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The Alpine Club Library THE CLUB LIBRARIAN
The Library, housed in the Club's premises, has an unrivalled collection of over 30,000 books, magazines, club journals, expedition reports and rare historic material. Some modern guidebooks, photographs (see AC Photo Library) historic diaries, press cuttings and correspondence (see AC Archives), and some historical maps. The Library is open to all from 10.00am - 5.30pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except during August and the Christmas - New Year week). For AC members, it remains open until 7pm on lecture evenings. Often on Thursdays work such as re-shelving and cataloguing takes place, so appointments to visit are possible by arrangement. If travel from afar is involved, check opening times in advance. Members of the AC, ABMSAC, and Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society may use the Library free of charge (proof of membership may be required); other users are invited to make a financial contribution to running costs. AC members may use the Royal Geographical Society Library free on production of their AC membership card. Many books can be borrowed by AC members, the exceptions being guidebooks and valuable items. Books can be borrowed in person or by post within the UK, on payment of postage. Photocopies can be requested in person, by post or e-mail, and are supplied subject to copyright regulations and the payment of a fee per page. The Library's computerised catalogue is a comprehensive search tool for both Library and Archive material. Most catalogue entries can be accessed, and Expedition Reports can be separately searched. The professional Librarian will assist enquirers, and offer guidance to people who need to conduct extensive research. The Library was founded in 1858, in the first year of the Club. In 1972 it was established as a separate charitable trust, managed by trustees appointed by the British Mountaineering Council and the Royal Geographical Society as well as the Alpine Club. The Library relies greatly on financial donations and legacies, as well as gifts of books, photos or artefacts. Diaries, correspondence, and press cuttings are welcomed as gifts or deposits to the Archives. The Honorary Treasurer of the Library will readily advise on procedure for making bequests and tax-effective covenanted donations. The Honorary Librarian (D J Lovatt) reviews all books donated to the Library and selects those to be added to the collection or to provide duplicates or triplicates for lending. Books which are superfluous to need are offered for sale. The Honorary Secretary of the Library (M J Hewson) may be contacted for latest listings of the wide range of second-hand books, journals, guidebooks, etc, that become available. THE ALPINE JOURNAL THE CLUB ARCHIVES THE PHOTO LIBRARY The work presently involves conserving the original photographs, cataloguing the collection onto computer storage and assembling a core library of scanned images; an initial selection can be viewed in the Photo Album. There is also work in progress to build up a collection of modern mountaineering photographs from members’ collections. Members and others wishing to publish books or articles and requiring images of photographs can visit the Photo Library by arrangement and should contact the photo library direct. Reproduction fees are charged for the images. THE HIMALAYAN INDEX |
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ALPINE CLUB,
55/56 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3QF |
