Seattle Mountaineers Library = Good

[Cpt.Caveman]

Small but good.

 

Nice librarian.

 

Check it out for those that have not. I believe their budget is low and stuff. I will donate some books there soon.

 

Now I can spy all of Dru's and Serl's future routes and poach partners.

[Jim]

I agree. The few times I've been in there to look for what I considered obscure articles the staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Also to Mountaineers Books that provides for publications of items that would not make it in the larger publishing houses.

[cj001f]

The Mazamas library in Portland is very good as well (same addy & hours as the Clubhouse)

 

The American Alpine Club Library in Golden is good for obscure stuff, and will mail you books for free if your a member of the AAC.

[Lowell_Skoog]

Glad you had a good visit, Cavey.

 

Back in the 1980s, I joined the Mountaineers mainly because of their library. (I thought you had to be a member to use it, but you don't.) As Cavey said, the Library is tight on funds. In fact, in the latest Mountaineer bulletin, Kay Theis wrote:

 

As a result of declining enrollment and many years of financial red ink, the Mountaineers is unable to fund The Mountaineers Library in the next fiscal year. To retain the library at its professional level and not as a general reading room, the Library Committee must solicit funds from other sources. Unfortunately the funds needed are for wage and general operating expenses and there are not too many donor agencies around who support basic operating expenses.

 

So, if you are a club member, 89 cents of your yearly dues will not go to the Library next year. The club will not be funding the part-time Librarian's position. The Library Committee has turned to The Mountaineers Foundation for help. (The grant request will be either approved or denied this month.)

 

For $25 you can become a Friend of the Mountaineers Library via The Mountaineers Foundation. Donations are tax deductible and can be sent to The Mountaineers Foundation at P.O. Box 9464, Seattle, WA 98109. Please note "Friends of Library" on your check. (I sent them a check a couple weeks ago.)

 

If the request for support from The Mountaineers Foundation is not approved, funding for the Library will dry up and they will have to let their part-time librarian go. When this has happened in the past the collection deteriorates and new donations don't get catalogued. I plan to make a ruckus about it on this forum if this happens.

[marylou]

Please do, Lowell. The Mountaineers Books people don't even have the whole collection at their disposal, but the club library apparently has close to it.

 

Say what you will about the Mountaineers, but they have put out some fine books.

[Lowell_Skoog]

Just a followup...

 

My contact in the Mountaineers Library committee told me that the Mountaineers Foundation approved a grant to fund operating costs of the Mountaineers Library through 2005. This is good news. The next hurdle will come in 2006. sigh...