Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

1912 Carnegie Public Library, Adrian, Michigan



[LIB7125] As the usage of the library grew, the need for space increased, and a grant of $27,500 was secured from Andrew Carnegie. The City Council added another $5,000 and a suitable building was constructed. The Carnegie Library was dedicated on February 5, 1909 and opened to the public. [SOURCE]

This building is currently a county history museum. 

Carnegie Library, El Reno, Oklahoma


[LIB7124] On January 28, 1904, the board voted to accept Andrew Carnegie’s proposition to give $12,500 if the city would agree to maintain the library at an expense of not less than $1,250 a year.  The library board accepted the completed building on May 5, 1905. [Source]

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

1908 Carnegie Library, Mattoon, Illinois


[LIB7123]


The Mattoon Public Library was formed by a group of interested citizens in 1893.  Ten years later in 1903 the library moved into its current location.  The library was built with funds from Andrew Carnegie and is one of the many Carnegie libraries in central Illinois. Andrew Carnegie believed that a person had to educate themself and that libraries afforded anyone that opportunity.  He also believed that people had to lift themselves up because no one was going to do it for him.  The stairs leading up to the main entrances reflect this belief.

In 1995 an addition was built onto the main building.  The people involved with the renovation wanted to keep the original feel of the building and unlike many other Carnegie libraries, the addition closely matches the original.  Unless someone is looking for it, it can be hard to tell what parts of the library is the old building and which are the new. [Source]

Friday, November 30, 2012

Wicomico County Free Library, Salisbury, Maryland

[LIB6862] - Wicomico Public Library began as a subscription library in 1869, only two years after the formation of the county itself. By 1878 the library had increased its membership from 30 to 100 members. In the early 1900s interest waned and the library closed. It was successfully re-launched in 1916 and by 1923 was operating on a subscription of $1.00 a year. By 1925, the library was recognized as a needed community service and the idea of free library service in Wicomico County was born. The doors opened on February 2, 1926 as the Salisbury-Wicomico Free Public Library; open two afternoons and one evening a week. This became officially known as the Wicomico County Free Library with the approval of the certificate of corporation on June 24, 1927. The need for more space moved the library to High Street, in its own building in 1934. In 1948 the first bookmobile was purchased and began service. As services, patrons and materials increased, the library once again moved - to its present location on Division St. in 1963. In 1978 a major renovation started, which was completed in 1980. The building has essentially remained the same ever since.[Source]

1906 Haskell Free Library, Rock Island, Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont

[LIB6860] - The library collection and the opera stage are located in Stanstead, but the door and most opera seats are located in Derby Line. Because of this, the Haskell is sometimes called "the only library in the U.S.A. with no books" and "the only opera house in the U.S.A. with no stage". Its two addresses are 93 Caswell Avenue, Derby Line, Vermont and 1 Rue Church (Church Street), Stanstead, Quebec. A thick black line runs beneath the seats of the opera house and diagonally across the center of the library's reading room to mark the international boundary. The stage and half of the seats are in Canada, the remainder of the opera hall is in the US. The library has a collection of more than 20,000 books in French and English, and is open to the public 38 hours a week. The building is recognized as a historic site in both countries. In the United States, it has been registered in the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. In Canada, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1985 and has been a provincial heritage site since 1977. [Source: Wikipedia]

Thursday, November 29, 2012

1906 Guernsey Memorial Library, Norwich, New York

[LIB6859] - The Guernsey Memorial Library was first housed in the Guernsey Homestead. This home is not only the oldest house, but was also the first frame house built in Norwich. Erected in 1799 by Deacon Elisha Smith, it was sold to Peter B. Garnsey in 1804. In 1807 when Peter and one of his neighbors donated two acres of land for the court house and parks, the Garnsey House was moved to its present location. It was occupied by the family until 1901 when it became public property by the terms of the will of Mrs. William B. Guernsey. The legal title to the property was passed on to the Board of Education of Union Free School District Number One of the Town of Norwich. These terms stated “That they shall take and forever keep and maintain the property known as the Guernsey Homestead. . . For the establishment and maintenance of a free public library and park. . . and to be forever held by said Corporation and it’s successors for such purpose and no other and to be known and designated the Guernsey Homestead Memorial Library. . . I particularly direct that in no event shall the grounds here by devised be ever used by such school district for the site for the erection of any school building, or for any other purpose than the erection of a Library Building In 1967 the Guernsey Homestead was razed due to the house not being safe. The New Library was built on the same site and dedicated March 8, 1969. The Park was dedicated on August 1, 1982.[Source]

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Public Library, Dixon, Illinois

