State Library Digitizes Nearly 200 Issues of the N.C. Historical Review

A page from the digitized version of a 1925 issue of the North Carolina Historical Review

If you’ve visited the Digital Collections of the State Archives and State Library lately, you may have a noticed a significant new addition. The first forty-four volumes (1924-1967) of the North Carolina Historical Review are now available online there. First published by North Carolina Historical Publications in the spring of 1924, the quarterly Review quickly became known for scholarly excellence. It continues that legacy today.

Now in its ninetieth year of publication, the North Carolina Historical Review has provided a forum for students, historians and the general public to explore North Carolina’s rich history. Each issue of the Review contains several articles and essays, a selection of book reviews and notes of historical interest. Access to these new digital volumes is free, and the full text of each of the 176 issues digitized by the State Library is searchable.

Digitization of the North Carolina Historical Review was made possible through a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). LTSA funds have also supported many other projects housed, in the North Carolina Digital Collections, a joint project of the State Archives and the State Library of North Carolina.

Print copies and subscriptions can be purchased online through the North Carolina Historical Publications store.

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County Libraries Host Sec. Kluttz

Sec. Kluttz at ImaginOn with staff from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library

In the tough economic times that our state has experienced during the past few years, libraries have become an increasingly important resource in education and for those looking for jobs. Sec. Kluttz saw this first-hand on her recent trips to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Caldwell County Public Libraries.

During Sec. Kluttz’s visit to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library branch on Thursday, the Secretary learned about the library’s early literacy programs and outreach after taking a short tour of the library’s revolutionary ImaginOn facility.

ImaginOn is a joint venture between the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library and the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. The facility includes state-of-the-art theatre spaces, a dedicated library space for kids 11-years-old and under, multi-use classrooms, a teen-only library, a multimedia production studio and an interactive exhibit space. Staffs from the theatre and library use it to put on unique programming designed to get young people to learn in many ways, through all five senses and “from the page to the stage.”

Friday, the Secretary visited the Caldwell County Public Library in Lenoir. The county is the latest library to join the innovative N.C. Cardinal program supported by the State Library of North Carolina. While there, Sec. Kluttz learned all about its wonderful offerings.

Sec. Kluttz’s gets caught reading at the Caldwell County Public Library in Lenoir

The program fosters a state-wide library community that gives North Carolinians greater access to collections that patrons may not have been able to access before. Basically, it allows patrons to get books in libraries across the state, at no charge, with only a few clicks on a website. Patrons can also use the card from their home library at any library in the network.

The system currently has 93 branch locations in 26 counties. That amounts to 9.7 million North Carolinians having access to 4.2 million library items statewide. The program has resulted in 6.6 million circulations since its inception in July 2010.

The program is support the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), but it’s made possible through the work of the State Library of North Carolina, a division of N. C. Department of Cultural Resources.

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Inaugural Parade Showcases the Diversity of Cultural Resources Programs

Nearly 120 employees and volunteers from across the state represented Cultural Resources at the governor’s inaugural parade Saturday. The group reflected some of the wonderful informational and educational opportunities from the department to offer great family fun:

• Costumed interpreters reflecting the styles worn by North Carolinians from the colonial period through the early 20^th century and representing the work of all Cultural Resources museums and historic sites to share the sights and sounds of our state’s history with visitors

• An interpreter representing Harriet Jacobs, a slave who hid her grandmother’s attic in what is today Historic Edenton for seven years before escaping to freedom

• Interpreters portraying pirates who represent the Office of State Archaeology’s research on the Queen Anne’s Revenge and the artifacts on display at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort

• Volunteers from the Old Hickory Division of World War I, as portrayed by interpreters, representing the department’s upcoming centennial observance of “the war to end all wars”

• A 1929 Fire Truck and 1936 Highway Patrol from the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer

A colonial era fife and drum corps representing Tryon Palace in New Bern, along with ante bellum era Jonnkonu performers capturing a Christmas time performance tradition of the enslaved

French and Indian War era interpreters representing the frontier outpost of Fort Dobbs in Statesville

Elizabethan interpreters representing Roanoke Island Festival Park and the 1585 settlement of the Lost Colony in Manteo

Pre-colonial era fighters against Colonial Governor Tryon from Alamance Battleground in Burlington

Cultural Resources annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation’s first state-supported  Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council and the State Archives.

The department also champions North Carolina’s creative industry, which employs nearly 300,000 North Carolinians and contributes more than $41 billion to the state’s economy.

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Libraries: A Key Resource for Job Seekers in North Carolina

Secretary Linda Carlisle today spoke at a Congressional briefing for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) concerning how libraries support the workforce.  State Librarian Cal Shepard was also in attendance.  Sec. Carlisle was introduced by Sen. Kay Hagan.  Following are excerpts of Sec. Carlisle’s remarks.

In January of 2009, I was appointed Secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources by Gov. Bev Perdue.  Her number one priority, given the state of the economy, was of course, jobs.  She encouraged all of her Cabinet to “think jobs” and to look for meaningful ways to collaborate.

