7. Library - Other Research Material

Range, scope and location

The Society has a further range of material which is not specifically categorised elsewhere. This includes copies of collections, presentations and displays given to the Society.

There is a collection of articles, kept in ring-back folders, extracted from philatelic magazines by various researchers. There are over 100 files of Commonwealth countries, broadly categorised into postal history, stamp issues and general philatelic information. Separate files for Great Britain are sub-divided into reigns, postal history and other specialist topics. There are further files for airmails covering early pioneers, and then individual years up to 1982. Filing of separate foreign countries has still to be completed.

A number of individuals have also deposited their personal research notes with the Society, some of which have still to be categorised.

A substantial collection of Commonwealth official government publications is also held. In this instance most of the issues are currently held off site, due to their bulky nature. The remainder, due to limitations of space, are in an area of the building not normally accessible.

The Library committee will also consider building up a collection of videos and CD-ROMs, should suitable opportunities occur, or where these are donated.

There are a number of other sundry research aids not of a specific philatelic nature, including dictionaries, indexes and maps.

Key to access

All material may be consulted on the premises. The majority is kept in the basement stack area and may be obtained on application to the House Manager or a member of the Library Committee for entrance to this limited-access area. Borrowing by members is not permitted.

Government publications can be made available by prior request for a particular item.

The Library Committee is aware that there is no catalogue available for this material at the present time, and has identified a requirement to rectify this in the future.