ARCHIVE Members may recall last year's press reports of substantial cuts in the funding of British universities and inevitably this was bound to affect the operation of the English Organ Archive housed in the Library of Keele University. Although the Library has ample space for the Archive collection, and although the Librarian is anxious to keep the collection there, the University can no longer provide the generous xeroxing and microfilming services that we have hither- to been able to pass on to BIOS members; nor is the Hon. Archivist's service to BIOS any longer subsidized by the University. The long-term objective of the BIOS Council is to acquire some centra] location for the Archive, with perhaps a part-time paid administrator- cum-archivist, but until then it will be necessary for the cost of the present Archive service to be met. In practice, this means that the Hon. Archivist will wait to accumulate enough enquiries to justify going to Keele, and, recognising the importance of the maintenance of this service to members, the Council has agreed that, in the short term, the society should meet the Archivist's travel expenses on such occasions. If information is required more urgently, the Archivist may be able to supply it, provided the enquirer is prepared to meet the expense of a special journey being made for the purpose. Un- fortunately, personal research is no longer an alternative since there is now no University Archivist who will take responsibility for opening and supervising the Archive Room. Members should be aware that the Council is actively considering future provision for the Archive, and is confident that the present dislocation will be temporary. The Council would wish to apologise to members for any inconvenience arising from present circumstances. |