Page 24 - November December 2013

The Future of the Region Library
At the AGM on Saturday 26 October 2014, the BOD announced that the current Librarian, Calvin Everitt, had given notice that he wanted to step down from the start of 2014. Calvin has performed the task of storing and recording lending and returns, as well as attending Region events with boxes of books, for nearly 20 years. A sincere vote of thanks was recorded for his enduring efforts over that time. By Calvin’s own admission, he has given over a 16' by 8' room in his house for the Library but now wants to build his dream layout the room was meant for.
Calvin reports that no magazines have been requested in a very long time and only two requests have been received this year that necessitated posting books to members. Usage is therefore confined 99% to taking a selection of books to Region events. It is clear that material available now on the internet and members’ own growing book collections are overtaking the need for the use of libraries such as ours.
New Librarian
In consequence the Region needs a new Librarian to take over the current stock. As you can see it currently occupies a space of 16' by 8' but the BOD has agreed that since most magazines can be accessed on DVD (Model Railroader) or online (Rail Model Journal, Model Railroading, Prototype Modeler – see http://trainlife.com/magazines/model­train­magazine­index/page/1), we shall be dispensing with all magazines. This will reduce the space requirement by one­third. We shall be buying the Model Railroader DVD. There is also an index to some magazines at http://trc.trains.com/magazineindex/. Some magazines not cur­ rently available on DVD or online (for example Mainline Modeler) will be saved and stored at the home of a member who will provide access for other members. A similar home might be sought for Railroad Model Craftsman. Other magazines are offered to members on a first­come­first­served basis, especially Model Railroaders, of which there are some bound volumes and complete years as well as many duplicates, some of which will go to the Marketing Co­ordinator and his team for use on the Region display stands. Any MRs left after that process will be sent for recycling.
Top: SP single-tank SD7 1514 by Rob Mallett Photo: Brian Moore Above: Mary Hey photo of CN layout at Crewe 7 Sept for Les Herriot
The library room contains shelving from IKEA of which the Region owns about 75%, and it can be dismantled and transported to any new home. Region will provide any necessary support in arranging and paying for suitable transportation of the Library to a new home.
Alternative Courses of Action
At the AGM there were alternative suggestions put forward in the event that no volunteer was forthcoming, and given the reducing need for a library as such. The BOD undertook to explore the possibility of placing the books into the care of another society or club who could continue to provide access to Region members. However it is quite possible that other societies will be in the same position as us and this alternative may prove a dead end.
Another possibility is that the books in the Library are sorted into specialisms and offered to members who will maintain them as part of their role under the Member Aid scheme, managed by Tom Watson. This would then ensure they could remain accessible to members. Equally, any other form of dispersing the Library across a number of members would be considered.
In the event that no Librarian nor any alternative joint storage is found, the booklist could be made available to National to see whether they need any of our titles for their larger collection. The final action would be to dispose of the books to members.
However, no action will be taken on the disposal of any Library books until the membership has approved it. Whilst a straw poll at the AGM indicated that only a very small minority of members wanted to retain the Library, the vast majority being in favour of disposal if no new home can be found, members will be fully consulted on the action to be taken. Given Calvin’s preferred timescale, we shall, though, have to proceed at a good pace, and it is quite possible that temporary storage will be needed pending any decision and action on disposal.
Please could any possible volunteers for the job of Librarian or providing a home to a part of the Library please contact the President, Keith Webb, as soon as possible after reading this. Members are also invited to make any comments they have on the future of the contents of the Region Library.
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