Progress continues to be made on the development of our library: “probably the best working library of the literature on fly-fishing in Britain anywhere in the world”, as we like to claim. Some of our achievements are as follows:

  1. Creating a comprehensive computerised catalogue of the entire collection.
  2. Improvements in how the collection is structured, shelved and made secure.
  3. Creation of a “Precious” collection of books signed to the Club by their authors.
  4. Integration of the acquisition of a very important gift of early and rare volumes.
  5. Shelves reserved for recently published books (on left in inner club room).
  6. “Open” collection for browsing and/or borrowing (catalogue with Secretary).*
  7. Rare books catalogue is available on-screen and will soon be printed.
  8. Acquisition and addition to The Fishing Gazette, now about 98% complete.
  9. Establishment of an off-site storage facility for over-spill and minor topics.

*Books on open shelves are mostly available to members for browsing or borrowing. If browsing, please return books to the spaces you found them. If borrowing, members should record the book’s book number and shelf number (inside cover) and other information as required in the Borrowing Book. Borrowers are asked to return books within 4 weeks. Please do not remove volumes of The Fishing Gazette.

On-going and new library projects include:

  1. Repair and restoration of worthy books in poor condition.
  2. Filling gaps defined on our ‘Wants List’ (see separate page on website).
  3. Creating a ‘GEM Skues’ section to house our collection of his books.
  4. Finalising and printing the catalogue.
  5. Making a space to display interesting books on a rotating basis.
  6. Preparing a ‘User Guide’ to help Members find what they want in the Library.

The Club’s policy is to facilitate serious interest in the Library, and many authors, some of whom are members, others who are not, have made use of it and later donated copies of their books to our ‘Precious’ section. It follows that any Member who is interested in looking at anything we have in the Library, whether for purposes of research or simple curiosity, is welcome to do so and should contact me.

David Beazley