| The Heritage section of the National Caving Library is currently at Glutton Bridge, but the intention is that this will be moved into controlled storage conditions at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, Nottingham. At this point, the BGS web-site will provide online access to the catalogue and to selected material. | ||
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| Using the library for research | ||
| Reference section at Matlock: Studies should be carried out in the Local Studies Department at Matlock, which has full facilities such as photocopying, and not in the book storage area, which is very cramped. Please note that the library is for reference only - material may not be removed from the library. | ||
| Archive section at Glutton Bridge: Material can be made available by arrangement with the librarian. Please note that although refreshments may be on offer here, there may not be any facility for photocopying, and material may not be removed from the library. For further information and updates to the above, please contact our librarian. | ||
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| Making requests for searches | ||
| Requests for information must be specific as neither the staff of the Local Studies Department nor the BCRA's librarian can undertake lengthy searches. Enquirers are strongly advised to make a preliminary search through back issues of either Current Titles in Speleology or BBS-Speleological Abstracts and then to quote the appropriate reference number(s). Club Librarians should make every effort to have at least the last five issues of one or other of these Speleo Abstract publications on their shelves to facilitate searches. (Copies of back issues can be purchased from the Association - see our Publications Sales address. | ||
| Enquiries should be addressed directly to the Association's librarian. | ||
| Replies to enquiries will, except in special circumstances, that have been arranged through the BCRA Librarian, be in the form of photocopies which will be charged at cost. | ||
| The BCRA's librarian can occasionally carry out literature surveys for enquirers. If the cost of photocopying is a factor, or if so instructed, she can work backwards from the most recent publications until a certain total cost is reached. This service is time-consuming and can be 'fiddly'; in cases where there is a large amount of relevant literature it is best for the enquirer to do his own browsing! | ||
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| Depositing material in the library | ||
| Please remember that if you have any caving (or mining) books, maps or publications that you no longer require, then the library at Matlock is the place for them! A quantity of duplicate material is always available for exchange if required; caving club librarians may find it mutually advantageous to contact the BCRA Librarian about exchanges to fill gaps in each other's publication runs. | ||
| All British caving (and similar) organisations are asked to donate a copy of each issue of their publications to the BCRA Library; this will ensure that the contents are available to all cavers, especially in years to come. Also see: BCRA's Journal Exchange Programme | ||
| In recent years a number of caving clubs have stopped sending their publications to the library. BCRA urges caving clubs to deposit their journals and other publications with the library, so that a comprehensive national caving collection can be maintained for the benefit of all. | ||
| Please contact the Librarian if there are any additional books or journals that you think the library should contain. | ||
British Cave Research Association (UK
registered charity 267828). Registered Office: The Old Methodist Chapel, Great
Hucklow, BUXTON, SK17 8RG
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