Twelve years ago I began taking classes to become a school librarian while teaching high school English. When I realized after 15 years of being a classroom teacher that I was ready for a change, I knew I would not be able to leave behind the books or the students.
The classes I took prepared me to be a librarian, covering topics such as collection development, cataloging, and media resources. One class, I am not sure which one, required that we pay a visit to four different types of libraries we had not previously visited. We were tasked with observing as well as interacting with staff and patrons if we were not intrusive.
The four types are:
Public: These fabulous libraries in our neighborhoods, towns, and cities where librarians and other staff do everything from recommending books, hosting live events (someday this will happen again), facilitating job fairs, and organizing a million other things to benefit the community. While tax dollars support public libraries I believe that if you are a regular user of the library you get back far more than what you have put in. For my assignment, I visited the main branch of my city library rather than my usual neighborhood branch.
School: As a school librarian, my opinion is biased, but I believe the library to be the most important space in the school. It is the center of all knowledge. It provides a safe space for all students whether they need to conduct research, check out books, have a club meeting, or just take a moment to breathe during a hectic day. Depending on a state's laws, schools can have anywhere from 4 to zero librarians depending on size and the district's commitment to libraries and librarians. Most schools still have libraries, though some are in danger of losing them in favor of digital collections only (I do not think this is a good idea.). But in many parts of the United States, those libraries are maintained by clerical staff who have not been trained in collection development, research skills, or other aspects of building a strong library program. Research and more research has shown this to be foolish because librarians and trained librarians add to the overall academic achievement of the students just by being there. I am going to consider you convinced and move on.
Academic: These are libraries serving colleges and universities. I visited the main library on the campus of Old Dominion University. Despite having earned my MA there and taking library classes I had not visited the library. I was fortunate to have access to a wealth of databases through ODU, my public library, and my school library. Most of my information needs were met by current research. However, were I to need to do deep research I would acknowledge that not "everything is online now." There are a wealth of resources in academic libraries that are not currently digitized and may never be. There are periodicals available on microfiche and books with vast knowledge that will never be digitized or available through Google books. That's not to mention the librarians and other staff who are well-versed in the offerings of the library both digital and analog.
Special: These are the ones that most intrigue me. Special libraries are those in which the collection is not of general interest, but instead has a narrow focus on one area. For instance, I visited the library at the Mariners Museum and Park housed on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. According to their website, "The Mariners’ Museum Library holds the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere. With its rich collections and international scope, the Library is a premier resource for maritime research." The librarian showed me their collection of ship's logs and a number of maritime maps of local waterways. It was fascinating.
Another special library I have come to know well is that of the Society of Cincinnati in Washington, DC. For 7 years I have served as a docent at the national headquarters, the home of which is the historic Anderson House. Last summer and the summer before I was invited to work in the library for a week during the annual teacher workshop. The library "collects, preserves, and makes available for research printed and manuscript materials relating to the military and naval history of the eighteenth century, with a particular concentration on the people and events of the American Revolution." While working, I help the staff by shelving books and pulling primary sources the teachers have requested. I also find myself chatting with educators about the lessons they are planning and the items they are requesting to aid them.
Presidential Libraries are another type of special library because they each collect and display materials related to one former President of the United States. According to the National Archives definition:
"Presidential Libraries and Museums promote understanding of the presidency and the American experience. We preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire. Presidential Libraries and Museums present vast archives of documents, museums full of important Presidential artifacts, interesting educational and public programs, and informative web sites. Presidential Libraries and Museums are repositories for the papers, records and historical materials of the Presidents."
The first of the Presidential libraries is that of Franklin D. Roosevelt. But later a library was added for his predecessor Hebert Hoover. There are 14 in total from Hoover through President Barak Obama. The papers of Presidents before Hoover are housed in a variety of repositories, but many are held by the Library of Congress. The Nationals Archives has a helpful list here of places where these materials can be found.
On a blustery, cold day in January 2017 I visited the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston, MA. We were only able to visit the museum portion of the building, but I was intrigued by the idea of the treasures held in the research rooms and archives. Visiting more of these is something I want to incorporate into future travel.
One other library I do not think I can skip is the Library of Congress. While the primary function of the Library has always been to serve the research needs of Congress, the services and collections cover all topics and subject areas of interest to Congress and the people of the United States. The current Librarian of Congress has worked since the beginning of her tenure in 2016, to change the impression that the Library is only a place for scholars. While the reading rooms are scholarly places, accessible after one has acquired a reader's card (which can be done by anyone who applies and visits the library to complete the process). The key difference between the Library of Congress and a public or academic library is that all materials must be used on site.
The main home of the Library are three buildings near the Capitol in Washington, DC. The Jefferson Building was completed in 1897 after the collection had been moved and rehoused a number of times as it grew. This is one of Washington, DC's most spectacular building and worth a visit and tour. Later the Library added the John Adams Building in 1938 as well as the James Madison Building in 1980. There are also a number of repositories and reading rooms in Virginia and Maryland.
The images throughout this post come from the collections of the Library of Congress. Each image is linked to the Library's site where you can find additional information.
What are your favorite libraries?
