(Also sent as a Letter to the Editor of Funnel)

Dear Fellow Steamboaters

In a recent conversation, mourning the state of the Steamboat Museum, we chewed upon the topic of steam boating books and other archive resources. We noted that the Association has a collection of materials (somewhere), not to mention the personal libraries of interesting old steam books that individual members have on their bookshelves. We agreed that, typically, a member might have a couple of books that s/he picked up over time and found most interesting. However, having read them, they tend to sit on the shelf gathering dust. Wouldn’t it be nice if other members could borrow and read them?

What would be nice is a "library" system to ensure that the would-be borrower knows what books are available and from whom. A possible solution would be a private Members’ Area on the SBA Website that lists SBA's collection along with the books members are willing to offer for loan.

Against the book would be shown the owner’s name, and there would be a space for the borrower’s name. Those offering books would be able to enter data only in their own ‘private’ area, probably protected by a login and password. A would-be borrower would contact the owner and request the book. When the book is sent to the borrower the owner would log the borrower’s name, which would then show up on the website against the book. That ought to ensure that lending a book is not the same as losing a book. As for postage costs, it seems only fair that the borrower should pay.

What do members think?

Regards

Bob Bullough and Pete Cuthbert

[REPLY]

What a fantastic idea- however I see problems regarding lending- what insurance would the owners of the books have reagrding getting them back?

And logistically speaking- can you fairly expect the owners to be independent librarians of their own books- perhaps approaching said bookowners and asking if they would donate to a central 'reserve' library which someone could look after fairly easily- the contents of the library and status of the books could be displayed on the SBA website could be a better way?

Greg

[REPLY]

Why not publish information in FUNNEL taken from such books. This would reduce the editors work load in finding copy for each issue.
I have a very interesting handbook published in the 1880's on running steam launches which I intend sending to the editor for reproduction. The information given is to the point and as relavent now as it was 100 years ago

[REPLY]

Thanks for the responses about the idea.

Let me pick up the point about the owners of the book/documents being asked to be their own librarians. Yes, that is the whole point of this idea. My suspicion, based only on my own experience and the odd conversation, is that most people will only have a handfull of items that they are willing to lend. For example I have a reprint edition of Kunhard and another heavy tome (whose author I have forgotten) on the topic of slide valves. Copies of SBMSL, Weston Farmer, etc. are still available to buy, so I would not offer my copies of those. The others, however, are essentially unobtainable elsewhere.

Now the idea of a central repository with proper cataloguing and a librarian is wonderful, but not having the bonuses of a banker, the chance of setting that up is negligible. The SBA has tried to do that and failed, while the Steamboat Museum is alleged to have disposed of its collection of rare texts and documents. Now that may a totally false rumour, but institutions are not always the best people to hold these resources. They may start out with the best of intentions but then financial and budget pressure come into play and the focus changes.

So, just keeping an on line record of what the Membership has and are willing to offer for loan seems to me to be the best compromise.

Best wishes for the New Year


Pete

[REPLY]

TARS (The Arthur Ransome Society) operates a successful library for members. Most of the books are owned by the library. TARS members can pay £5 to join, which gives them a colour catalogue, thereafter they pay £5 for colour, £3 for black and white, or free email of the catalogue each year. It seems to work quite well.

Chris

[REPLY]

Google Books is helping by making out of print historic books available to read online or download. For example CP Kunhardt's Steam Yachts & Launches here
http://www.archive.org/stream/steamyachtslaunc00kunhrich#page/n5/mode/2up

James Donaldson's Practical Guide here
http://www.archive.org/stream/practicalguidet00donagoog#page/n11/mode/1up
John

[REPLY]