Connecticut Archives | Gale Blog: Library & Educator News

Offsetting the Diploma Deficit

August 12, 2019December 28, 2016

Today, the high school dropout rate has reached epidemic levels. There are nearly 40 million Americans without a high school diploma—and those adults looking to return to high school have limited options. The startling figures below from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey, uncover just how many adults in each state has less … Read more

Special Libraries are, Well . . . Special

September 20, 2016November 5, 2014

By Jennifer M. I am the librarian for the Hartford Medical Society (HMS) Historical Library, located in the sub-basement of UConn Health in Farmington, CT. According to Wikipedia, a special library is “a term for a library that is neither an academic, school, public or national library. Special libraries include corporate libraries, law libraries, medical … Read more

My Journey Into Librarianship

September 19, 2016October 27, 2014

By Cynthia G. My journey into Librarianship began the first time I entered my small, two room public library in the Town of Pomfret where I grew up. I was about six years old. My mother brought me into the small children’s section and told me I could pick out any book I wanted and … Read more

A Volunteer’s Perspective

September 19, 2016October 23, 2014

By Ariene G. As I listened to Mozart’s Symphony #40, I realized that the library is like a musical theme repeated throughout my life. It began when I was a little girl, at my local Chicago library, and I eagerly joined the summer reading group. Fast forward to Penn. State University, where I was a student and a clerk in … Read more

Carolyn

September 19, 2016October 20, 2014

By Chris H. My name is Chris and I have worked at the Hagaman Memorial Library for the past 20 years. I have many library stories to share and could write pages and pages filled with memories. One story I’ll share is about the children’s librarian, Carolyn, who worked at the library for about 30 … Read more

Who was Donald Lines Jacobus, and why should you care?

May 23, 2018October 14, 2014

By Joe Garonzik

The Connecticut genealogist, Donald Lines Jacobus (pronounced ja cob’ us), was the founder of the modern school of scientific genealogy and the greatest American genealogist of the 20th century. Jacobus and his protégés taught us how to research and write family histories, how to solve genealogical problems, what sources should be used, how to interpret them, and why we must abandon unsupported findings which, in many instances, were built upon flights of imagination as much as on facts.

Special Librarian

September 19, 2016October 7, 2014

By Michelle F.

When my daughter, Sami, was about 4 years old (she’s now 18), I registered her for a weekly story time / arts and crafts program at our local library (The Prospect Library in Prospect, CT). Sami has special needs and I had been in search of an appropriate program for her. The story time program seemed perfect. On the first day of the program, the children entered a quiet room in the back of the library and were instructed to take a seat on the floor in front of Mrs. Peterson, the librarian. As Mrs. Peterson began to read the story, Sami got up from her seat, walked over to Mrs. Peterson and stood by her side. I was worried that Sami would be asked to leave the program if she couldn’t stay seated; however, Mrs. Peterson could see that Sami was interested, so she continued to read with Sami by her side. When story time ended, Mrs. Peterson began a conversation with my husband and expressed interest in learning more about Sami. He explained Sami’s special needs and mentioned how much she enjoys books and reading. He told Mrs. Peterson that he reads to Sami every night before bed. Mrs. Peterson responded by telling my husband that her father had read to her when she was a young girl, and she remembers how much she enjoyed that time together.

Special Space

September 19, 2016September 29, 2014

By Ronald W.

My very first trip to a public library was in my hometown of East Haven CT, the “Hagaman Memorial Library”. It was on a field trip in grade school, I was no older than 7. I still remember the experience, starting with the entrance to the building at the time; the steps leading up to the huge doors and once inside the marble floors, the huge staircase, oak furniture and the portraits on the walls. I knew I was inside a special space.
The class attended “story hour” that day in the Children’s section; we were told that “story hour” would occur every Wednesday after school for those who wished to sign up to attend. The whole class received library cards that day.

Where Do You Want to Go? A Book Can Take You

September 19, 2016September 23, 2014

By Vanessa M.

My parents were big believers in reading and its role in education – not just traditional education, but self-guided: the experiences, perspective, and communication advantages that come from being well-read. There were always stacks of books around the house. We took full advantage of our library – it would have been unaffordable to buy that many books each week.

My literary interests hopped around the world. At one point I was obsessed with the North Pole. Then Cambridge. Then India. The library always had books to take me where I wanted to go. We actually traveled as well, but many places I’ve only experienced through books. In college, I used medieval primary texts. I never would have had access to these outside of a library. It was simply amazing to smell, see, and feel a book that old.