SHA LIBRARY MANUAL AND CATALOGUE OCTOBER 2012
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Aims of the SHA Library
3. Location and Access to Collections
4. Services
5. Collections
6. Requesting material for loan
7. Guidance on the use of material
8. Photocopying and Copyright
9. Archives
10. Links to other libraries
11. Catalogue
1. Introduction
The SHA Library came into being in June 2002 when the Society was founded. Its first and then only, Librarian was Madeline Cox, FRAS, who set up and organised the Society's Lending Library, based at her home and operating by post. In 2004, premises were made available at the Birmingham & Midland Institute for a Reference Library, subsequently named the Sir Robert Ball Library (SRBL), in the Benson Room. The Lending Library was re-named the Sir Patrick Moore Library.
The SRBL was placed under the management of Stuart Williams, FRAS, then Secretary of the SHA and now Research Librarian, and set up with the help of Survey Coordinator Roger Jones, under the oversight of SHA Librarian Madeline Cox, who subsequently became Chair of the SHA's newly-formed Library Committee.
In late 2007, re-organisation and expansion of the SHA Library Service was planned and as a result Madeline Cox became Head Librarian. In early 2008, it was decided to reunite the lending and reference collections within the Sir Robert Ball Library at the BMI, to make them more accessible to members and others. At the same time, fixed opening days ceased and access to the reunited library was made available by arrangement.
Currently, the volunteer staff of the SHA Library Service comprises:
Head Librarian Madeline Cox, FRAS.
Research Librarian Stuart Williams, FRAS.
Survey Coordinator and Assistant Librarian Roger Jones.
Assistant Librarian Andrew Lound, FBIS.
2. Aims of the SHA Library
The Library exists as a resource for its members. Its aim is to help them in their researches and to increase their knowledge of and enjoyment in their subject. Its acquisitions will reflect members’ interests, as funds and donations allow.
3. Location and Access to Collections
The Library is located in the Benson Room at the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI), 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BS (www.bmi.org.uk). Located in Birmingham city centre, the BMI is within a 10 minute walk from Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill railway stations. Access is by arrangement only with Library staff and is supervised by SHA volunteer staff, normally Research Librarian Stuart Williams and/or Assistant Librarian and Survey Coordinator Roger Jones. The Library is securely double locked and intruder-alarmed. Toilets are nearby, and there is a café on-site.
4. Services
The Library provides the following:
1. Books, journals, AV material, and reprints for reference and loan.
2. The services of a Research Librarian, Stuart Williams
3. Access to a computer, printer, and scanner (but no internet connection).
4. Photocopying (A4, black and white)
5. Collections
The SHA Library consists of seven collections:
Collection Catalogue Abbreviation
Journals Collection -
General Collection Gen Coll
Reference & AV Collection Ref Coll
The Stuart Williams Collection SW Coll
The Alan Cox Memorial Collection of Amateur Astronomy Alan Cox Coll
Sir Patrick Moore Lending Collection SPML
Miscellaneous collection (reprints, leaflets) Misc Coll
If you wish to consult or borrow any items, please arrange a visit in advance with one of the following library staff:
Madeline Cox Tel. 01623 844121
Stuart Williams Tel. 07988801946
6. Requesting material for loan
Volunteer staff may retrieve items for members – see our current catalogue below. Loans are issued from the Sir Patrick Moore Lending Collection only, and may be collected in person or posted by arrangement (see 7. below).
7. Guidance on the use of material.
Members are asked to respect all items whilst in their possession and are requested to sign a declaration that they will pay for any damage or loss incurred. Postage must be paid for items loaned from the Sir Patrick Moore Library.
Preservation Rules – Pencils Only. Many items in the Sir Robert Ball Library are old, delicate, valuable and in some cases irreplaceable. Preservation is therefore the Library’s first priority. Access to items will only be permitted if this will not result in damage to those items, and will be supervised. Careful handling is essential, and in some cases the use of gloves may be required. Visitors are advised that the use of pencils only is required when in the Library, to avoid damage to library stock. You should bring a pencil, notebook etc with you when visiting. You may also use your own laptop but access to a mains power socket cannot be guaranteed. Eating and drinking is not permitted in the Sir Robert Ball Library, but there is a café on-site and many eating establishments nearby.
8. Photocopying, Photography and Copyright
Subject to copyright restrictions and the physical condition and size of the items in question, photocopying services are available at the Library for the purposes of research and private study. A charge will be made, plus postage if applicable, to cover costs and help maintain the service. Photocopying can only be undertaken during Library opening hours.
Photography is permitted subject to the same restrictions. However the use of flash or portable lighting is not permitted for preservation reasons, nor is the use of tripods due to lack of space. It may be possible to undertake digital photographic work on behalf of researchers, this will be to professional standards and a fee will be charged dependent on requirements and the time required to do the job. Photocopying or photography does not grant permission for publication, copyright applies and you must obtain any necessary permissions.