[LIB6858]- The roots of the Dixon Public Library reach back to 1872 when the firemen of Dixon Hose Company began a small subscription library. It became a city library in 1895--96. In 1899 O. B. Dodge, the first president of the library board, offered to build a new building, which was formally opened to the citizens of Dixon in early 1901. The facility was remodeled in 1955 when the apartment occupied by the library custodian was converted for use as a children's department. A new addition which changed the library to its present layout was opened in 1969, and the elevator was added in 1986. The building was refurbished in 1994. [Source]

Thursday, November 15, 2012

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Nice card shows the Public Library in Cortland/ 

Public Library, Cortland, New York



[LIB6698] The Cortland Free Library's roots extend back to 1886 when a South Cortland Farmer, Franklin Hatch, realized his dream of endowing a public library. Hatch's library, located on Court Street opposite the fire station, served Cortland residents nearly 40 years. During the early 1920's, Hatch library board president John Suggett joined citizens to reorganize the Hatch Library as Cortland Free Library. The Library was chartered in 1926. The library first served just the city of Cortland and now includes the towns of Cortlandville, Truxton and Virgil.[Read more history here]

Friday, November 9, 2012

1942 Folger Shakesperian Library, Washington, DC

[LIB6697] The Folger's Digital Image Collection offers online access to over 50,000 images from the Folger Shakespeare Library collection, including books, theater memorabilia, manuscripts, art, and more. Images are available in high resolution and users can show multiple images side-by-side, zoom in and out to see fine detail, view cataloging information when available, export thumbnails, and construct permanent URLs linking back to their favorite items or searches. You can find the collection here.

Wallerstedt Learning Center Library, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas

[LIB6696] Built in 1970, the Wallerstedt Learning Center Library offers a wide variety of services and information, including an online catalog; 120,000 volumes in paper; a variety of databases accessing thousands of resources for academic research; and special libraries, including collections on curriculum, children’s literature, Swedish literature and Lindsborg. The library has recently renovated student lounges and study areas.

Washington Irving's Library, Sunnyside, New York

[LIB6695] - The library shown in its original state.

1974 The Pius XII Memorial Library, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri

[LIB6694] - Microfil reading room with large readers and special tables offers modern accommodations to researchers in age-old manuscripts. With permission of Pius XII and subsidation of the Knights of Columbus, Saint Louis University microfilmed large numbers of Vatican Library manuscripts. Also available are filmed collection of Jesuit missionary activity. [From the back of the card.]

Monday, November 5, 2012

Morris Library, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

[LIB6683] - The cornerstone bears a 1953 date. The building was first occupied in the academic year 1955-1956. In 1964 an additional four floors were added to make Morris Library a valuable center on the University campus. [From the back of the card]

Library, Honolulu, Hawaii

[LIB6682] Hawaii State Library, 478 S. King St., Honolulu, Hawaii, on National Register of Historic Places.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Public Library, Paris, Texas

[LIB6681] With a generous contribution by Mr. And Mrs. J. J. Culbertson, the library moved into its own building on South Main Street in 1932. Mr. Culbertson donated the land and financed the $50,000 building, which was to serve as both a library and art gallery. Local labor and materials were utilized whenever possible which was a boon to the area economy. The collection included both adult and juvenile titles and works of art including paintings and statuary on loan from the Culbertsons. [Read more at the Public Library of Paris, Texas website]

Monday, October 22, 2012

Carnegie Library, Syracuse, Indiana

[LIB6680] An interesting note about the architecture: Recipients of Carnegie funds were encouraged to build in any architectural style they wished, but Carnegie did make two stipulations. One, there had to be a staircase leading up to the front doors. Carnegie believed that by climbing steps to enter a library, it represented elevation of mind by learning. Also, he wanted a lamp or lamppost outside of every library he helped to build, as he believed a lamppost symbolized enlightenment by learning. Carnegie also sent a portrait of himself to every library built with Carnegie Corporation funds, so that no one ever forgot their benefactor. The Syracuse Public Library still displays the portrait we received from Carnegie. Read more interesting facts on the Library Website!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Public Library, Albuquerque, New Mexico

[LIB7045] May 1, 2011, marked the 110th anniversary of the day municipal public library service began in Albuquerque! Read more of the history of this library here.

