This column features stories about how libraries celebrate their histories. From publications to parades, librarians have found many creative ways to mark their library’s milestones as cultural centers.
We hope that the accounts here will inspire other libraries to commemorate their historical roles in their communities, and offer a pool of ideas for doing so.
Please consider sharing your library’s historical celebration by submitting a story to the blog’s editorial team at lhrtnewsandnotes@gmail.com
(Note: January 23, 2020): The Nelson Public Library turns 100
By Anne DeGrace, Adult Services Coordinator, Nelson Public Library
Editor’s Intro: This is the story of a spectacular centenary celebration at the Nelson Public Library in Nelson, British Columbia. Many talented and passionate supporters–comedians, indigenous leaders, artists, jazz musicians, singers, and more–joined forces with the librarians in the celebration. Enjoy Ms. DeGrace’s full story on the celebration: Nelson Public Library Turns 100. Be sure to also check out their slide show which features historic photos and exceptional artwork by Douglas Jones:
Definitely a shining model for fellow libraries everywhere who would like to plan celebrations. Thank you Ms. DeGrace and Nelson Public Library for sharing the story with us, and happy 100th year!
(Note: April 2, 2019): Deschutes Public Library History Project
By Erin Weaver, Deschutes Public Library
Editor’s Intro: Please take a moment to check out this terrific animated library history video by Erin Weaver. It leads the audience through a showcase of primary sources excerpts, couched in lots of color and movement, and makes for a very engaging experience! Ms. Weaver used Powtoon, an online animation tool, for the design. I liked how she not only tells the history of her library, but also recounts her own journey of discovery in compiling the primary sources for this historical mosaic. It’s quite inspiring to read about how this project lead to discoveries related to other public libraries’ histories in the region–and new connections with those sister libraries. Many thanks, Ms. Weaver, for sharing the story of how her library has “served as a community epicenter of art and knowledge and gathering.” Watch the video here and check out her background piece Deschutes History Write Up.
(Note: March 18, 2019): KU Libraries: Kenneth Spencer Research Library Celebrates 50 years
By Leah Hallstrom, Communications Coordinator, Office of Communications & Advancement | University of Kansas Libraries
Editor’s Intro: You’ll find a trove of wonderful ideas for celebrating a library’s history in Ms. Hallstrom’s report about the golden anniversary of The Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas. For this celebration, a team that included communications and design specialists as well as the library staff collaborated on two exhibits. Big Jay, the University’s mascot, joined the festivities and showed people around the exhibits. The group even created an exhibition catalog, available as a PDF, and it is a “must see” for library history enthusiasts!
The Spencer Research Library demonstrates how a celebration of a library’s history can empower a library’s present: “An anniversary celebration is an excellent opportunity for libraries to engage new donors and thank existing donors for their years of support, while honoring the history of a library and highlighting its collections.” Read more about the Spencers, the library’s history, and the commemorative events in Ms. Hallstrom’s essay, KU Libraries: Kenneth Spencer Research Library celebrates 50 years.
(Note: March 14, 2019): Carthage (IL) Public Library Celebrates 125th Anniversary
By Amy Gee, Carthage Public Library
Editor’s Intro: Thank you very much to Ms. Gee for sharing materials from a splendid library history celebration at Carthage Public Library, Illinois. It is impressive to see in her attached story how library staff mobilized social media: they “combed through the original record book and the local newspapers on microfilm to gather historical information about the library and other events of the time period. These historical tidbits were shared with the public through 125 Facebook posts (one each weekday).” That’s a cool idea worthy of emulation by other libraries celebrating their histories! Check out their posts here. Be sure to also check out the program booklet for the event. Carthage Public held a design contest that resulted in the beautiful logo you see in the booklet–a great way to brand a library historical celebration. Read more in Ms. Gee’s essay Carthage (IL) Public Library Celebrates 125th Anniversary
(Note: August 2, 2018): Overdue in Paradise
By Janet DeVries Naughton, Librarian, Associate Professor, Palm Beach State College, naughtoj@palmbeachstate.edu
Author Bio: Janet DeVries Naughton is a Librarian and Associate Professor at Palm Beach State College. Previously she served as the Archivist for the Boynton Beach City Library and the Delray Beach Historical Society. She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University, and is completing a Master’s degree in History. She is the immediate past-president of the Boynton Beach Historical Society and is the author, co-author, or editor of ten local history books. Janet promotes historic scholarship volunteering as a tour guide in a historic Florida cemetery.
