First Record Book [Wayland Public Library], 1850-

First Record Book [Wayland Public Library], 1850-

Author: White, Henry; Coy, Sandra [Transcription]

Year: 1850

Wayland Free Public Library’s First Catalogue Before typewriters, word processors and online databases, Wayland’s first librarian and patrons used a Catalogue – a list of all of the books acquired by the Wayland Free Public Library between 1851 and 1864, numbered in sequence as they were acquired. It was hand-written by Henry Wight , the first librarian. In addition to books, it included the library’s first set of regulations and fines paid – how much and by whom! How the Catalogue was used: Patrons were not allowed in the stacks 1 . They requested a book by its number in the Catalogue. The librarian then located the book in the shelves and “delivered” it to the waiting patron. The Catalogue was also used to inventory the collection every year. About this transcription: T he data for each item is true to the original manuscript,. 2 However, the order is modified and headings are placed at the top of each page for clarity and ease of reading. The data for each item includes: · title, sometimes the author; · number of volumes or copies in the set, · acquisition number · alphabetical ID (from a word in the title}; · secondary alphabetical ID; · price of the book if purchased (assumed