Librariana X: Scrapbooks

Of particular interest are: Volume 1 (1892-1897), which is entirely devoted to the planning, construction, and opening of the new Library building at 5 Washington Street; Volume 2 (1897- 1902), which contains mostly material on the Library's Children's Room and other provision for the young, with a few articles on special collections and exhibitions; and Volume 3 (1906-1913), which is devoted entirely to Library exhibits. Another volume (1909-1913) contains materials on library collections and departments, book lists, activities of John Cotton Dana and other library staff, and related subjects such as the Carteret Book Club, the Industrial Exposition, and "The Newarker" magazine.

Another scrapbook was assembled by the School Department. It consists of one scrapbook containing, not only School Department newsletters such as "Library Letter" and "Little Miss Chatterbox," but also brochures, flyers, announcements, and other ephemeral publications. The various materials were designed for a wide audience, including teachers, parents, and the children themselves.

Access to several volumes is provided by a one-drawer card-file index; the order of the cards follows the arrangement of items within each scrapbook. Pages are numbered consecutively through the indexed volumes, from 1 to 587. The condition of the original volumes is fragile and some are microfilmed; consult staff for access.

Additional scrapbooks, which have not been inventoried, are located in the Director’s office.