A SW England Library Geocache & Event

[+ZoeThomas]

Hi,

 

I must apologise now, if this is the wrong forum to post this in, but anyhow here goes.

I have been Geocaching for about 3 years now and I just love being out and about, walking and enjoying new fascinating areas of the country and areas that are also on my doorstep.

I work at a local library within the SW region of England and I have spoken to my managers about doing a potential Geocaching Event "meet and greet" fellow Geocachers. Obviously I would need to make the date available on the "find a cache" element of the website. It's likely to be a Saturday in the Autumn of 2015. Then from the event, I was hoping to have a Geocache within the library, probably a magnetic or bison cache, to avoid fighting amongst children. On the launch of the 'cache I would have a Geotag to commemorate this occasion to all those that joined.

 

Any thoughts or advice would be fantastic please.

Also if you would be interested in joining please do let me know.

Many thanks

Zoe

Edited July 9, 2015 by ZoeThomas

[+dartymoor]

Hi Zoe

 

Great idea. Not something I can help with directly (I rarely do events, just a personal thing) - but if you don't get many answers in here, there are very active facebook groups for the Southwest - Devon Geocachers and Cornwall Geocachers.

 

There's people in there that regularly host and attend events so far more knowledgeable than I.

[+ZoeThomas]

Hi Zoe

 

Great idea. Not something I can help with directly (I rarely do events, just a personal thing) - but if you don't get many answers in here, there are very active facebook groups for the Southwest - Devon Geocachers and Cornwall Geocachers.

 

There's people in there that regularly host and attend events so far more knowledgeable than I.

 

I must admit, I have never been to an event before but my Geocaching friends have. Thank you regarding the Facebook groups, they will be quite helpful. The cache and library will be in North Somerset (BS20). I'm not sure how to get a rough idea of numbers of who would be potentially interested, without publicising a name and date for the event.

Edited July 9, 2015 by ZoeThomas

[+redsox_mark]

There is Somerset and Bristol Geocachers group on FB, you could ask there.

 

It is hard to guess attendance on an event; even when you publish it.

 

A couple of practical points:

 

1. Will the cache within the library be permanent (not just on the event day)? If so, you can publish that separately, and request the reviewer to publish it timed to the event. If it is just a fun thing to find on the day only, then nothing extra to publish.

 

2. Events are generally about socialising (talking). Do you have a place in the library where that can happen (and not disturb library users)?

[+ZoeThomas]

There is Somerset and Bristol Geocachers group on FB, you could ask there.

 

It is hard to guess attendance on an event; even when you publish it.

 

A couple of practical points:

 

1. Will the cache within the library be permanent (not just on the event day)? If so, you can publish that separately, and request the reviewer to publish it timed to the event. If it is just a fun thing to find on the day only, then nothing extra to publish.

 

2. Events are generally about socialising (talking). Do you have a place in the library where that can happen (and not disturb library users)?

 

Thank you Redsox I've just requested to join that FB group.

 

I have been thinking about both elements. The Geocache would be a permanent feature, as long as I could feasibly sustain it. I work in 2 seperate libraries ... the one I was aiming for is very quiet and if it was a social event, in meeting fellow Geocachers, we do have space away from library users.

We have a lot of events going on in the library and things have changed in terms of the dynamic of both libraries as a whole.

 

I am still in discussion with my manager's and library team.

[+redsox_mark]

Sounds good.

 

I've found several excellent geocaches inside libraries. They are generally "puzzle" caches, due to the requirement to use a GPS and the lack of indoor reception. So for example your cache could require finding a couple of virtual clues (using GPS) to lead them to the library.. and perhaps also give clues to where the cache is inside. (One way is to have the cache be a "book" on the shelves, and you find out the numbers/letters of the "catalogue" by finding clues with the GPS).

[+Yorkshire Yellow]

I've also found a cache in a library, Quedgeley sushi.

 

I have solved another one, but not yet had the time to pick it up.

 

There's also the one in Bude library which I'm hoping to find whilst on holiday in the area next week.

 

In my area (Gloucestershire) we have several red phone boxes, converted to book swap locations, which have caches in them, usually hollowed out books.

 

As for your cache, what about a puzzle somehow involving the dewey decimal system by which cachers would identify the book the cache is inside? i.e. post the library coordinates as the cache coordinates and then in the text say " the cache is located in the library building at 1234.5678.90".

[+Yorkshire Yellow]

Just found a bookmark list which may interest you.

[+ZoeThomas]

Just found a bookmark list which may interest you.

 

Thank you very much Redsox_Mark and Yorkshire Yellow :)I have just posted on the Facebook page for Bristol and North Somerset Geocachers. The Book Mark list looks fantastic and definitely something I'd like us to add to eventually, if this all goes to plan

 

I must admit I did overlook the GPS element, but as you say if the hint was to incorporate say a Dewey reference that could work or something similar

 

Back in my home county of Hampshire, I have visited a couple of telephone box libraries. They are a joint passion alongside my Geocaching I am a Book Crosser, which is something where you Track and Trace books

 

Thank you again for your help. I've definitely got more food for thought and I can print off various bits of info for our team meeting in August to show staff members and managers. Someone did mention there are some in the Somerset Libraries too (caches).

Edited July 24, 2015 by ZoeThomas