Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

The Lower Providence Community Library in Eagleville, Pennsylvania was actually my local library during my brief residence in Southeastern PA. Of course, the first thing I did when I moved there was get a library card! Despite being located in Montgomery County, it was not part of a consortium, although with an "Access Pennsylvania" sticker on your card, all libraries in the state (not just the county) were accessible. I haven't run across this feature in any other state yet and am wondering if this is something perhaps unique to Pennsylvania. It certainly is convenient when you think I could travel clear across the state on vacation and check out items during my stay. Of course, when you consider that I would be receiving the same services of local patrons whose taxes pay for their home library, it does raise some questions. Nevertheless, those same patrons would be able to utilize my local library so perhaps it all comes out in the wash!!!

Clymer Library in the Heart of the Poconos

This library certainly brings back a lot of memories for me. During the time I worked at Skytop Lodge, I used to frequent this library during the late 1990s to attend a monthly program entitled "Foreign Film Night."

It is a small rural library in northeastern Pennsylvania, but already more than a decade ago, they were offering internet access, had a very respectable AV collection and were even able to offer up adult programming on a shoestring budget.


Orderly, well lit and very functional, this may very well be my favorite small library so far. Hopefully I will be able to make a return visit in the near future... and get my library card renewed!

http://www.clymerlibrary.org/

Phoenixville Revisited!

Two years ago I blogged on the public library in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, the first library I ever worked at (2004-05). This year I made a return visit and met up with some former colleagues. Despite budget cuts, they seem to be busier than ever (pretty much the same story everywhere!). Here are some pix I snapped during my visit.

Don't you just love these houses that Carnegie built?
Well, he didn't build them but his money did!

Entrance to the "new" addition to the original Carnegie building.

Choose your route...upstairs to the adult library or down the stairs to the children's area.

The stacks in the old part of the building.

I think I know this woman!

A few of the library's workstations with the bulk of the DVD collection in the background.

Yours truly with the man that started it all, Phoenixville Library Director John Kelley.

>>> 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

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!