Blackstone Library 125th Anniversary

https://www.blackstonelibrary.org/jbml125/For this week’s 125th Anniversary fact we’re taking you back to the groovy days of the 1970s and one of our earliest renovation projects. It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when the Blackstone Library did not have a dedicated space for children. Recognizing the needs of the community, The Branford Woman’s Club teamed up with the library and began raising money in the early 1970s to change all that. They played an integral role in making the project happen, and Blackstone opened the brand-new Children’s Department in February of 1974!

Blackstone Library 125th Anniversary

Today we’re sharing another library artifact that makes us thankful for computers! In our Blackstone Library archives we have a collection of original Accession Records dating from the earliest days of the Blackstone to approximately the 1940s. What exactly is an Accession Record? They’re massive hand-written ledgers of every book purchased for the library collection and include information on purchase dates, prices paid, publication information, and even when the book was eventually removed from the collection–known as Condemning according to the stamp that was used at the time. These ledger books were specially designed by Melville Dewey (of Dewey Decimal fame) and include a handy list of standardized abbreviations to help save time and space. These books are a real gem of library history, but we think we’ll stick with our computerized catalog!

Service Update: Computer Lab & Reading Room Opening March 15

On March 4, Governor Lamont announced that the capacity limitations for libraries will be lifted, effective March 19th. The Blackstone Library Board of Trustees is monitoring the situation very closely and staff continues to move toward a full re-opening. Our priority is to continue providing library services without risking the health of our patrons and staff.

In order to do this, the social distancing restriction will need to be lifted.  The Governor’s order eliminates the 50% capacity limit, but the state’s sector rules remain in effect. Therefore, the 6 feet of social distancing space is still a requirement limiting the capacity in the building. These sector limitations also require personal protection for staff, cleaning plans, logging employees’ on-site to permit contact tracing, and installation of physical barriers. The local positivity rate also needs to be lower and more of our staff and patrons need to be vaccinated.

Nearly all of the library’s regular services are available by appointment at this time. Read more…

Blackstone Library 125th Anniversary

Fines may be long gone here at the Blackstone Library, but today we’re sharing an artifact from library fine history. This Fine Calculator was found in our library archives and probably dates from around the 1940s or 50s. It was designed to help librarians calculate fines accurately before the days of computers and calculators. You can check out our Facebook Page to learn all about how it works. Thankfully, for us and for you, we at the Blackstone won’t be needing this device any time soon!

Blackstone Library 125th Anniversary

The library has a long tradition of hosting lectures and concerts (and we look forward to the day that we are able to do so again!). Here is what was happening a hundred years ago.

Blackstone Library 125th Anniversary

Everyone in Branford knows the Blackstone Library is an impressive piece of architecture. One of our favorite things to see are artistic renderings of the building from both professionals and amateurs alike! Today we’re featuring this card from our archives featuring a beautifully detailed drawing of the library. The card is from 1906 and was done by a woman named Martina Meline. She also included a lovely poem on the inside, so be sure to check out our Facebook page to read it!