Cataloguing all of the books in the MAKC library was a challenge, a time-consuming challenge. If anyone has a specific research need, let us know.
\nI think periodically, as time permits, I\u2019ll write a little bit in the newsletter about some of our books.<\/p>\n
For fiction books and children\u2019s books, we do permit lending to members. These aren\u2019t the kinds of books one can spend an hour or two in the library and read. <\/p>\n
For example James Michener\u2019s Centennial mentions a cave. But no one would expect anyone to read a 1000-plus page novel in one sitting.<\/p>\n
And most of the fiction novels are paperbacks. That means that if someone wants to borrow one, and pay for postage to either borrow it and also to return it\u2014a two-month time period is reasonable\u2014it won\u2019t be that expensive. Don\u2019t return it and your membership will be assessed for the replacement cost of the book. Return it and find something else interesting to read!<\/p>\n
There are all kinds of fiction books, from the aforementioned Michener book to The Cave by Robert Penn Warren. The back cover blurb on that sounds like a modern-day Floyd Collins story:<\/p>\n
\u201cLoudspeakers blare on the hill. TV cameras grind away in a flood of spotlights. The air is tumultuous with shouts, song \u2026 and prayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cJasper Herrick lies trapped in a cave. His struggles are reported to the nation by a \u2018friend\u2019 who crawls in after him to exploit the disaster, to cash in on the rescue attempt. And as the curious spectators gather outside in macabre fascination to await the young man\u2019s deliverance\u2014or death\u2014each is driven with Jasper into the dark cave of his own self, to face the crisis he finds there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some titles do not sound that inspiring: Tanar of Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs for example. such as Nevada Barr\u2019s Blind Descent, which is set in Lechuguilla Cave. It was the fifth or sixth book in her Anna Pigeon park ranger series.<\/p>\n
Most \u201cformula\u201d romance novels get to the first kiss on page 100. Take The Dragon\u2019s Cave by Isobel Chace, page 100. Sure enough:<\/p>\n
\u201cHis lips touched her face briefly and then clung to her lips. The tears welled up in her eyes and brimmed over, adding a salty flavor to the kiss.\u201d
\nIt goes on, of course.<\/p>\n
Some books are so poorly written that I can\u2019t help but take a peek, just for amusement purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt myself fighting something unknown\u2014something hideous, like a half-being. Yet it was awkward, unbalanced, too. I could not undo the claws that wrenched at my throat from behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then there are fiction books written by real cavers, such as Where the Sun Don\u2019t Shine by the late Fred Wefer, or The Cave With No Name by Larry Simpson, or The Almost Complete Eclectic Caver by Thom Engel.<\/p>\n
We have currently devoted three bookcases in the downstairs office area that contain duplicate and triplicate books that are free to borrow to MAKC members. This also includes some WVASS publications and MAR Bulletins as well as the fiction and non-fiction cave books, such as Cave Minerals of the World, On Rope, and On Station.<\/p>\n
The periodical collection is not yet completely catalogued, but it is more than two-thirds done. When that is done there will also be duplicate copies of periodicals available for loan. For instance, while we have Caves of Missouri, the book, in the lending library, we also will have duplicate Missouri Speleological Survey publications available for loan. These should be especially useful for those who are interesting in attending the 2015 NSS Convention in Waynesville, Missouri.<\/p>\n
There were many duplicates in terms of \u201creal\u201d caving books. Duplicates and triplicates of field guides, cave science books, ARE available for loan.<\/p>\n
Contact Tom Metzgar at loyalhanna@aol.com to discuss your library and\/or research needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cataloguing all of the books in the MAKC library was a challenge, a time-consuming challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1156,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-danielson-center","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n