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Parlin Public Library, Everett, Massachusetts

[LIB7063] The Frederick E. Parlin Memorial Library was erected as a memorial to the son of Albert Parlin, a local businessman who lost his son Frederick in 1890. John Spofford was selected as the architect to design the new library. The building was constructed in Richardson Romanesque style and opened to the public on September 17, 1895. In 1911 plans were drawn up for an addition to the library, and again Mr. Parlin donated $6,000 towards the construction. John Spofford was once again the architect. Through the years, Mr. Parlin donated generously to the library. In 1924, he established the Frederick E. Parlin Memorial Fund. Over the years the interest from this fund has been used to purchase many items for the library. By the 1940's, the Library had outgrown the building, but it wasn't until 1982 that a plan was set in motion to renovate the original building and to construct an addition. CBT/Childs, Bertman, Tseckares was chosen to draw up the architectural plans. Ground was finally broken in the spring of 1990. With construction of the new addition, the building is almost three times it's original size and handicapped accessible. The library has received awards for the skillful combination of an historic building with new construction from the Boston Society of Architects and was one of eight libraries to receive the 1993 Building Award of the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association. When the new building opened in November 1991, it was completely automated and is a member of NOBLE, the North of Boston Library Exchange. [Thank you to the Parlin Memorial Website]

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Columbia Library Columns

Columbia Library Columns:

Columbia Library Columns was published from 1951 to 1996. Over the years contributors included faculty, University administrators  writers, historians and collectors, as well as Columbia librarians. Articles focused on individual collections, special acquisitions, literary topics and issues relating to the growth of Columbia's libraries and special collections generally.

'via Blog this'

Saturday, October 6, 2012

1916 Public Library, York, Nebraska

[LIB7061] - Addressed to Miss June Savage, Cleveland, Ohio. The next major milestone in the library’s history was Mrs. Lydia Woods’ bequest to build a public library and purchase books. The building opened in the fall of 1902. With several remodelings and a 1931 addition, the Woods library building housed York’s public library for the next 8 decades. [Website]

1906 Carnegie Library, Sandusky, Ohio

[LIB7060] - addressed to Mrs. William Bauer, Woodsfield, Ohio. The Carnegie Library in Sandusky, Ohio is a building from 1901. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. [Wikipedia]

Carnegie Library, Alliance, Ohio

[LIB7059] Carnegie Free Library dedicated on September 6 1904. Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 for the building.
:

1910 Carnegie Library, Cambridge, Ohio

[LIB7058] The present Main building opened in November 1904. Andrew Carnegie provided funds for construction; the City of Cambridge had to provide land, books and promise to set aside funds for operating expenses.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Elizabeth Public Library marks centennial with open house, 100-year-old items | NJ.com

Elizabeth Public Library marks centennial with open house, 100-year-old items | NJ.com: ""On entering the building the superiority of the structure is at once apparent," the article says of the yellow brick building’s entryway with built-in cast-iron bookshelves and light fixtures hung from high-arched ceilings."

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB7046] The scholarly value of the Library’s collection is extraordinary partly because its origins go back to a time when systematic book collecting around a historical theme was a rarity. Although the Brown family had been acquiring books since early in the eighteenth century, the present collection was not fully launched until the mid-nineteenth century when John Carter Brown (1797–1874) began avid pursuit of Americana, an area of interest he termed “the Great Subject.” His son, John Nicholas Brown (1861–1900), actively continued this tradition and before his untimely death had conceived the idea of giving the Library to the world of historical research as a memorial to his father. In his will, John Nicholas Brown assigned funds for the construction of an appropriate building and for an endowment to support the Library’s work. The original Library building was formally dedicated in 1904. In 1990, the Library raised the capital to construct a 15,000 square foot addition, designed in the classical style like the original structure and named the Caspersen Building. [Thank you to Brown, this information can be found here]

Public Library, New Philadelphia, Ohio

[LIB7045] - This building is still in use as a public library. Visit their website.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

University of SC library acquires special collection of rare Ernest Hemingway published works - The Washington Post

University of SC library acquires special collection of rare Ernest Hemingway published works - The Washington Post:

A love of Ernest Hemingway’s writing and the thrill of tracking down his many works led a Mississippi physician to amass a huge literary collection and donate it to the University of South Carolina so students and scholars could share it.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Birmingham library friends preserving 1926 Jim Crow-era map that promoted racial zoning | al.com

Birmingham library friends preserving 1926 Jim Crow-era map that promoted racial zoning | al.com:

The 1926 zoning map is an impor­tant artifact of the city's civil rights his­tory, said Charles E. Connerly, author of the book, "The Most Segregated City in America: City Planning and Civil Rights in Birmingham, 1920-1980."

Monday, September 24, 2012

Memorial Library, Montour Falls, New York

[LIB7044] An outstanding examples of Greek Revival architecture, the structure was built in 1864 to house Charles Cooks’ Bank of Havana. It is built along the lines of the Greek cross. The unique curved bricks in the round Doric columns were made in a local kiln from clay mined on the east hill. Used as a bank until 1884, it was then reconfigured into a library and presented to the Village of Montour Falls in 1904 by Jesse Woodhull. A beautiful bow window was added, composed of leaded panels of Tiffany glass, each panel centered with a stained glass medallion design representing the jeweled lamp of learning. The interior still contains the original tile fireplace, the fresco moldings, and paneling. (from “THE GLORIOUS T” HISTORIC DISTRICT: A Self-Guided Walking Tour)