GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2020 LIBRARY REVIEW REPORT TO FELLOWS (1)

The purpose of the Library should be redefined to put increased emphasis on the provision of cost effective online access to resources; emphasise the importance of maps, heritage collections and science of exceptional importance; promote online scientific and educational outreach; and develop an effective digital archive of records pertaining to the Society’s historical, current and business activ. [...] There is a view that the Library represents good value for money for those who use it, but not for the broader Society – though the value to the brand of the heritage elements of the Library and archive should not be under-estimated. [...] The reasons are not fully understood but may relate to users’ increased capabilities and self-reliance, and the implementation of the new online library catalogue, in the case of Library enquiries and increased exposure of the archive via the archive database in the case of archive queries. [...] Collectively, they form a vital record of the history of the Geological Society and of the development of the geosciences. [...] Not only are the individual map sheets and series of value, but the curation and cataloguing of the collection as a whole make it unique and it should be maintained as a resource for the geoscience community, and the staff skills and expertise to manage the collection should be protected.