> I cannot add much to Peter's comments on Salford's aspirations other than to
> say that any city that can carry the stigma of being home to Coronation
> Street should have no problem with coal pits.
>
> Funnily enough, before I read David's email asking about Burrows, I had
> spent part of Friday afternoon trying to find out what happened to the
> Salford Mining Museum's collection of the "List of Mines". On speaking with
> the Salford Museum's Service I was put on to the Manchester Science Museum -
> which confirmed that it got the exhibits, but, because it does not have
> archive status, the papers etc [which it had received] had been passed to
> the Lancashire Record Office at Preston.
>
> With the afternoon wearing on, I rang Preston and was told yes, the
> collection had been deposited there around a year ago. They are going to
> ring me back on Monday with an answer (hopefully) about the "List of Mines".
>
> Whilst I'm on the subject, does anyone know the whereabouts of sets/runs of
> the annual "List of Mines"? I am particularly interested in the 1890s, but
> am having great difficulty getting librarians to admit to having them -
> perhaps it goes back to Peter's comments on dirty industries. After much
> nagging, the British Lending Library found its set (not then on the
> computerised catalogue, but it is now!). I'm now battling with the British
> Geological Survey to admit that it too has a run of them (I used them about
> ten years ago). The National Coal Mining Museum (at Caphouse) has a good
> run, but with gaps. I asked the Mines Inspectorate HQ and they put me onto
> NAMHO.
>
> It is my firmly held opinion that computerised library catalogues are not to
> be relied on. It cannot be just me and a few librarians having this problem!
> How many others have gone on the web to look for stuff that is there, but
> not revealed? At least, failing all else, an old fashioned librarian could
> work out the likely Dewey classification number and then go to one or two
> locations on the shelves and take a look. Bring back properly
> cross-referenced card indexes, please.
>
>
> Mike Gill
>
>
Dear Mike, you might like to know/spread the word that Landmark Publishing
have just published a book on the Collieries & Railways in the Manchester
Coalfield by Geoff Hayes.
All the best
Chris Gilbert
Landmark Publishing
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