https://www.change.org/p/chris-naunton-ees-ac-uk-save-the-ees-library
Save the EES Library
SAVE THE EES LIBRARY.
PLEASE JOIN US IN OPPOSING CLOSURE OF THE EGYPT EXPLORATION SOCIETY LIBRARY - but ONLY if you are a member of the EES!
Why did you join the Egypt Exploration Society? Perhaps you were
inspired in part because EES promotional literature presents access to its library as a major Membership Benefit, as in " Gain access to a leading Egyptological library. With over 20,000 publications the Ricardo A Caminos Memorial Library is one of the leading Egyptological libraries in the UK. ... members are welcome to use our research facilities and borrow up to three books at a time. Not in London? Contact the librarian for any requests you have and we can arrange for items to be shipped for a small fee."
The document recently circulated to EES members for discussion at the AGM, 'THE EGYPT EXPLORATION SOCIETY: TOWARDS THE FUTURE' proposes the closure of the library as central to future plans, and this WILL happen unless the Board can be convinced that the membership is overwhelmingly opposed to it. We understand that disposal of the Doughty Mews offices has become economically inevitable but we are strongly opposed to a new EES office without the library. ( See the full document here: http://ees.ac.uk/userfiles/file/AGM_Notices_2016%20WWW.pdf )
Even if you haven't used the library yet (and it seems most members haven't), you doubtless value the potential to do so, and recognise the importance of maintaining such a major independent Egyptological library. Yes, there are other Egyptology libraries in London, but none that make access easy or even possible to non-academic researchers, or even to academic researchers in many circumstances.
The 'Save the EES Library' group believe that Article 9 of the EES Articles of Association applies in this instance:
(2) The Trustees may not directly or indirectly alter the rights or obligations attached to a class of membership.
(3) The rights attached to a class of membership may only be varied if:
(a) three-quarters of the members of that class consent in writing to the variation; or
(b) a special resolution is passed at a separate general meeting of the members of that class agreeing to the variation.
PLEASE SUPPORT US IN OPPOSING CLOSURE OF THE LIBRARY AND APPEALING TO THE BOARD NOT TO ACT WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE CONDITIONS OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.
PLEASE ONLY SIGN THIS PETITION IF YOU ARE A PAID UP MEMBER OF THE EES, OR JOIN HERE: http://www.ees.ac.uk/join/index.html