Club Library
WOOLHOPE CLUB LIBRARY
Under normal circumstances, the Woolhope Club’s Library, with its extensive collections, is held in the Woolhope Room, on the first floor of the Hereford Museum & Art Gallery and Library in Broad Street, near the cathedral. Normally too, it is regularly open to researchers and members of the public, and the Club’s librarians offer knowledgeable help. The library represents a valuable, high-quality asset for Club members and the public alike.
It has however proved necessary to move the entire collection to secure storage whilst the major building works associated with the redevelopment of the building and the opening of an exciting museum and art gallery take place. Secure storage has been a top priority for the Club and one to which substantial effort has been devoted. The Club is grateful to Rhys Griffiths and his team at HARC for making fully suitable facilities available for the most sensitive and valuable parts of the collection, and to Damian Etheraads and the museum team for arranging storage of other items in part of the Town Hall. In partnership, assets of great public value have been protected.
No firm date for the re-opening of the library can yet be given, but the Club very much looks forward to that event and to taking the role of the library forwards. The Woolhope Room itself is a fine part of the building, with wonderful tiles and fireplaces, and has been used by the Club since the building was opened in 1874; the Club and its President were leading participants in the project.
For the moment, contact details for the librarian and a brief outline of the library content is given below. Opening hours and borrowing arrangements (normally for members only) will be clarified when re-opening is possible.
The Librarian
Marianne Percival is the Club’s current Librarian. Requests for information can be sent to her via the ‘Librarian’ name on the CONTACT US tab.
Books
The library holds books on a wide range of subjects relating to the Club's interest in the natural sciences, archaeology, and local history. The collection mainly relates to Herefordshire and parts of the adjacent counties. The library also contains an extensive collection of the transactions and journals of other similar societies, which can be identified via the link below. A copy of the library catalogue is normally available in the Woolhope Room together with a cross-referenced index.
Manuscripts and Rare Books
Manuscripts and rare books stored in the strong room are only available when the Club's Librarians are in attendance. Such items may not be borrowed and can only be consulted in the Woolhope Room.