Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Recreation and Heritage

PART II

NATIONAL AEROSPACE LIBRARY AT FARNBOROUGH

1. The Executive Member is delighted to report that the County Council has entered into a partnership arrangement with the Royal Aeronautical Society to establish a National Aerospace Library at Farnborough. The society's collections, currently housed in London, are of international importance for aviation history and include books, journals, technical reports, papers and correspondence, including material involving the Wright Brothers, Samuel Cody and the Bristol Aeroplane Company. This material will be brought together with the County Council's own collection of books and journals on aviation currently held in Farnborough library. The initiative will also enable the display of an important collection of books and technical reports on aviation and defence surplus to the requirements of Qinetiq.

2. The new library will be jointly operated with the Royal Aeronautical Society, will be badged as a joint enterprise and will be freely open to the public. Furthermore the provision of additional library facilities and opening hours will contribute towards the County Council's performance in meeting national public library standards. The financial implications can be accommodated within the library and information service's overall budget.

3. The establishment of a unified collection of library material on aviation history at Farnborough will reflect the major role played by Hampshire over the years in the development of aircraft, particularly at Farnborough but also other locations such as Calshot, Eastleigh and Southampton. It therefore reflects the corporate priority of enhancing our quality of place.

MARGARET SNAITH

Executive Member
Recreation and Heritage