9. Archives
The Society’s Archives are kept at the Institute of Astronomy Library in Cambridge. They may be consulted by prior arrangement with the Archivist, Mark Hurn. Email or phone (01223) 337537 during office hours. Website: www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~ioalib/homepage.html
10. Links to other libraries
SHA members are able to access the following libraries, via their normal arrangements for non-members, thanks to the generosity of their parent bodies. You should contact the relevant library staff before visiting, to obtain any formal permissions and find out about any special requirements, opening hours, etc.
· The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh. Email the Librarian Karen Moran at or phone 0131 668 8395. Website at: www.roe.uk/roe/library/about.html - full details are to be found in the SHA Newsletter, issue 5, November 2004.
· The Royal Astronomical Society. Email the Librarian Peter Hingley at or phone 020 7734 3307. Website www.ras.org.uk
· The Royal Greenwich Observatory. Contact SHA Chairman Gilbert Satterthwaite for further information. Email:
· The Yorkshire Museum. Contact SHA Councillor Martin Lunn MBE for further information. Email:
· The Library and research facilities of member Andrew Stephens, at Cheltenham. In the first instance, please contact the Librarian at or ring 01623 844121 (answer phone available)
Society for the History of Astronomy Library Catalogue October 2009
All items in the SHA Library are listed here. They are housed at the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI), 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BS. See www.bmi.org.uk for location map of the BMI. If you wish to consult any items, please arrange a visit in advance with one of the following library staff:
Madeline Cox Tel. 01623 844121
Stuart Williams Tel. 07906 103735
Collections
The SHA Library consists of seven collections. All are clearly labelled on the shelves.
Collection Catalogue Abbreviation
Journals Collection -
General Collection Gen Coll
Reference & AV Collection Ref Coll
The Stuart Williams Collection SW Coll
The Alan Cox Memorial Collection of Amateur Astronomy Alan Cox Coll
Sir Patrick Moore Lending Collection SPML
Miscellaneous collection (reprints, leaflets) Misc Coll
All items except those in the Sir Patrick Moore Collection are for use in the library only, by arrangement.
Journals are Listed A-Z by Title followed by Volume (Parts) Numbers Year
All other items are listed A-Z by Author followed by Title, Year, Collection
Please note that Journals are listed separately at the beginning of the catalogue.
Finding items in the catalogue.
You may search under any word, for example ‘Moore’ or ‘Moon’, using the Find button on your Tool bar.
Updates
It is our intention to produce this printed catalogue biennually. However, the online version at http://www.freewebs.com/sochistastro/library.htm
is regularly updated.
Journals catalogue
Journals are kept in alphabetical order of title in the Benson Room. Some runs are incomplete. The SHA would be most grateful if members have any of the missing volumes that they would like to donate to the Library.
Journals are Listed as:
Title Volume (Parts) Numbers Year
Annual Review of Astronomy & Astrophysics
4-6 1966-8
9 1971
11 1973
13 1975
16 1978
19 1981
22-29 1984-91
32-34 1994-6
Astronomy & Geophysics
38- 1997-
Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society
Vols 1-28; 31-38; 40-42
British Journal for the History of Science (BJHS)
7 (1,2,3), Nos. 25-27 1974
8 (1,2,3) Nos. 28-30 1975
9 (1,2,3) Nos. 31-33 1976
10 (1,2,3) Nos. 34-36 1977
11 (1,2,3) Nos.37-39 1978
12 (1,2,3) Nos. 40-42 1979
13 (1,2,3) Nos. 43-45 1980
14 (1,2,3) Nos. 46-48 1981
15 (1,2,3) Nos. 49-52 1982
16 (1,2,3) Nos. 52-54 1983
17 (1,2,3) Nos. 55-57 1984
18 (1,2) Nos. 58-59 1985.
Indices to volume 6-10 and 13.
Bulletin of the British Sundial Society
No. 1 Summer 1983
No. 2 Winter 1984
No. 3 Spring 1984
Please note that a full set of the BSIS on CD ROM is kept in the Reference Collection
English Mechanic. The DVD version is shelved in the Reference Collection of the Sir Robert Ball Library These DVD’s are produced by and on sale from SHA member Eric Hutton – see his website: http://www.englishmechanic.com]
History of Science
1-10 1962-1971
IAU Circulars
IAU Circular February 1955
IAU Circular December 1955
IAU Circular April 1956
IAU Circular March 1957
IAU Circular September 1957
IAU Circular March 1958
IAU Circular May 1958
No. 3 IAU Circular October 1958
No. 4 IAU Circular October 1958
IAU Information Bulletins
No. 1 June 1959 – No. 93 June 2003 (complete)
IAU Publications
IAU 24th General Assembly, Manchester 7-18 Aug 2000
IAU Colloquium 110: Library and Information
Services in Astronomy 1988
Les Observatoires Astronomiques et les
Astronomes (Observatoire Royale de Belgique) 1959
The Astronomical Thesaurus 1993
(pre-publication copy)
IAU – Newsletter of the Inter-Union Commission for History of Astronomy
Nos. 1-5, June 2001 – June 2003.
