Imagine you are in a 19th century public library where you are about to check out a book you are most anxious to read. You approach the checkout desk, but first, the librarian retrieves a large ledger book, opens it to the page where your name appears. The librarian then begins to enter the title of the book and author, date checked out, date due back and eventually the date you returned the book. Now you may leave the library with the book you are excited to read. The process takes about 10 minutes. Compare that to today's world where the book checkout takes less than one minute.
Originally libraries were non-circulating meaning you went
to the library to read and could not check out books. Private libraries at the YMCA, membership
libraries or Sunday schools began to issue library cards allowing their members
the honor of taking books out of the building. The 19th century
public library movement enabled the everyday person the ability to register and
then borrow books. The scenario above
was the check-out process.
Eventually, the ledger book became a thing of the past with
the early 20th century development of personal library cards which
over the years created today’s electronic checkout systems. We continue to use library cards identifying
us as the borrower!
There are collectors in our world whose hobby is collecting old library cards and particularly old library cards of famous people. Recently, Gena Branscombe’s 1944 library card came up for sale on E-bay. Her name at the top is – BRANSCOMBE, GENA, then below that typed in red is – TENNEY, GENA BRANSCOMBE (MRS. JOHN FERGUSON). Married women had to be identified by their husband’s names. That was 1944. Her address and phone number are listed, her occupation – Conductor & Composer, Employer – Freelance.
The question then is – what library did Gena frequent while living at 611 West 114th Street? A little research into New York City public libraries in that area and I found the 115th Street branch which in 2017 was renamed the Harry Belafonte Library. Built in 1907 – 1908 with funds provided by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, it is a three story building made of limestone and in the Neo Italian Renaissance style.
Walking three or four blocks from her home at 611 West 114th
Street to the 115th Street Public Library branch was her journey to
reading material, borrowing music, and enhancing her view of the world.
Everyone should have a library card, visit libraries, check out books, do research and find items not on the internet. Introduce yourself to a librarian who will guide you to materials you didn’t know existed. We all need our public libraries. Get a library card and explore!
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