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Library Services Overview
Founded in 1926, the PRA World Surface Coatings Library is a unique resource for the global surface coatings industry. It contains an extensive collection of books, journals, patents, standards, government reports, legislation and market reports which are added to daily. PRA Members have free access to the library. Access is available to non-members, but a fee will apply.
PRA produces two essential awareness tools which draw on the full resources of the PRA Library. World Surface Coatings Abstracts (WSCA) is the coatings industry's premier search tool, adding 600-700 abstracts per month, and covers coatings in their broadest sense – paints, inks, adhesives and raw materials – with a subject range including science, technology, commercial information, environment and legislation. Paint Titles is a weekly summary of published items relating to coatings and covers a similar range to WSCA, with an online version free to all PRA Members.
What does the Library contain?
Books
Our Library Catalogue Search is a free to use online database derived from World Surface Coatings Abstracts, containing over 2000 abstracts from books or journals held at PRA's extensive library. The catalogue does not include every book in the library – if you can't find the book you want, use the library enquiry form to ask if we have a copy. A complete searchable catalogue of books in the Library will be launched during 2008.
Journals and Magazines
See the alphabetical list of most of the journals and magazines held at PRA's library.
Services offered by the PRA Library
Document Delivery Service
Photocopies of articles from its extensive collection of books, journals, patents, standards, government reports, legislation and market reports can be delivered to you. This service also applies to Paint Titles, the library's weekly update journal of articles titles relevant to the coatings industry and others.
Library Access
PRA Members have free access to the library. However, a fee is applicable to non-PRA Members including students. Prices vary depending on the amount of information requested, the librarian time needed, etc. For more details, please contact the librarian.
Market Research
With broad technology coverage, access to databases, formal and informal contacts, PRA is ideally placed to satisfy bespoke or ad hoc information requests and conduct proprietary market research studies. Our Business Consultancy team is highly knowledgeable and experienced in supporting business development, strategic planning and corporate transactions.
We regularly work for the same clients, who are considered among the major companies in the paint and chemical industries worldwide. As with all consultancy briefs, the confidentiality of this service is assured.
Since the acquisition of Irfab Chemical Consultants in 2007, PRA is also able to supply Irfab Multi-Client Study Reports, the most recent being the Global Industrial Coatings Study 2006-2020.
Further Information
For further information about any of the library services, please complete our enquiry form.