|
The Membership Libraries Group is an organization of non-profit membership libraries in the U.S., formed in 1991. Membership libraries are rare in the United States today. Although numerous in the 18th and 19th centuries, they declined after the American Civil War, when the free public library as we know it today developed. A handful — as few as 16 and as many as 19, depending on classification — are known today and continue to thrive. Most are in older cities, where they may preserve architecturally significant buildings and hold special collections of rare books, prints, maps, photographs, and manuscripts of interest to scholars. ==Founding== In April 1991, a support group for membership libraries was formed in New York, hosted by the Mercantile Library and its director, Harold Augenbraum. The twelve libraries in attendance chose the name Membership Libraries Group. It was decided that the Membership Libraries Group (MLG) would meet annually in the fall, at a different member institution each year. Attendees at the meetings would exchange ideas and discuss issues especially pertinent to membership libraries. The twelve institutions in attendance, and their respective directors, were declared the Founding Members of the MLG. They were: * The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla, CA, Erika Torri, Executive Director and Librarian * The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Sandra Tatman, Executive Director * The Boston Athenaeum, Boston, MA, Elizabeth E. Barker, Ph.D., Director * The General Society Library, New York, NY, Marjorie Peters, Librarian * The Mechanics Institute Library, San Francisco, CA, Ralph Lewin, Library Director * The Mercantile Library of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, Jean Springer, Director * The Mercantile Library of New York City, New York, NY, Harold Augenbraum, Director * The New York Society Library, New York, NY, Mark Piel, Librarian * The Portsmouth Athenaeum, Portsmouth, NH, Jane Porter, Keeper * The Providence Athenaeum, Providence, RI, Michael Gerhardt, Interim Executive Director * The Redwood Library and Athenaeum, Newport, RI, Benedict Leca, Ph.D, Executive Director * The St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, St. Louis, MO, Dr. Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director Other members were later added (see below). To be an active and voting Member, an institution must be financially self-supporting, can not be part of a larger organization, and must provide a circulating library to its members. Some libraries fill some, but not all, of these criteria; they may be accepted as Associate Members. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Membership Libraries Group」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|