This blog represents a collection of postcards that focuses on libraries in the United States and throughout the world.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
1968 Montclair Free Public Library, Montclair NJ
1938 Library, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY
In 1926, the Board of Trustees recognized the need for a larger library and assembly hall. A resolution was made to name the proposed building in memory of Amos Eaton. The library was built to accommodate 160,000 volumes and 240 readers. The auditorium could accommodate up to 1400 people. The building, another Lawler & Haase design, was opened in 1928.
The library remained in Eaton Hall until it was moved to the former St. Joseph's Chapel in 1960. Auditorium space was eventually converted to lab, classroom and office space. Amos Eaton Hall was remodeled in 1965 and currently houses the Department of Mathematical Sciences. [Source]
[LIB2402]
1947 Memorial Library, Shreveport, Louisiana
Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Gorgas Library is named after Amelia Gayle Gorgas, who was University of Alabama's first female librarian and served the University as hospital matron, librarian, and postmistress for 25 years until her retirement at the age of 80 in 1907.
The main steps to Gorgas Library from the Quad cover the ruins of the antebellum library that was burned during the Civil War. Website for this library.
[LIB2399]
Public Library, Brantford, Canada
After the Ontario government passed legislation to permit municipalities to establish free libraries, the Mechanics Institute was dissolved and re-established as the Brantford Free Library on March 4, 1884. James Horning was chosen as the first permanent librarian (he held this post until his death in 1901). The first library board was: Rev. Dr. William Cochrane (Chairman), James B. Woodyatt, Wm. Watt Sr., Rev. Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. Kelly, Rev. Maxwell, Rev. Father Lennon, D. Hawkins, and Col. S. C. Jones. [Read more of the history of this library, click here]
[LIB2398]
The Redwood Library, Newport, Rhode Island
The Redwood Library and Athenæum is the oldest lending library in America, and the oldest library building in continuous use in the country. Founded in 1747 by forty-six proprietors upon the principle of "having nothing in view but the good of mankind," its mission continues over 250 years later. [Read more, click here]
[LIB2396]
Carnegie Library, Salem, Ohio
History of Salem and the immediate vicinity, Columbiana County, Ohio
[LIB2395]
Tampere Library, Tampere Suomi, Finland
Three views of the main library built in 1986, Reima & Raili Pietilä, architects. Sent to me by my Postcrossing friend, Risto.
In 1978 a competition was arranged for the design of a new main library. The jury unanimously chose Raili and Reima Pietilä´s work "Mating Call".
The architects said they had been influenced by various elements, such as Celtic ornaments, sheep horns and glacial spin formations. The constructional basic idea was space coiling spirally like the shell of a snail. The form of a bird appeared in the design process. Increasingly, the building began to resemble a large game bird - capercaillie. In fact, the library is known under the Finnish name "Metso". Seen from above, the building looks like a bird carrying a shield. [Read more]
Thursday, February 26, 2009
1911 Library at Adirondack Cottages Sanitarium, NY
[LIB2393]
Public Library, Niagara Falls, NY
[LIB2392]
Friday, February 13, 2009
1906 Public Library, Derby, Connecticut CT
A vintage postcard view and a contemporary view. The building appears to have been modified.
[LIB2391]
1913 Gates Memorial Library, White River Junction, VT
1913 Whitney Memorial Library, Bolton, MA
Published by OA Everett, Bolton, Massachusetts, no. 181207
Vintage 1913 view on the left, contemporary view on the right.
Bolton Public Library's building was the gift of Misses Emma and Anna Whitney in honor of their father Captain Joseph Whitney. Its native stone and tile exterior, arched windows, and oak-paneled Gothic interior lead some visitors to guess that it was once a church; in fact, it has always been a library. The building was formally dedicated in 1904. [http://www.boltonma.us/library.php]
[LIB2388]
1954 Public Library, Mobile, Alabama AL
[LIB2387]
1918 Cambria Public Library, Johnstown, PA
Public Library. Takoma, WA
1905 Public Library, Binghamton, New York NY
1907 Public Library, New Haven Connecticut CT
1916 Front Facade, New York Public Library, NY
Friday, February 6, 2009
Library, Marietta College, Marietta Ohio OH
This card was published by Curteich and is numbered 6DK-1442.
The doors officially opened to the new 53,000-square-foot Legacy Library (pictured above on the bottom) when students returned from their winter break Monday, after a year-and-a-half of construction and more than a decade of plans and dreams.
The new facility's predecessor, Dawes Memorial Library, was built in the early 1960s and demolished in May 2007 to make way for the new library. Dawes had problems with leaks, ventilation and space.
[LIB0372]
Public Library. Montclair, New Jersey NJ
Israel Crane and his wife invited friends and neighbors to organize a subscription library collection of about one hundred books. There were 30 participating families. The collection was housed under the counter at Betzler's Drug Store on Bloomfield Avenue (then called Main), near the Presbyterian Church (now the site of the Hinck Building). The books were moved to the Pillsbury Building, also located on Bloomfield Avenue, and the library obtained a charter as the Montclair Library Association. Read more about the history of this library click here!
[LIB0371]
Mosaic Mantel, Library of Congress, Washington DC
[LIB0370]
Carnegie Public Library, Arkansas City, Kansas KS
[LIB0368]
Thursday, February 5, 2009
1907 Public Library, Stoneham, Massachusetts MA
issued a minority report urging the people of Stoneham to turn down Andrew Carnegie's 1903 offer of funds for the construction of what today is the oldest part of the plant. The history of this library is available here in PDF.
[LIB0366]
The Stickler Memorial Library, Orange, NJ
According to a New York Times article 25 June 1900, the cornerstone of the library, located at Main Street and Essex Avenue, was put in place by JW Stickler, who is erecting the library as a memorial to his son. The new library would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000 (about $2,645,000 in 2008 dollars).
[LIB0365]