The Library
| The Library is intended to serve the visitor in every respect as a library would in any town or city, except that it is very specialist. The Library is a place where information is stored and yet can be readily garnered. It should also serve as a window on the world of available aquatic literature, this being made available to the visitor through The Bookshelf, a selection of publications that are currently available and deemed to be accurate and reliable. These topics cover everything from aquatic plants and fish, to pond science and wildlife.
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 The Library is intended to be used much like a conventional library.
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 Conard's The Waterlilies
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Although it is only possible to précis current publications, it is quite proper to preserve old ones, especially those that are now out of copyright and where there is a danger of the information that they contain being lost. It is important to be selective, of course, but aside from the classics of water gardening, like Conard’s The Waterlilies, which is always likely to be available in print form, there are others which have not received popular acclaim, but contain valuable practical advice or provide an insight in the water gardening techniques of the past. Conserving and archiving such information is a vital function of the Library.
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| It is intended that the Library should offer the visitor an insight into the past, both from the point of view of man’s relationship with the plants and fish which we enjoy today, as well as the history of water in the garden. Thus we will be seeking to archive interesting stories and texts as well as include recent articles and research, all in a readily accessible and readable form. An important adjunct to the Library is the associated Art Gallery. The written word is important, but the visual history of aquatic plants, fish and water gardening is not only an important part of our heritage, but a fascinating subject in itself.
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 The Library will archive interesting material from long out-of-date publications.
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 The associated Art Gallery provides an important visual resource.
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Certain aspects of the Art Gallery, such as scientific prints depicting plants and fish, are of practical importance to the serious water gardener as well as being visually appealing. While postage stamps and advertising, for example, reflect the artistic merit of what is enjoyed by the water gardener, depicted the subject in a very practical, public and commercial way.
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During the coming years The Library will become increasingly rich and diverse. It will connect both with varied and interesting international material as well as that of regional importance through its association with all the regional Water Gardener websites. The Library will become the most significant resource for water gardeners on the Internet, whether they are requiring practical or historical information.
Click to join pondmessenger
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 Library resources from around the world.
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America 
Australia 
Canada 
Europe 
International 
New Zealand 
South Africa 
United Kingdom 
