Week 2: Collections
Access Overview: The Library Company of Philadelphia
The Library Company of Philadelphia is located at 1314 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The library describes itself as an “independent research library concentrating on American society and culture” and cares for an extensive collection of rare and non-rare books, pamphlets, manuscripts, ephemera, photographs, and lithographs, among other materials. While most of the materials have origin in colonial era Philadelphia, the wide span of collections encompasses materials dating back to the 15th century and as recent as the early 20th century. Open to the public and free of charge, these materials can be accessed by scheduling an appointment at the appropriate reading room, or by visiting their website to search their digital collections.
Text materials are accessible in the William H. Schiede Reading Room which is open Monday through Friday* from 9 am until 4:45 pm, with a daily closure from 12:15 pm until 1:130 pm for lunch. Appointments for the Schiede reading room can be made through the online portal or by emailing reference@librarycompany.org. Visual materials are accessible in the Graphic Arts Department and Reading Room which is open Monday though Thursday* with the same daily hours and lunch break as the Schiede reading room. Appointments can be made by contacting the Graphic Arts Department directly at printroom@librarycompany.org or through The Library Company’s online appointment portal. Appointments allow access to these collections in the open hours before or after the lunch break and are not required, but are highly encouraged, so that staff may gather materials specific to your research or interests in advance since the special collections are non-circulating and are organized in closed stacks. Appointments are for individual researchers; groups are welcome, but the library suggests each group member make separate appointments for the same time and day to be adequately accommodated.
Whether or not an appointment has been made in advance, all researchers are required to fill out a registration form and present photo ID before accessing collection materials. Research tools such as paper, pencils, a magnifying glass, and book supports are allowed, but all other items including liquids, food, coats, and bags must remain in designated personal storage areas in the lobby. WiFi is available to registered researchers on their personal computers while in the reading rooms; computer terminals are also available for use. Non-flash digital photography is permitted at the staff’s discretion. Scanners, tripods, and other flash photography equipment is explicitly prohibited.
For questions, additional information regarding both the library services and reading rooms, or to make an appointment, contact the Library Company directly by phone at (215) 546-3181or by fax at (215) 546-5167. For general inquiries about reading rooms, contact Max Moeller (Head of Reader Services and Fellowships) at mmoeller@librarycompany.org. More staff member biographies and contact information can be found through the online staff directory.
Outside of what is available in their public digital database, which offers publication-quality images free to download, the Library Company offers images from their digital asset repository on a limited basis. With priority to cultural institutions, shareholders, and fellows of the library, requests for items that are currently digitized and not available online will be accommodated case by case. Researchers outside of the aforementioned groups will receive lesser priory and therefore may be subject to longer wait times. The staff also offers new digitization of materials to shareholders, fellows, and members for free. All other researchers will be required to pay a fee of $30 for processing in addition to $25 per image. A bulk discount will be applied if the order exceeds $200. To contact staff regarding reproductions email repros@librarycompany.org, and to contact staff about reference scans email reference@librarycompany.org. For usage guidelines, click here.
In all, The Library Company maintains nearly one million items, over 200 digital collections and provides access to over 36 online databases. The main website for the Library Company of Philadelphia also has a very helpful page that goes into more detail on how to navigate their plethora of in-person and online resources, finding aids, and helpful tips for advanced searches— visit How to Search the Collections for more information.
The reason I chose the Library Company of Philadelphia for this week's blog is pure astonishment at the breadth of their collections, the sheer amount of materials as well as their focus on gathering materials that honor the many perspectives present in American culture. Varying topics and types of materials create a broad and encompassing understanding of “culture” from the viewpoints of everyday people leading their everyday lives. From poetry to printmaking and cookbooks to treaties, so much knowledge can be derived from the items that accumulate within a certain period of time and the Library Company conveys a commitment to curating a vast and well-rounded collection. On top of the collections themselves, the website is user friendly and provides several guides to streamline efforts to research within their collections. The library is free to visit, calls to staff are encouraged, and accessibility accommodations are taken into consideration. Lastly, the library recognizes that not all historical perspectives and people take into account the negative emotional experience of people perceived as “other” and “unworthy”, some of the materials can be seen as potentially harmful due to language and cultural differences — this is a kind and thoughtful consideration to the patchwork of cultures and lived experiences that form American society. To fill out a feedback form, or learn more, information is available here. To learn about the Library Company’s background, its historical significance, and its programs, follow the link here.
*Note: the library closes in observance of public holidays and for a brief winter break to celebrate Christmas and the new year.
