|
Nassau County Libraries | Suffolk County Libraries
Long Island Libraries are truly a remarkable and efficient system that serves a wide spectrum of services to a large population of its citizens. It goes far beyond just checking out a few books of interest anymore. We can start by categorizing the Long Island Libraries system into four basic categories: Academic libraries, School libraries, Special libraries and public libraries. Each serve different and specialized services depending on who you are and what your needs might be.
Let us start first with Public libraries. The current number of public Long Island Libraries stands at an astonishing 105. This system serves the four counties that make up Long Island, (Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk).Nassau and Suffolk counties make up the island proper with a combined population of 2,753,913 as of the 2000 senses. Each county operates its own cooperative library system that includes a board of trusties and its member libraries. They of course deal with all aspects of its structure and decision-making. This includes (biasness services, administration, calendar of events, cataloging, government info, human resources, youth services, reference services,
Telecommunications and computer services, Island Libraries talking books services, union catalog/pals). State-of-the-art seems to be the goal of Long Island Libraries all right. Electronic doorways libraries account for 60% of all libraries allowing customers and staff intergraded computer and telecommunications access, while 80% are E.D.L. (electronic doorway libraries).
Academic libraries also incorporate this technology, which comes as no surprise because these libraries belong to institutions of higher learning. Universities, colleges, academies, and a law center all make up this branch of Long Island Libraries. Many of these are specialized in certain fields of study depending on the schools curriculum. One of special interest is the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point; Long Island, N.Y. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated it on Sept.30 1943. Its library is named for Schuyler Otis Bland a Congressman from 1922-1950 known as the father of the Merchant Marine act of 1936 that set into place our nations basic maritime statute. Not only historic, the campus is picturesque located by the sea. The Academy even offers guided tours (Maritime Museum 516-773-5515). Both Nassau and Suffolk counties maintain community college libraries, which can be accessed online.
School libraries are operated and administered by the Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES).In 1984 New York State Librarian Joseph Schubert set up 46 separate school districts. Just for example, Eastern Suffolk (BOCES) includes 239 total school library media centers. Of these 223 are public and 16 are nonpublic making up 51 school districts now. Most schools are now (EDL) and offer students traditional as well as intergraded computer and telecommunications services. You can easily imagine what a large-scale cooperative system this must be to manage for Long Island Libraries.
The last category will be Special Libraries. They are namely Brookhaven National Research Library, Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory Library and The Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons Library. They are designed for very specific types of research or certain fields of learning. Brookhaven deals with scientific and technical information with an extensive internet catalog available to members. Run by Brookhaven science associates for the U.S. department of energy it includes a staff of approximately 3000 scientists, technicians and engineers as well as a support staff. Boasting over 4000 annual guest researchers it has become a great wealth of learning and information. Security is tight here though, allowing only those with clearance or official business access. Cold Springs Harbor on the other hand offers studies for topics such as the different fields of biology. Examples would be (bioinformatics, cell biology, cytometry, human genetics, immunology, molecular biology, neuroscience, nucleic acid chemistry, protein sciences and pharmaceutical medicine).Archive journals are available dating back from 1902 to now. Photo archives, Carnegie Institute of Washington files and oral interviews can also be accessed. Very impressive is the great numbers of noblest who have belong to this library through out its history. The Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons Library is the last of the Long Island Libraries to mention. They joke themselves on their home page with," rich people spending stupefying amounts of money to enjoy the simple life". I guess this place is for an elite type of customer. From public schools grades pre-k through 12, private also, Colleges and universities to special and free to the general public, Long Island Libraries have it all.
Nassau County Libraries | Suffolk County Libraries
|