Editor’s Intro: This post from Professor Janet DeVries Naughton provides us with an exceptional case study of library historiography. Academic Librarian Janet DeVries and Technology Librarian Graham Brunk lead a team of library history enthusiasts in Palm Beach County to create a book, Overdue in Paradise: The Library History of Palm Beach County, now available through Amazon, Target, and other major retailers. The book has been selected as a finalist by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association for their 2018 FAPA President’s Awards in the Florida/Non-Fiction category.
Royalties go to The Palm Beach County Library Association and the Little Free Libraries of Lake Worth, Inc.
The book includes all types of libraries in Palm Beach County. With ingenuity, the authors used Google Drive and Facebook to take a collaborative approach. Thirty-two people from around the county contributed to the project, and they crowdsourced the title of the book.
Read the amazing full story behind the book’s production here: Overdue in Paradise–By Janet DeVries Naughton
(Note: July 31, 2018): 150th Celebration of the Hornell Library Association/Hornell Public Library
By Mary McDaniels, President of the Friends of Hornell Public Library
Editor’s Intro: Here is another great report from the field. Hornell Public Library, NY recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. The events included a movie about the history of the library produced by local middle school students, which was surely a memorable learning experience for the students as well as an excellent way to preserve library history.
Other parts of the commemoration included various web promotions, including digitizing a 1911 article and map about the library’s opening.
The library is a great treasure to its city and beyond–the New York state legislature even passed a resolution to mark the library’s anniversary! The Evening Tribune’s Jason Jordan noted that the proclamation “recognized the good works of the library, not just as a book depository, but a center for community activity and education as well.”
We’re delighted to share the details and promotional materials from these wonderful celebrations sent to us by the President of the Friends of Hornell Public Library, Ms. Mary McDaniels. You can find the items referenced in her letter below:
- Hornell Public Library –Dinner Program
- Hornell Public Library–Program of Events
- “Hornell Library History Stacks Up” (Hornell Evening Tribune)
- Red Carpet Movie–From a Bookshelf to a Carnegie Library!
- Picture of Fr. Stan Kacprezak, Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Parish, presenting at the Celebration
- “Hornell Library Plans June 29 Celebration” (Hornell Evening Tribune)
- New York State Resolution–Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Hornell Public Library on May 20, 2018
(Note: July 30, 2018): Celebrating Decades of History at the Orange Public Library
By Lizeth Ramirez, Archivist/Reference Librarian, Orange Public Library & History Center, lramirez@cityoforange.org
Author Bio: Lizeth Ramirez is an Archivist and Reference Librarian at the Orange Public Library & History Center. After working in various libraries in Orange County, she pursued the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from San Jose State University, which she obtained in 2007. Lizeth is in charge of the local history collection at the Orange Public Library & History Center and works with the community to preserve their history. She has applied for and has been awarded two grants, the LSTA Pitch an Idea Grant in 2010 and the Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant in 2015.
Editor’s Intro: Ms. Ramirez shares details from a wonderful year-long library history celebration at the City of Orange Public Library. The 2017 celebration was influenced by the 55th anniversary celebration of the library in 1949. What a great idea–public libraries can look to their past celebrations for ideas for their celebrations today. Check out the commemorative card pictured in her essay; that’s a great way to help the community remember the history of its library’s services. It is also notable that commemorations at OPL include the branch libraries.
