Library

From CACWiki

A few books from Alpine Club's collection on display at Sherman-Fairchild Library

To request a book or DVD, please add it on the Library Discussion page

We have a large library that is now housed at the Sherman-Fairchild Library (SFL) on campus. Before spring 2010, it was at the Caltech Y. This page lists the books in an organized fashion. Now that we use the SFL to hold our books, you may see what books are available using the Caltech Library System (CLS) catalog.

This list is NOT UP-TO-DATE for print books! Please check SFL page for our list of print books.

Usage

To search the Caltech Library System, do a subject search for "alpine club". The exact search tag is "Caltech Alpine Club collection". You may also search by title, author, etc. just as you would for any book at the library. The location of our books is listed as "SFL Alpine Collection". The books are physically located on the 3rd floor of SFL near the back (close to the restrooms), and the shelf is well labeled. Because all the books are physically housed together, it is amenable to browsing. You can also browse the books in the library without checking them out; the photocopiers are on the first floor. If you don't have a Caltech ID that works with the photocopiers, you can talk to the librarians and get a copy card. The charge is reasonable, about 10 cents / page.

The checkout period system we're doing is unique. We're classifying our materials into three categories: DVDs, long-term, and short-term. DVDs are on the library's standard 3-day DVD rental system. Long-term books are on the library's standard checkout period, which is usually the length of the semester, and you may renew/recall online (please do not hesitate to recall an item if you want it).

Guidebooks are in the short-term checkout category, which should be 5 days (but this may change). The idea is that you have enough time to borrow them for a weekend, and still return them (and let them get processed) in time for someone else to use them next weekend. Guidebooks to out-of-state areas, as well as novels, are in the long-term category.

It's important to return books promptly, since they must be processed. If you return a guidebook on Friday morning, no one will be able to check it out in time for the weekend! It's easy to return books now, because there are library drop-off slots across campus (and perhaps even at JPL?).

Please return long-term checkout books when you're done with them, and don't assume they aren't in demand just because no one has recalled them, since many people are hesitant or too polite to recall books.

One of the major benefits of SFL is the 24-hour access. The general public cannot checkout books, but they can browse (between the hours of 9-5 on weekdays) and make photocopies. JPL employees can register for free to get a library card and then enjoy full privileges. The same is probably true for all Caltech affiliates, e.g. Hunting Library research staff.

The current librarian is Pratyush; thanks also to Vadim for organizing the transfer from the Y to SFL in spring 2010. If you have book requests (new books, or duplicate copies of very popular books), please contact him or mention it on this page's Talk page. We try to carry all the available guidebooks on local areas (and have 2 or more copies of very popular areas), and a good representation of other CA areas. We also add non-guide books, like instructional books and climbing related fiction. We'd like to add about 20 books per year. We also accept personal donations, so please consider this.

Our complete collection of Tom Harrison maps, along with all our equipment, is still at the Caltech Y. They are open M-F 9-5.

Guidebooks

Mountain Climbing Area Guidebooks

DVDs

Hiking

Instructional

Maps

Novels and Fiction

Skiing

Note: Ski films are listed in the DVD section

Journals

Other