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, a number of the Winchester ringers are authorised 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.
The Ringing World is a significant expenditure, and I remain disappointed that it is not made available in a more convenient form for our library. You will see that no expenditure is recorded for book purchases, but I was able to acquire Bells and Man, a wide-ranging historical account of the use of bells round the world. It was expensive, but we have it through generous personal gifts by individual ringers from Curdridge, Guernsey, Whitchurch and Winchester. Many thanks to them. We were also given a copy of the double CD of the 2002 National 12-bell Striking Contest.
A first catalogue of that part of the archive held with the Library at Winchester Cathedral is now available on the Guild website. Included are specific collections on individual ringers from the past, expertly assembled and annotated by Colin Cook. Much remains to be done with a large collection of business and other papers of the Guild and the BRF.
| Income | Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £.p | £.p | ||
| Balance b/f | 33.88 | The Ringing World | 52.00 |
| From Central Fund | 100.00 | Friends of the CC Library | 20.00 |
| Interest | 0.03 | Balance c/f | 61.91 |
| £133.91 | £133.91 | ||
Jack Walters