Andrew Carnegie in the Caribbean???!!!

Well, he might not have been on the island of Barbados, but one of his libraries certainly is. Founded in 1904, it is one of the few libraries found outside of the United States or Carnegie's native Scotland. Unfortunately when I visited Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, back in January of 2007, I was informed by someone on the street that the whole place closed down two weeks before due to an epidemic! What I really find mysterious is that I could not locate the website or any further information on this library's current operations. Did it close permanently? I guess I'll have to arrange another trip to the island to find out!

>>> American Philatelic Research Library <<<

Here's a special library, and when I say "special", I mean it! Throughout my life I have been an avid stamp collector and I used to make a yearly pilgrimage to the American Philatelic Society (APS) when it was still located in State College, Pennsylvania. In addition to visiting the sales division, I made extensive use of their library services and resources while I was there. The APS has over 40,ooo members worldwide and its library over 20,000 books and 5,000 journals. The library is in fact open to the public, but only members of the APS can borrow materials. Because many members are not within driving distance (such as myself right now!), around 80% of the circulated items are done through the mail. Now, wouldn't it be great to get this collection digitized!!! Now located in Bellefonte, PA, here's a link to the website >>>> http://www.stamps.org/TheLibrary/lib_AbouttheAPRL.htm

For the marketing report and SWOT analysis I did for my class on special libraries >>> http://rapidshare.com/files/139594353/MarketingAuditSWOT.rtf.html

O’Kelly Memorial Library in Loganville, GA

This library is part of the huge PINES consortium in Georgia. It is comprised of approximately 275 libraries which share a collection of nearly 10 million items. Despite encompassing the poorest areas of the state, this network allows its patrons access to a greater number of resources than even the richest counties such as Cobb, Fulton, Dekalb and Gwinnett. Nevertheless due to poorer conditions of books, outdated material and lack of funding for programming, many people who live near a non-PINES library will cross the county lines in attempting to secure a card.

In contrast to other PINES member libraries I have visited, the one in Loganville was actually well kept. They even had a music CD and movie DVD collection which a Gwinnett County library less than 10 miles away could not even claim.

http://www.uncleremus.org/okelly.htm

Oh my God, is that a typewriter! Those individuals who may be technologically impaired need not fear!
I actually visited this library as part of an assignment for my very last class in library school, Seminar in the Problems of Rural Library Service. For my full report on this library, click the link...http://rapidshare.com/files/138245434/Road_Trip_Assignment.doc.html

B.V.I.

Last week we were on the American side of the Virgin Islands; this week we'll take a visit to the British side and the island of Tortola. The first thing I saw after disembarking the ship was their bookmobile, which I later found out after chatting with the library director that it was purchased from a library system in Ohio. The library itself is found above a supermarket in downtown Road Town. Thumbing through the titles in the reference section, one really begins to realize how lucky we are in the States where most library systems have a half-decent budget. New books were virtually nonexistant and the books that were on the shelves would have been weeded eons ago at most other libraries.

Library's website >>> http://www.bvilibrary.gov.vg

Take a virtual tour here >>> http://www.bvilibrary.gov.vg/toursmain.php

All-American Library!

OK, maybe not 100% American, although this library is located in a U.S. territory. Found in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the town of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas, it is easy to forget you're in a place where people carry American passports and pay using the dollar. For one thing, there actually is a place on U.S. soil where people drive on the left side of the road! And glancing at the names of streets and buildings, you'd swear you were somewhere in Denmark...the library itself is located on a street named "Dronningens Gade"! The U.S. purchased the islands from Denmark back in 1917 and it's nice to see they actually left some things unchanged.

The library is named after perhaps the most famous of all Caribbean librarians, Enid M. Baa. For a bio on her, click here >>> http://www.fostpl.org/Baa.html

For the current library website, click here >>> http://www.virginislandspace.org/Division%20of%20Libraries/dlamhome.htm

My Local Library!

Well, it was my local library when I lived in Pennsylvania. The main branch of the Eastern Monroe Public Library, it was originally located on Main Street in Stroudsburg but relocated in 1996 to the corner of 611 and Chipperfield Drive. The building, which was formally occupied by Stroud's Jewelers, gave the library much needed space. It is a two-story structure and very well organized and visually appealing. I was never an avid reader when I was young (that has indeed since changed!), but this library in Stroudsburg influenced me greatly in the areas of film and music, which is why I am such a great advocate of AV today. From its original vinyl collection to its classical music collection on compact disc to the wide array of foreign films, travelogues and documentaries, I will be forever indebted to the library for making these materials available in the Poconos which was, at least at the time, a cultural wasteland. Thank you!!! http://www.monroepl.org/

If anyone has a picture of the library when it was still located at 913 Main St, please let me know!

Andrew Carnegie was here!

Well, even if Mr. Carnegie wasn't here, he is the reason the library stands today. Beginning in 1883, he funded over 2,500 libraries around the world and I am proud to say that my very first library job was in one of them! Completed in 1902, the original building houses its adult fiction collection and serves as a reading room along with the reference desk. The basement was turned into the children's library during the 1920s and other expansions were introduced over the years. In 1978, the library joined the Chester County consortium of 17 libraries; they do however still maintain their own website @ http://www.phoenixvillelibrary.org

If you're wondering, the last picture shows what happens when the computers go down during the Christmas holiday! Aaaarrgghh!

A library on the high seas!

These pictures were taken aboard the brand new Norwegian Pearl on our Caribbean cruise back in January of 2007. With approximately 2,000 volumes and books in various languages, I was quite impressed. I was disappointed however when I found out there is no designated librarian; various crew members man the desk for a few hours each day. That's me sitting at the desk and thinking, "Wow, wouldn't that be a dream job!" Cunard Lines actually do have a full-time librarian aboard the Queen Mary 2, as well as the new Queen Victoria which boasts of over 6,000 books! Gotta go and get my resume in order...

~The Art Institute of Atlanta Library~

I visited this library back in March of 2007 as part of an assignment for my class on special libraries. The library's mission is to support the curriculum of the Art Institute and in addition to 40,000 books, the library also has over 4,000 videotapes and DVDs, 150 periodicals, CD-Roms and provides access to over 50 subscription databases. The library is open for use by all, but only faculty, staff and currently enrolled students may check out materials.
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/Atlanta/library

Welcome to Suwanee, GA!

I've been a librarian for exactly one month now and this is my library...the Suwanee branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. http://www.gwinnettpl.org/AboutYourLibrary/HoursAndLocations/Branches/BranchLocationSuwanee.html

Libraries around the world!

Hello and welcome to my blog!

In the virtual world, I am known as Arkiv and I have worked in libraries since 2005 and recently obtained my MLIS making me eligible to become a librarian. I have always been fascinated by libraries and now it is hard to believe why I did not become a librarian a long time ago.

In any case, this blog will feature libraries that I have used, worked at, or visited during my travels. If any of these libraries look familiar to you, I'd love to hear about your experiences.