LIBRARIAN AND ARCHIVIST’S REPORT

The George Williams Memorial Library is situated in the ringing chamber of Winchester Cathedral and is available for readers and borrowers when the tower is open for ringing, and by appointment at other times. If I am not present, Gail Cater and Graham Grant have agreed to provide access to the books. The system for loans provides a standard loan period of eight weeks, with a liberal renewal policy for serious studies and special problems. The only exceptions are the bound copies of Guild annual and triennial reports for which, because of their unique importance, loans must be specially approved by me. The nearby Cathedral Office at No 1 The Close can accept returned items marked for my attention during normal office hours or through the letter box, but no messages please, other than written ones.

I am grateful to Colin Cook for his expert help in evaluating and starting a catalogue of archival material kept in the Library case. Also, thanks to Andrew Barnsdale who expertly bound the individual copies of the 2000 Ringing World uniformly with the volumes of previous years obtained from the publisher. During the year we supplied source information on local bell foundries to an archaeological researcher from Southampton City Council who had discovered evidence of bell founding in the excavations for the West Quay development.

Library loans for the year have hardly reached double figures, but my policy is to make modest additions to the collection, with emphasis on local bellringing history, bells and churches. I also welcome reports, service booklets, cuttings etc. for recent Guild events to add to the Archive. The part of the collection of archive material held at the Hampshire Record Office has the reference 20M94DI and is available for study. The catalogue of that material can be seen via the Guild website as, I hope, will that of the locally held archive and an updated book catalogue by the spring of 2003.

Jack Walters