The Virtual Gardener is pleased to announce a new Member Benefit! Members can now peruse our circulating library's collection online.
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was the first American to start a circulating library in 1731? Members of his "Library Company" paid a fee which was used to purchase books and maintain the library and each of these contributors had borrowing privileges. (learn about Franklin's idea at www.ushistory.org, search "The Library Company." ) This is much like our library – each of you pays membership fees, a part of which maintains the library and each of you has borrowing rights. So, exercise your rights and borrow a book!
Here's how — Go to www.arboretumfriends.org and select "Resources" from the bar across the top of the home page. Under "Resources" select "Library" and follow the link to the online card catalog. Here is the link to the On-Line Card Catalog.
We are going to be adding more sections to this list, but for now you can see the listing of books under the Garden Design and Juvenile sections.
Many of these titles are available for purchase at Amazon.com. So, to learn more about the book you are interested in, you may want to type the name of the book into Amazon.com's book section to see it online and perhaps read some it there.
To borrow a book, simply send the name of the book(s) you would like to borrow to lparness@morrisparks.net. Your book reservation must be sent to me by Wednesday at 9:00 am and you may borrow up to 3 books at a time.
Reserved books will be available for pick up at the Front Desk of the Haggerty Education Center on that coming Saturday or Sunday from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.
You will be asked to complete a form when you pick up your book.
Books are due back two weeks after your borrow them. Overdue books are charged $1.00 per week. In the event that the book is "out" and therefore not available, you will be notified by email.
To return books:
Leave them with the receptionist at the Front Desk of the Haggerty Education Center on Saturday or Sunday from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm. You will be asked to sign a form.
There may be some kinks in this process that we have to work out along the way, but we hope it will encourage you to use the library and we thank you for your membership!