Geologists’ Association Library

The Library of the Geologists’ Association is housed at University College London, in the Science Library within the DMS Watson building. It is not kept as a discrete collection: the books are within the Geology book collection, the periodicals form part of the Natural Sciences Periodicals collection, and the maps are kept in a map room on the first floor.

All members of the Geologists’ Association may use the Association Library and any other part of the college Library.

Membership

In order to borrow books or use the collections, GA members must first register with the Library. Please present appropriate identification to the Science Issue Desk on the ground floor of the DMS Watson Library (Driving Licence with photo or passport plus utility bill), complete an application form, and submit a passport-size photograph. You will then be issued with a ticket which must be renewed each year to remain valid. Please remember to bring this ticket with you on every visit.

Borrowing

Please refer to the UCL leaflet Borrowing, Renewing and Reserving books for information relating to the loan of material from the Library. In particular, note should be taken of the due date stamped inside the volume (or any recall notices posted to you), as fines are charged on items returned overdue. Some teaching material is kept on short loan, and such items are not available for borrowing by GA members.

The catalogue

Most material is now included in the online catalogue eUCLid (http://library.ucl.ac.uk). Please refer to the UCL leaflets ‘How to … find…’.

Books

The Geology collection is kept on the third floor of the Science Library.

The books are arranged on the shelves in a classified sequence for Geology, and an index to the regional Geology section, displayed in wooden frames on the bookcases.

When the location given in the catalogue has the prefix GEOLOGY [eg GEOLOGY A 5 DER], the book will be on the open shelves and you may retrieve it yourself. If the prefix is a set of three digits [eg 790 A 5 DER] or STORE [eg STORE 98-1000], then the book is dept in the Library Store (see below).

Locations given in the catalogue as GEOLOGY QUARTOS or GEOLOGY FOLIOS refer to larger size format material which is shelved in a separate sequence. Quartos and folios are kept on the open shelves preceding the main Geology collection.

Please note that material on some aspects of Geology and related subjects are kept elsewhere in UCL Library. Material on Quaternary studies, for example, may also be found in the Library’s Institute of Archaeology collection.

Periodicals

The location given in the catalogue for most Geology periodicals is NATURAL SCIENCES Pers. The exact location of a volume is determined by its date:

The current year’s issues are displayed with other science periodicals in an alphabetical sequence on the ground floor of the DMS Watson Library.

Volumes from the preceding 10 years are kept on the third floor of the DMS Watson Library in the Geology reading room.

Earlier volumes back to 1970 are kept in an alphabetical integrated sequence of science periodicals on the ground and mezzanine floors of the DMS Watson Library.

Pre-1970 volumes are kept in the Library Store.

Please note that UCL’s pre-1900 and post-1960 periodicals are not usually borrowable.

Store

The Library collection is so large that it is impossible to house it all on the open shelves. Some older, less frequently-used and rare or valuable items are kept on closed access. Some of this material is housed in the basement of the DMS Watson Library; most is kept at the Library Store at Wickford, Essex, and is available at one or two days’ notice.

To consult store material, please either complete a request form for the item(s) at the Science Enquiry Desk or submit an on-line store request form, available at:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/storereq.htm

Material requested prior to 2pm will be brought to the DMS Watson Library for collection on the following working day.

Most store material is borrowable; some, however, will only be available for consultation in the Manuscripts and Rare Books room of the DMS Watson Library.

Maps

The Association maintains a map collection, which is housed on closed access in the DMS Watson Library. Members may request access to the Science Library’s map room at the Enquiry Desk. However, GA members seeking maps are advised first to contact the GA Librarian via the GA Ofice for advice.

Photocopying

There are a number of photocopiers throughout the Library. They are operated by cards which may be purchased from dispensers on the ground, second and third floors of the DMS Watson Library (pound coins required).