Association of Independent Libraries - The Guildford Institute of the University of Surrey

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1: Institution	The Guildford Institute
2: Founded	1834
3: Postal address	Ward Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4LH
4: Tel. Fax. Email Web	Tel: 01483 562142 Fax: 01483 451034 website: www.guildford-institute.org.uk email: library@guildford-institute.org.uk
5: AIL contact	Liz Markwell, Institute Manager
6: Library Hours	Tuesday-Friday 10.00-15.00; first Saturday in the month 10.00-13.00
7: Membership details	Currently 500 members (subscription rates on application).
8: Activities, publications etc.	Activities include exhibitions, talks, clubs and language groups; the Library is open to visitors, though only members may borrow books. A members' journal, The Keep, incorporating a library newsletter is published twice a year.
9: Refreshments	Vegetarian lunches and licensed bar available to both members and non-members 12.00-14.00 during term-time. Light refreshments are also available.
10: Visitors / Researchers	Non-member library enquiries to the Librarian by telephone, letter or in person.
11: Background information	The Institute (originally the Guildford Mechanics Institute) has been serving its members since 1834. It moved to its present town centre home in 1892 and developed with a range of social, cultural and educational activities. The Library has occupied the same room since that date; it originally accommodated the book collection acquired during the latter half of the 19th century.
12: Collections	The Library holds 14,000 volumes of which nearly 2,000 pre-date the First World War. The newer stock consists of up-to-date fiction, and non-fiction. Newspapers and periodicals are also available. The catalogue of books is computerised. Since the mid 19th century the Institute has collected local history books, ephemera, photographs, prints and drawings relating to the history, people, antiquities and topography of Guildford and the county of Surrey. Extensive albums of ephemera are indexed and hand-lists of photographs and graphic items are available. Information on the special collections may be accessed via the website. Appointments to study these collections must be made in advance. The institutional archive, rich in material relating to the activities of the Guildford Institute in the 19th century, is held by the Surrey History Service: 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 1ND. Tel. 01483 594594 (www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistoryservice).
13: Building	Grade II listed building.
14: Status	Registered charity no 1125031; The Guildford Institute has been registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6571640