Sec. Linda Carlisle with Sen. Kay Hagan at today’s IMLS Congressional briefing.

In one of my first meetings with our State Librarian of North Carolina, I heard reports of increased demand from job seekers at public libraries across our state.  One of the best examples is rural Duplin County in eastern North Carolina.

The local employment security commission in Duplin County did not have enough workstations to accommodate the demand so they turned to the public libraries and encouraged people to use their resources. As a result, patron computer use increased dramatically from October 2008 to February 2009 compared to the previous year, with an average increase across the five system libraries of 117.4%.  The main branch in Kenansville saw a 409% increase in computer usage over that same time period.

Those numbers, and others like them around the state and indeed around the nation, spurred us to ask ourselves how our libraries could be part of the solution, helping our citizens at a significant time of need, as a workforce development tool.  This included helping folks create resumes, giving assistance in navigating job searches online, even showing people, many of whom had never used a computer, how to fill out an online application.

Cultural Resources and the State Library of North Carolina worked with our state’s Employment Security Commission, and the N.C. Department of Commerce – all three agencies shared in funding for the project, with the State Library providing the training resources.

Our State Library Development section organized 9 Job Search workshops around the state for public library staff, co-presented by state library staff and local partner organizations.   Nearly 300 librarians were trained statewide.

The project became a national model.  Following our success in North Carolina , the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) requested that our State Library work with WebJunction to develop a national project based on the work we had done in North Carolina. The result was Project Compass, linking libraries nationwide in order to share strategies for helping unemployed patrons find work.

Project Compass featured regional summits where state library officers could share best practices on meeting the workforce needs of their communities, developed a national “Job Search Toolkit,” and provided training and training resources to public library staff across the United States. More than 2,000 library staffers were trained through in-person workshops in 38 states.  There were also two online workshops for staffers from 22 states.

Our public libraries have always been an important part of their communities, providing a wide range of programs and support.  However, one of the important things learned during this time has been that our libraries continue to play a critical role in the lives of our citizens – including assistance with meeting basis human needs, such as getting a job!

The wonderful North Carolina writer Robert Morgan once wrote, “A library is richer than Fort Knox and everybody has the key.” Not only do citizens have that key to our public libraries, but we also believe in giving job seekers the key to their future.

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State Library, State Archives Praised for Preservation Efforts

In the past week both the State Archives and the State Library have been praised by national organizations for their use of technology and for their innovative efforts in preservation.

A joint project from the Archives and Library received a Library of Congress National Digital Stewardship Alliance Innovation Award for excellence in digital preservation outreach. They were specifically recognized for the wealth of information they provide online via their website, YouTube account and Twitter feed. Lisa Gregory, Dean Farrell, Amy Rudersdorf, Michelle Underhill and Kathleen Kenney from the Library, and Kelly Eubank and Rachel Trent from the Archives contributed to the project.

Additionally, the State Archives was recognized by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) for a publication it produced in coordination with several other states called Best Practices for Archival Processing for Geospatial Datasets. The publication provides guidance for archivists on preserving GIS data. It was characterized by SAA as “a valuable contribution to the field of digital preservation for a common, but complex type of electronic record.”

As if that weren’t enough, the Archives and Library together are regional finalists for Innovative Technology Awards from the Council of State Governments. The awards are designed to recognize the creative use of technology to solve problems that governments face. They’re being recognized for their Social Media Archiving and Access program, in which they preserve state government social media through the Web Site Archives and provide guidance to state and local government on best practices.

Congratulations to all those who contributed to these wonderful projects! The work you’re doing is truly amazing!

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Library Week, Stress and Smart Phones

We’re having a Library Week?  Yup.  All week long.

So we had a conversation with…. violinist Karen Strittmatter Galvin, Assistant Concertmaster of the North Carolina Symphony. Because Karen says her “fantasy career” is to be a children’s librarian and that other than cooking and baking pies, reading is her favorite stress reliever.  

Later we stopped by the office of Lori Special, Youth Consultant of the State Library of North Carolina who says she has the best job in the world. She’s got a sense of what’s going on in libraries across ths state, and told us that because of the ‘advent of e-books and smart phones, young adults and teens are reading more.“

That is certainly good news, and worth sharing during Library Week!  Now please go buy, borrow, or download a good book this week and have some fun!

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Time Marches On!

North Carolina's "state precious stone" the emerald

March means green, like North Carolina’s “state precious stone” the emerald. (Wouldn’t you rather wear an emerald than the “state rock” which is granite?) It’s the come in like a lion and go out like a lamb month, and a happy month it is, with our famous ‘madness’ in between. It’s a ‘get ready’ month, too as we turn the page to welcome many fine occasions for words and music.

April is National Poetry Month and also National Jazz Appreciation Month. It’s the place for National Library Week (April 10-16) and Library Preservation Week (April 24-30), and in the midst you can give a nod to the Bard and sing happy birthday to Shakespeare on the 23rd. Shakespeare surely strolled past London’s Westminster Abbey, maybe giving him the inspiration to write

“In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.”