Ms. Ramirez makes an excellent point in the conclusion about library history events: “The availability of funding can dictate the ways in which these are celebrated, which makes the involvement of library support groups very important. They can be asked to provide refreshments for events, fund the creation of booklets and pamphlets that celebrate library histories, or assist with tours and programs.” Library support groups, including the Board of Trustees, rallied in a very impressive way to mark OPL’s milestones.
Enjoy hearing just how much the community of Orange treasures its library history in her full essay: Celebrating Decades of History at OPL
(Note: July 30, 2018): Mount Prospect Public Library’s 75th Anniversary
By Carol Morency, Marketing and Public Relations Director, Mount Prospect Public Library, cmorency@mppl.org
Author Bio: Carol Morency has a B.A. from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Before working in libraries, she wrote for various suburban Chicago newspapers as well as for an association of state government officials. She has also worked for the Downers Grove Park District and the Downers Grove Public Library. Her professional interests focus on social media, libraries as part of a spectrum of civic services, and uplifting the profile of libraries in general.
Editor’s Intro: Mount Prospect’s library history commemoration is a “must read” for anyone thinking of planning a library history program. Here are several noteworthy features of their celebration:
- A logo specifically designed for the anniversary.
- A designated web page www.mppl.org/75years to showcase photos from their archives and list celebration events.
- A four-themed approach: The Arts, Technology, Service, and Community. Each theme represents an opportunity that the library has offered its community over the years.
- Virtual reality!
- A 75th Anniversary Art Exhibit with student artwork from 16 local schools. Over 1,600 people attended.
- A trivia game that included questions about the library’s history.
- As a child of the 1980s, my favorite event is the Eighties-themed scavenger hunt!
Find out more from Ms. Morency’s essay here: Mount Prospect’s 75th Anniversary. Be sure to read about the dual committee structure that Mount Prospect created to mobilize the staff and community members for the events.
(Note: July 26, 2018): Palisades Free Library in Palisades, NY Celebrates 125 Years
By Anya Berg, Adult Services Librarian, aberg@rcls.org
Author Bio: Anya Berg is the Adult Services Librarian at the Palisades Free Library in Palisades, New York. She received her MSLIS from Drexel University in 2012, with a concentration in Archival Studies. Having held a position in an academic library and almost every department of a public library, Ms. Berg can confidently say she is interested in any and all things library related.
Editor’s Intro: Wow! Exhibit panels, library history poetry, a video, big bubbles, a time capsule, and a commemorative booklet were all featured in a splendid celebration of the history of the Palisades Free Library! A committee of over twenty people, including many community volunteers, worked for nearly a year to organize the celebration–and that is quite a testimony to just how much Palisades values its library’s history.
One of the purposes of this column is to provide inspiration and ideas to others planning library history celebrations, and Ms. Berg offers links to some wonderful sample materials in her post: Palisades Free Library Celebrates 125 Years. My favorite is the poem about the history of the library by Mildred Rippey. Be sure also to check out the video which explains the planning process and features photos from the commemoration!
(Note: June 27, 2018): Making Library History: Lincoln Library and Lucy Mae Shippy McCarthy
By April Hernandez, MLS, Director, Lincoln Library, medicinelodgelibrary@gmail.com
Author Bio: “It took me 45 years to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I came into librarianship late. Libraries have always been my passion, however. I started working in a small community college library five years ago, received my MLS in 2015, and now am the director of a small rural library in Kansas. I am blessed to be able to say I truly love my job.”
Editor’s Intro: I am thrilled to start off our new column with this story of how one public library in Kansas is planning to celebrate its history. We can learn from their experience how community support, association resources, and digitization technology can play key roles in the preservation of library history. Please note also how the library staff is creatively using a variety of primary sources–interviews with family members of former librarians, board minutes, letters, and other items–to craft its history. A number of ideas are here that other libraries can use to plan similar celebration efforts. Thank you, Ms. Hernandez, for sharing this story–and we hope you’ll send us follow-up photos of the celebration and parade float later this year! Enjoy her post here: Making Library History: Lincoln Library and Lucy Mae Shippy McCarthy