Although we have begun publishing inventories to the APS Archives in the Philatelic Literature Review, this collection continues to grow. While I was at WESTPEX last month, David Grossblat donated an 1893 American Philatelic Association ballot cover. (The American Philatelic Society was called the American Philatelic Association until 1908.)

The ballot itself is not included, but based on the Globe, Ariz. postmark I suspect it is from Morris Klein, the only member listed in the 1893 directory from Arizona.

Prior to this addition, the oldest election-related item in the APS Archives was a ballot from 1897. (Click to view full size.)

As I write this, work to complete the first part of the new American Philatelic Research Library is underway. By this summer, the closed stacks, rare book room, and map/large document room will be completed and we will begin moving material from the unfinished library annex to this new, secure, climate-controlled space. For more about the new library project, read my National Library Week blog post, and check out the Strategic Priorities section of the APS website.

Click below to view a slideshow of construction photos.

APRL acquisitions, April 16, 2013-May 15, 2013. To request loans, copies, or scans, or to search our catalog, visit the APRL website.

Batten, Donna. Guide to U.S. government publications (Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2008): xxxi, 1758 p.; 29 cm. [Technical Services]

Bearer, Paul. The death of President Harding ([n.l.]: [n.p.], c2010): 63 p.: ill.; 28 cm. [Mourning Notes, v.7, no.1]

Bermuda specialized catalogue: stamps and postal history 1812-1970 ([U.S.A.]: Bermuda Specialized Catalog Project LLC (Printed in U.S.A. by Sheridan Books), c2012): x, 193 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm. [G9120 .A1 B517b 2012]

Bradsher, James Gregory. Managing archives and archival institutions (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989, c1988): xvi, 304 p.; 24 cm. [HE6184 .P933 B812m 1989]

Burhop, Dedo & Jan Heijs. Postkrieg-Spezialkatalog 1948-1994: Spezialkatalog von aus politischen Grunden beanstandete Postwertzeichen, Werbestempeln und dergleichen postalischen Sachen (Amsterdam: Heijs Multiphilatelistic Options, 1996, c1993): 174 p.: ill.; 21 cm. [G6080 .A1 B958s 1948-1994]

» Continue reading “New books at the APRL, May 2013″

This is a guest post from Roger Brody, President of the APRL Board of Trustees.

Vote Early and Often

This is an election year for the Trustees of the APRL. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that we stuff the ballot box by using the phrase “vote early and often” but rather advocating for participation in the selection of those who will be charged with making important decisions about our future. As for the “often” part, let’s just say that APS and APRL members have the opportunity to exercise the franchise every three years under the recently passed By-laws. Participation in the process is important. Now I’m not saying there is any truth to the story that a former New Jersey Governor was quoted as saying “When I die, I want to be buried in Jersey City so I can keep on voting.” I’m only suggesting that members invest some time to read about the candidates and cast their ballots at election time.

As mentioned in the previous message, under the new By-Laws the size of the Board of Trustees will be reduced from nine to eight members. This year’s election will serve as a transition during the change in the election cycle from two years to three. To accomplish the transition only two Trustees will be elected this year by the APS membership. One Trustee term will be for a full six year term, the other for a three year term. We are fortunate to have several candidates running for these Board position and I urge readers to familiarize themselves with the candidates and participate in the voting.

Managing our Affairs

Four years ago the APS and APRL created a long term plan to bring economic and operating stability to the American Philatelic Center (APC). Over the last few years, many important, and in some cases difficult changes have been implemented. As a result, not only have we continued to develop and enhance the APC, but we have also dramatically improved the financial status of the Society.

» Continue reading “Message from the APRL President”

The Malmö 2nd International Philatelic Summit, held April 27-29, 2012, will release three more papers this month. The new papers are:

Thoughts on Treatment “Using Treatment to Enhance the Application of a Traditional Exhibit” by Christopher G. Harman RDP, FRPSL (Philatelic Summit Paper #3)

Optimizing your postal stationery exhibit by Lars Engelbrecht FRPSL (Philatelic Summit Paper #4)

Perspectives on Exhibiting (Generally) by James Peter Gough RDP, FRPSL (Philatelic Summit Paper #5)

The three new Summit Papers will be released on Saturday, May 11 in Melbourne, Australia at World Stamp Expo 2013. Those not attending can order copies of the new papers, plus #1 and #2, through Postiljonen for €25 plus shipping.