Wouldn’t he marvel to learn that  St. James’ Palace announced that Charlotte Symphony Music Director Christopher Warren-Green will conduct the London Chamber Orchestra at the royal wedding of Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton on Friday, April 29, at Westminster Abbey!

You’ll find more stories and ideas about April at the North Carolina Arts Council and more about all things symbolic in North Carolina at NCPedia and news from the Royal Wedding at www.westminster-abbey.org .

And even more at www.wral.com.

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Fresh Look for State Library Logo

This post from State Librarian Mary Boone appeared a few days ago on the State Library Blog.

“The State Library is delighted to launch our new logo featuring the cardinal, North Carolina’s state bird.  The bird’s three-part wing reflects the three major programs of the State Library – the Government & Heritage Library, the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, and our statewide Library Development program.

“The State Library has established a committee to redesign our website, and representatives from the various sections of the library have been working diligently over some months to create a new look that will also provide easy access to all our resources.  Amy Rudersdorf and Michelle Czaikowski represent the Government & Heritage Library, Craig Hayward represents the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, and Jeffrey Hamilton represents Library Development.  Since we are a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the Web site committee worked with the department’s own graphic designer, Richard Barton, to create a logo for the Library’s new website.  Richard created several options, and the Library’s staff voted for the winning logo.

“I am delighted that we have a new logo that not only represents meaningful elements of our organization and our state, but also reflects the outstanding talent of our staff.  As we approach our 200th anniversary in 2012, the State Library can proudly display this meaningful symbol of the State Library and of North Carolina.” – Mary Boone

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Happy Library Week!

Happy Library Week! It runs through April 17, with the theme “Communities thrive@your library.”

Here are some interesting numbers from the State Library of North Carolina, which is a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources:

• 56% of North Carolinians hold the “Smartest Card” – their Library Card.
• These 5,153,747 men, women, children and youth visited their libraries 44,160,699 times during the year to search resources, read newspapers and magazines, hear stories or speakers, view exhibits, check out digital collections, use the computers, job search and, oh yes, borrow books.
• 82 million virtual visits to the library were logged, and adults are reading fiction in a 2:1 ratio compared to non-fiction.

Here are a few Library Week “Did You Knows?”   On April 14, the Titanic struck an iceberg (1912) and Lincoln was shot (1865); and on April 17, Apollo 13 returned its astronauts safely to earth (1970).  Want to find out more?  Head to your library!

And here are five ways you can join in Library Week festivities:

1. Visit your local library.
2. Donate your favorite book to your local library.
3. Join the Government and Heritage Library’s Twitter and Facebook groups.
4. Join the Facebook group, “I’ll Bet I Can Find 1,000,000 People Who Think Libraries Are Important.”
5. Check out the digital collection, “Transforming the Tar Heel State: The Legacy of Public Libraries in North Carolina,” which provides online access to historical photographs, postcards, reports, dedications, and other unique materials related to the libraries of North Carolina.

 

Wednesday April 14 is National Bookmobile Day! Bookmobiles have always been a vital part of library services in North Carolina, especially because so much of the state is rural. In 1923, Durham Public Library became the owners of the state’s first bookmobile. Named “Miss Kiwanis,” the blue Ford half-ton truck was a donation from the Durham chapter of the Kiwanis Club. The Durham Public Library bookmobile program was so successful that several other libraries acquired bookmobiles in the years that followed, often using retired school buses and donated pickup trucks to transport the library materials. Some libraries existed solely to run these mobile services, and didn’t have permanent homes until fairly recently (Jackson County, 1970; Rutherford County, 1983). By the mid-1950s, North Carolina led the country in bookmobile service, with 101 bookmobiles serving 94 counties.

Statistics show that even as library use has skyrocketed in recent years, library budgets continue to be reduced. So, librarians are finding creative methods for serving patrons’ needs. Bookmobiles continue to be one of the ways that libraries extend their services into the communities, especially to those who may not have easy access to their main library. Bookmobiles today may even be equipped with computers linked to a library’s Internet, allowing patrons access to electronic resources.

 Bookmobiles of yesterday . . .

 

Anson County Library’s first bookmobile, 1937. From “Transforming the Tar Heel State: The Legacy of Public Libraries in North Carolina.”

 . . . and today.

 

 The Chatham County Bookmobile carries more than 5,000 lending books.

Tar Heel Libraries: More Than 300 Years of Service
Most libraries in North Carolina trace their official beginnings to the early 20th century, with a few notable exceptions.

• Bath had a circulating library in the 1700s and claims the honor of being the only pre-revolutionary lending library in the state.
• Statesville had a circulating collection in the 1840s (Statesville Landmark, Mar. 31, 1882).
• Buncombe County, too, can claim with pride that their first subscription library was established in 1879.
• The Durham Public Library, established in 1897, holds the distinction of being the first free tax-supported library in the State. The success of Durham’s public library led to a library boom, with institutions being established in the counties of Wake (1901), Anson (1902), Wayne (1902), Guilford (1902), Mecklenburg (1903), Craven (1906), Cumberland (1907), and Granville (1908).

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