Westport Public Library BOOK blog

Social, literary, biblio-therapeutic, or competitive, book clubs have long been an adjunct to the Westport Library. From 1908 on, the Library has always been a place to expect some conversation about reading. In the 1970s, there was a Great Books discussion group and also a Seniors Book Club, which met in the YMCA in the winter and under a tree by the water at Longshore in the summer. (That was a pleasant assignment in many ways.)

Now, the Library sponsors two groups, The Usual Suspects and Pageturners, which meet at the Library each month. In addition, the Library supports 52 local area book groups who depend on suggestions, multiple copies and discussion guides from the Library. The collection of multiple copies, Speaking of Books, is funded by the Friends of the Library. A club may request that all ten copies of a book be held for them. Each title in the collection also has a discussion guide available. Discussion guides are added for other books, too, as requested. Discussion guides may be checked out or copies may be printed.Today, we have over 480 titles in our collection of discussion guides.

Book clubs enjoy the expertise of Library staff. Jane Murphy leads the Usual Suspects and oversees the Mystery area of the Library collection. She is truly our Mystery Maven. Susan Madeo knows all the intricacies of the InterLibrary Loan system (for those titles not in Speaking of Books) and, also, what books are available and which ones lead to good discussions. Multiple copies request form. Joan Hume selects and facilitates the Page Turners monthly discussions. For discussion guide requests or to suggest additions to the Speaking of Books collection, you may contact me.

Recently, I heard of a new model for book clubs: each member reads a different book. Each gives a short book talk and then they swap the books. Need ideas? Take a look at these: Reading List, Title Swap, Sybil’s List. And that book that you just can’t stop talking about? Tell us about it!

In 1919 there were 3500 libraries in the United States. Half of them were funded by Andrew Carnegie. Books were always important to Carnegie from the time of his childhood in Scotland to his eventual fame as a wealthy American industrialist and philanthropist. One important feature of Carnegie libraries was the “self-serve stacks.” Library users were allowed to browse, instead of requesting that certain books be retrieved. We’ve come a long way!

The Westport Library was not established as a Carnegie Library. We are not sure why Mr Carnegie’s largesse was not accepted. But, of course, Morris Ketchum Jesup funded the 1908 birth of The Westport Library.

Now, in our Library’s 100th year, we welcome the President of the Carnegie Corporation as the speaker at the Sixth Annual Malloy Lecture on April 29. Vartan Gregorian , president of the Carnegie Corporation, has a distinguished career in education and as President of the New York Public Library. Born in Tabriz, Iran, Gregorian has served on numerous boards, has been decorated by foreign governments, has been given 56 honorary degrees and has been awarded many honors, including the National Humanities Medal by President Clinton and the Medal of Freedom by President G.W. Bush.

You may still register to hear Vartan Gregorian on April 29 at 7:30 pm at Bedford Middle School.

The Malloy Lecture is made possible by the generosity of Susan Malloy.

How much do you know about 1908? Here are the clues:

1-What was Morris Jesup’s original gift to support a new Westport Library building?
2-The President of the United States…a large Ohio influence?
3-"Be prepared" to recognize Robert Baden Powell’s organization.
4-No more pigtails in ink pots; the new-fangled writing implement?
5-Hotel visitors found something new in the nightstand drawer.
6-Where were the 1908 Summer Olympics?
7-Singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame was not a charm for the Yankees’ season.

Check your answers here.

Want to learn more? Check out these links to the Library catalog :

1-Morris Ketchum Jesup
2-William Howard Taft
3-Boy Scouts
4- Fountain pens
5-Gideons (wikipedia)
6-Olympics history
7-Baseball & the song

Were you among the 2200 people who came to the Library Birthday party last Sunday? What a happy combination of nostalgia, appreciation and anticipation from the 1908 artifacts to the plans for the Westport Library building of the future. In the 1908 room, I was surprised to learn that the Meyer lemon was introduced to America in 1908. I have been hearing about these wonderful “new” lemons lately (on sale at Balducci’s for $2.99/lb.) It turns out they have been around as long as our Library!

Nostalgia: Did you see all the Howard Munce drawings that graced our Library publicity through the years? Did you notice the picture of a very young Jonathan Sheffer at a Library party in 1958? Did you chuckle at the creative titles on the books being read in the Whitney Darrow artwork? Did you reminisce about the renovations and the new building as you looked at the construction photos? If you missed this stroll down memory lane, take some time to look at the art kiosks on your next trip to the Library.

Appreciation: Often people love the Library for the latest books, the interesting programs, the collection of DVDs, the café, the quiet, the conversation, the research assistance, the latest magazines, the wi-fi, the children’s librarians or that special spot for studying or writing. Local authors shared some of their appreciation about the Library. What do you appreciate about the Library ?

Anticipation: Did you meet architect Henry Myerberg and hear about his ideas for a new Library building? Did you see his sketches? And Imagine 2108! Some of Westport’s younger residents created and illustrated the Library of 100 years from now. Imagine robots, swimming pools and jets landing at the Library of the future!