On Sunday, I visited the Western Philatelic Library in Sunnyvale, California with volunteer Roy Texeira. Click on the image to view a slideshow of photos from my trip, and watch for a more detailed report in the 2nd quarter issue of the Philatelic Literature Review.

New in the APS Publications Shop: all four 2012 issues of the Philatelic Literature Review for $10

The Philatelic Literature Review, published quarterly and available by subscription, is one of the few journals concentrating on the publication of philatelic material. In addition to reporting on recent library acquisitions, the PLR provides reviews of books, catalogs and research papers. Ongoing features include publishing updates from new releases and research, to literature awards, and news of worldwide philatelic libraries.

The regular price of a PLR subscription is $18. Sample the 2012 volume now for just $10+s/h.

And a special offer if you are going to be at WESTPEX this week: stop by the APS table to purchase the 2012 issues and save the cost of shipping, or start a new subscription to the PLR and receive the 2012 issues as your free gift!

This is the last in a series of daily posts about how the American Philatelic Research Library serves the philatelic community as we celebrate National Library Week.

Architect’s rendering of the new library space

I thought it would be appropriate to end the week with a look at the future of the APRL.

I was reminded by my co-blogger Larry Nix that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the APRL. While we do not have any anniversary celebrations planned, we are embarking on a very exciting project – the renovation of new library space.

The new library space will be located in the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, PA, where the APS and APRL are currently located. It will provide:

• Space for collections with room to grow, consolidating collections from the current public library and library annex into one contiguous space.
• 

  Second floor of the new library showing the closed stacks area currently under construction

  Secure, climate-controlled areas for rare books and special collections, using space-saving compact shelving.

• Additional work space for staff and our growing number of volunteers.
• Accessible, comfortable places for researchers, including reading lounges, carrels with lockable storage, group study space, a youth area, and tables with task lighting and electrical outlets.

We have just started construction on the first phase of the project, which will include the closed stacks, rare book room, and large document and map room.

The benefits of the new library to researchers who are able to visit are obvious, but these benefits extend well beyond the walls of the APRL.

Compact shelving will provide economical and efficient storage for less frequently used material

Better work spaces for staff and volunteers means more capability to sort donations and get books on the shelves and ready to circulate, and room for more volunteers to work on digitization, preservation, indexing, archival processing, and more.

Secure, climate-controlled areas for special collections means these unique materials will be available for many years to come.

Increased space for collections means the APRL can continue to grow.

To learn more about the project and find out how you can contribute, visit the Strategic Priorities section of the APS website.

Men and Mail in Transit, a 1956 Post Office Department film available through the new Digital Public Library of America

Yesterday, in the middle of National Library Week, the Digital Public Library of America opened.

The DPLA provides a single point of access to millions of items from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. I knew there must be items of philatelic interest among those millions, and a quick search yielded several examples, including a Lindbergh cover from the Smithsonian and several Post Office Department films from the National Archives.

This is the sixth in a series of daily posts about how the American Philatelic Research Library serves the philatelic community as we celebrate National Library Week.

The APRL digitized The United States Issues of 1918-1920, which has entered the public domain

The library provides access to a growing collection of digital resources. Compared to print resources, these can provide increased access as well as increased functionality like search and zoom.

Some of these are print resources digitized by the APRL. There are currently three books digitized by the APRL available for sale on CD or DVD in the APS Digital Publications Shop, and more available for download through our online catalog. For an example, look up Donald Lybarger’s The United States Issues of 1918-1920.

An exhibit available online from the APS and APRL

Others have been donated by members, including many scans of exhibits as well as government documents scanned at other libraries and from personal collections. Gary Loew and Chet Smith have made large contributions of U.S. Post Office Department publications and we are working on getting all of these online.

Still others, including exhibits, e-books, digitized journals, indexes, and more, are available for loan on CD- or DVD-ROM. These can be searched and requested from the library just like books.

Many non-philatelic sites contain a wealth of philatelic literature, especially books published before 1923 (in the public domain)

And many more publications of philatelic interest are available online from other sources. Whenever we find these, we add links to our catalog records. You can also search for publications on Google Books, the Internet Archive, and the Hathi Trust. The Hathi Trust site allows users to register and create a list of publications. My co-blogger Larry Nix and I have been adding publications to a list called Philatelic Literature.

We continue to build our digital collections through scanning, donation, and searching other libraries and archives for relevant content. You can browse our catalog records with digital content using the link in the right sidebar of the Philatelic Union Catalog.

If you are an author, publisher, or exhibitor and would like to help us by contributing content you own the copyright to, please contact me.