The ASNSW Library

Librarian:
Services:	Online Catalogue, Online Request Form,	Book Reviews

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Aims of the Section

The ASNSW Library is entrusted with preserving and cataloguing all books, journals, magazines and other printed reference material held by the Society and with making these publications readily available for borrowing by Members of the Society.

The Library actively seeks to improve the scope and quality of reference material held by the Society and to use these important resources to assist Members in developing their knowledge and understanding of astronomy.

Library Status

Over many years, the ASNSW has gathered several hundred astronomical texts. We also hold a rather comprehensive collection of journals, magazines and other publications.

In order to make this resource more accessible to Members, all items have been temporarily gathered to one place (Lane Cove), pending establishment of a permanent Headquarters for the ASNSW. The inventory of publications has been catalogued, labeled and entered into an electronic database.

Some of the reference atlases and a selection of the texts dealing with practical observing reside at the Society’s Dark Sky Observing Site Wiruna (near Mudgee) and at the Crago Observatory in the Blue Mountains. These specific publications need to be readily available at the observing sites to the folk who use them regularly. Multiple copies of some key items are being sought so that more Members will have access to their valuable information and guidance.

How To Borrow Books

A printed catalogue of all books is published in Universe or sent directly to Members in an annual mailout. The listing includes detailed borrowing instructions and conditions.

There is a Members-only Library Section of the ASNSW website. Members may browse all the titles and submit an on-line Request Form to borrow the publications of their choice.

A database and administrative system (presently off-line) has been established to control the Library content and to record and manage borrowings. Until the ASNSW has a permanent Headquarters, borrowing and return of publications occurs at the regular Meetings of the Society.

We are always striving to improve this system and expect that a major step forward will occur when the Library can find a permanent home that is readily accessible by Members on a casual and frequent basis.

Acquisitions

The Committee of the ASNSW allocates a budget of $500.00 twice per year for acquisition of new publications for the Library. Members are able to participate in the process for selecting of these acquisitions.

Country Members

The library borrowing system should be available to all ASNSW Members, including those in areas remote from the Library – at least to those Members who reside in Australia.

We would like to receive suggestions from those in areas remote from Sydney in regard to how a book borrowing system might work. In many ways, it is preferable that the majority of texts be “Out on Loan” most of the time – rather than sitting on a shelf somewhere.

Some of the ideas which come to mind are:

• Setting up several small “Branch Libraries” in conjunction with ASNSW Country Members who are also active in a local Society or observing Group.
• Allowing “remote Members” to borrow selected groups of texts for longer periods - perhaps on a six month rotating basis. These Members would act as “custodians” of the texts, which they could then share with friends and colleagues.

Please send your suggestions . This remote borrowing process would probably require the involvement of people who are comfortable with computers and email communication.

Book Review Panel:

Several generous publishers are sending a steady stream of books to the ASNSW for review. We are compiling a list of Members who are willing to participate in reviewing a book occasionally and to write a short review for the Society’s journal Universe.

The review is also linked to that particular Title in the Members Library section of the website. We may also send your written review back to the Publisher for possible publication elsewhere.

If you would like to be included on the ASNSW Book Review Panel, then please write to the Secretary or contact us .

At monthly intervals, we will email to all Panel Members a list of books available for review. The books will then be passed on to those first volunteering to review specific texts (along with some simple guidelines to assist with the review process).

Donations:

Donations of useful books are always very much appreciated, however please do not feel offended if we have to return or discard books that are outdated or are not useful duplications.

Sales of Surplus Material:

The ASNSW also holds occasional sales of publications considered surplus to our needs. Look out for these events, as they may be an opportunity to pick up that “gem” you have been seeking.

Amnesty on Late Returns:

While we are not offering a “buy-back”, it would be helpful if any books that may belong to the ASNSW (but are not at Wiruna or Crago) could be returned temporarily to the Librarian for cataloguing.

Please bring the books to any ASNSW meeting and pass them on to a Committee Member. If you are not able to do this, just contact us and we will contact you to obtain the specific details required for the database.