IAU Assembly Programme Sets (some incomplete)
8th General Assembly 1952
9th General Assembly 1955
11th General Assembly 1961
13th General Assembly 1967
14th General Assembly 1970
15th General Assembly 1973
16th General Assembly 1976
17th General Assembly 1979
18th General Assembly 1982
19th General Assembly 1985
20th General Assembly 1988
21st General Assembly 1991
22nd General Assembly 1994
23rd General Assembly 1997
24th General Assembly 2000
Indian Journal of History of Science
36 (1-2, 3-4) 2001
37 (1,2,3,4) 2002
38 (1,2,3,4) 2003
39 (1,2,3) 2004
Irish Astronomical Journal
1 (1) Mar 1950
2 (2, 6, 7,8) 1952-3
3 (1-8) 1954-55
4 (1, 3-4) 1956
5 (1, 2-3, 5,6,7,8) 1958-9
6 (1-8) 1963-64
7 (1-8) 1965-66
8 (1-8) 1967-68
9 (1-8) 1969-70
10 (4) 1971
Special issue dedicated to EJ Opik 1972
11 (5,6) 1974
12 (3,4) 1975
13 (7,8 ) 1976
14 (1-8) 1979-80
15 (1,2 ) 1981
16 (1-4) 1983-84
17 (1-4) 1985-86
18 (1-4) 1987-88
19 (2x2, 3-4) 1989-90
20 (1,2, 3*, 4) 1991-92
21 (1*,2*, , 3* & 4*) 1993-94
22 (1*, 2) 1995
23 ( 1*, 2*) 1996
24 (1,2) 1997
25 (1*, 2) 1998
26 (1, 2) 1999
27 (1*, 2*) 2000 Ceased publication
* contain Cyclopedia of Telescope Makers
Isis
63 -100 1972-2009
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
5 (1,2) 2002
6 (1,2) 2003
7 (1,2) 2004
8 (1,2) 2005
9 (1,2) 2006
10 (1) 2007
11 (3) 2008
Journal of the British Astronomical Association (JBAA)
1 (1 (reprint), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) + Supp & Index 1890-1891
2 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) + Supp & Index 1891-1892
3 (2, 3, 4, 6) Jan Feb Mar May 1893
4 (1, 4, 6,) Dec 1893, Mar May 1894
5 (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) +Index 1894-1895
50 (3,7,8,9) 1940
51 (1,2,3,4,5,7,8,10) 1940-41
52 (2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10) 1942
53 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) 1942-43
54 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) 1944
55 (1,2,3,4,6,7) 1945
56 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 1945-46
57 (1,2,3,4,5,6) 1947
58 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 1948
59 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 1948
60 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 1949
61 (7,8) 1951
62 (1,3,4,5,6,7,8) 1951
63 (1,2,3,4,5,6) 1952
64 (2,4.5) 1954
65 (4,6) 1955
66 (1,5,7) 1956
67 (1, 8 Pt 1) 1957
69 (6,8 Pt 2) Oct 1959
Journal of the British Astronomical Association (JBAA) continued
73 (3,5,6,7,8) 1963
74 (2,3,4,5,6,7,8) Oct 1964
75 (1,2,3,5,6) 1964-65
76 (6) 1966
79 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1968 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1979
80 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Feb Apr Aug Jun Oct 1970
81 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1970 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1971
82 (1,2,3,4,6) Dec 1971 Feb Apr Jun Oct 1972
83 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1972 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1973
84 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1973 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1974
85 (1,2,3.4,5,6) Dec 1974 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1975
86 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1975 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1976
87 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1976 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1977
88 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1977 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1978
89 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1978 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1979
90 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1979 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1980
91 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Dec 1980 Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct 1981
113 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec 2003
114 (1,2,3,4,5,6) Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec 2004
115 - 2006-
Index vols 1-50 (authorised photocopy) & 51-100 (BAA hardback)
Journal & Memoirs of the British Astronomical Association
1-90 1890-1980
Journal for the History of Astronomy
1- 1970-
Manchester Astronomical Society Journal
3 1915-16
4 1916-17
Please note these are shelved in the Miscellaneous Collection
Memoirs of the British Astronomical Association
Please note these items are shelved next to the JBAA