John Cotton Dana and "The Men of Letters"

I'm a great admirer of John Cotton Dana (1856-1919), one of our nation's great early librarians. Although Dana is best known in the...

Book Delivery on Day of 1906 SF Earthquake

Natural disasters obviously impact libraries if they are in the vicinity of the disaster. Libraries certainly have not escaped untouched by ...

Gerstenslager Bookmobile Postcard Ads

For many years the Gerstenslager Company in Wooster, Ohio was synonymous with bookmobiles for public library extension librarians. Although...

LHBB Milestones

Today is the third anniversary of the Library History Buff Blog. This is also my 400th post to the blog. I'm pleased with the modest suc...

Some Blogs That I Follow

I'm disappointed that there are not more people blogging about library history, but I'm encouraged that this is beginning to change ...

Union College (NY) Semi-Centennials

I recently became aware that this year was the semi-centennial of the Schaffer Library at Union College in Schenectady, NY. The last event ...

Newark's Transition to a Free Public Library

America's transition from fee based membership and subscription libraries to free (to the user) public libraries occurred over a number ...

Reading Stand and Revolving Book Case

Postal cards with advertising related to library supplies and equipment are among my favorites. This one is an 1899 advertisement for the Ma...

Tribute to a Veteran and to a Library Historian on 11-11-11

As a Veteran myself , I take note when I come across information about another librarian who has served in the Armed Forces. In reading Davi...

Most Data Collected on a Postal Card

Melvil Dewey was largely responsible for standardizing the catalog card at 7.5 x 12.5 centimeters in 1877. Almost immediately, Dewey began l...

Dartmouth's Book Battle, An Eyewitness Account

One of the most fascinating events in American academic library history occurred on the evening of November 11, 1817 at Dartmouth College in...

Another Sister Under the Eaves

As I indicated in my previous post , on Monday of last week I visited the public library in Merrill, WI designed by the architectural firm o...

One of Seven Sisters in Merrill, WI

Current photo of T.B. Scott Free Library, Merrill, WI Vintage postcard of T. B. Scott Free Library, Merrill, WI Distinctive frieze common to...