REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2006/2007 |
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The Museum is not at present open to the public due to lack of suitable premises in which to display the collection, but its work continues by maintaining and supplementing the numerous specimens we hold and by publishing information on the geological sciences both in print and through our website www.stonemuseum.org.uk
Our income was up 21.4% over 2005/2006 and this was used to fund the acquisition of additional specimens and improvements in our iT Department. Expenditure therefore showed an increase of 24.4%.
Fixed assets, together with assets held in trust, continue to grow with a year-on-year increase of 9.2%.
Key developments this year included major updating of our website to include a full search facility, the mounting of an expedition to the Giza Plateau outside of Cairo, Egypt, to examine the marine limestones and petrified wood deposits common to this area, and the formal registration of our fossil collection with the International Palaeontological Association.
 | Brian R J Glover Curator |
The museum gratefully acknowledges the the donation of two fine ammonite specimens discovered in the New Canal Cut of the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal by Mr Neil Hanford of Yate, Gloucestershire.
The Museum acquired a number of specimens from suppliers, rock and fossil fairs and museums including:
The museum gratefully acknowledges the donation this year from Mr Tony Hills of Stevenage Old Town, Hertfordshire, of a fine specimen of vesicular basalt from the island of Malta.
A large number of Egyptian specimens were acquired from Webminerals of Italy, along with a magnificent 5kg iron meteorite from the Western Sahara from Mr Abdelfattah Gharrad of Agadir, Morocco.
The website contains descriptions of the Museum, its aims and the scope of its collection, but more importantly, contains sections on where to go to see geological and palaeontological attractions and sites, where to go to collect rocks and fossils and also lists world news of earthquakes, volcanic activity, mining developments and major fossil finds.
There are special pages devoted to background and reference information on geology and pages including write-ups of Museum field trips and expeditions together with reports on the research that we undertake.
The website also contains numerous useful links to museums, institutions and commercial organisations around the world that display, exhibit, promote or exploit the science of geology.
The main change in the last year was the addition of a full text search facility.
Our library holdings continue to be the fastest growth area of the Museum with materials currently available including:-
| Books | 151 |
| Information Leaflets | 267 |
| Scientific Papers | 28 |
| Magazines & Publications | 383 |
| Maps | 40 |
| U.K. Newspaper Extracts | 146 |
| Video & Audio Tapes | 13 |
| College Prospectuses | 76 |
| Newsfiles (held electronically) | 7753 |
| Miscellaneous | 2 |
| TOTAL | 8861 |
| Palaeontology | 1509 |
| Earthquakes | 3971 |
| Mining | 1174 |
| Extra-terrestrial Geology | 177 |
| Volcanos | 750 |
| The Film Industry | 61 |
| Geology | 97 |
| Articles Abstract | 14 |
| TOTAL | 7753 |
We are grateful to the various news agencies around the world that supply us with up to the minute information on fossil finds, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, including Reuters, Associated Press, PR Newswire, Cable News Network, and the Kyodo, Français and Deutsche Press Associations.
The Trustees top priority remains the acquisition of new premises and as a first step towards this goal will be continue to actively seek partnership funding from grant-in-aid sources and from local concerns over the coming year.
Our appeal will continue to run for funds to acquire a dinosaur fossil from the United States.
We have laid the groundwork this year to acquire a complete set of the Smithsonian Institute’s seminal work Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology and hope to take delivery of 25 of the 43 volumes in the next few months.
1. Museum Expenditure
As a non profit making organisation, the Museum aims to spend the minimum possible on administration and overheads so that funds can be channelled into curation of the collection and the acquisition of display equipment and new specimens.
2. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Fixed assets at 31st March 2007 are stated at the lower of (a) cost, less provision for depreciation - if originally purchased by the Museum, or (b) net realisable value, less provision for depreciation - if the asset was originally donated free of charge.
Depreciation is provided on a straight line basis, and is calculated on historical amounts, after providing for any permanent diminution in value. The period of depreciation being the estimated life of the asset subject to the maxima shown below and commencing when the capital expenditure was incurred or on acquisition of the asset by donation.
| Type of asset | Maximum period |
| Computer equipment | 10 years |
| Laboratory and display equipment | 20-40 years |
Estimated lives and residual values of individual items are reviewed periodically and amended when circumstances change. Asset values shown represent the estimated replacement cost of the collection with specimens of similar quality and size.
3. Disposals
No specimen in the collection is considered to be a disposable asset - the Museum's charter provides strict safeguards and restrictions on disposals of the specimens themselves.
4. Interest Receivable
Interest is received gross of tax each June.
| 2006/2007 | 2005/2006 | |
| INCOME (£) | ||
| Donations | 1842.30 | 1406.36 |
| Gift Shop Sales | 87.31 | 50.00 |
| Stock in Hand | 747.35 | 771.84 |
| Cash In Hand | 152.63 | 101.99 |
| Interest Received | 0.83 | 0.64 |
| TOTAL | 2830.42 | 2330.83 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Acquisitions | 822.78 | 376.93 |
| Purchase of Fixed Assets | 496.97 | 333.07 |
| Operating Costs | 429.86 | 696.37 |
| TOTAL | 1749.61 | 1406.36 |
| BALANCE | 1081.81 | 924.47 |
| WORKING CAPITAL | ||
| Interest Received | 0.83 | 0.64 |
| Cash in Hand | 252.63 | 151.99 |
| Stock in Hand | 747.35 | 771.84 |
| TOTAL | 1081.81 | 924.47 |
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS |
| Position as at 31st March 2007 |
| OPENING BALANCE | 2807.80 | 2964.01 |
| plus Acquisitions | 496.97 | 299.59 |
| less Depreciation | 248.66 | 455.80 |
| CLOSING BALANCE | 3056.11 | 2807.80 |
| Working Capital | 1081.81 | 924.47 |
| Value of Collection | 16976.51 | 15698.70 |
| Current Assets | 124.75 | 23.63 |
| Fixed Assets | 3056.11 | 2807.80 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 21238.18 | 19454.60 |
