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72 AMERICAN PHILATELIST / JANUARY 2021 APRL Notes BY Scott Tiffney Librarian & Director of Information Services stiffney@stamps.org IT goes without saying that the year 2020 was a challenging one for all of us. COVID-19 introduced us to regularly wearing masks, social distancing, contact tracing, and herd immunity to name a few societal shifts. Here at the American Philatelic Center and the American Philatelic Research Library it was no different. From being closed entirely for the initial two months of the pandemic to being open with a partial staff, finally by the end of the year, a little more normality set in with the library and the library staff. Keeping in Contact Through Service Along the way we repositioned our services to focus on those requests that came in remotely via mail, phone and email, even going so far as to introduce curbside pickup and drop-off services for those members that could come by the APC. Here at the APRL, the staff made every effort to reach out and keep in contact with our library patrons through the new work environment – and the response received from library users was overwhelming. In the months after the staff returned to the library, there was a steady increase in the number of reference and research requests received Figure 1. Library requests have been slowly but consistently increasing. A Year of Digital Growth “The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.” -Arnold Bennett by the library, each month surpassing the next (Figure 1). So too, back in June it was decided to open the library’s digital collections database, APRL Digital, to both members and non-members. The results were dramatic. Normally reserved as a benefit of APS membership, due to the pandemic and the fact that many of our members and regular library visitors could not use the library and its resources in person, the APRL provided free access to the database, giving everyone the opportunity to research their own library requests from home. Starting in late June and early July, the database saw an exponential increase in the number of unique users using the database (Figure 2). In addition to that, roughly a third of those using the database in the last six months of 2020 were non-APS members, giving the APS and APRL the opportunity for member recruitment. Continuing the Outreach and Looking Ahead The growth of remote interactions with the library at the close of 2020 has the APRL looking forward to 2021 and the opportunity to provide even more content and access for our users. As has been stated in the past, our mission for APRL Digital is to grow both the size and scope of the database, which in turn will grow the digital presence of the APRL. In the former case, the APRL has received permissions from societies and organizations for 34 complete journal runs, which are currently in a queue to be uploaded to the database. These journals are in a variety of formats – some are still in paper form, some in paper and digital form (i.e. pdf file format) and finally some are in complete digital form. Each journal provides our staff with unique challenges to prepare the complete run for upload to the database but the APRL is excited by the opportunity to grow the journal content of the database significantly in 2021. In terms of the scope of the database, we are also looking in 2021 to grow the types of research resources that are in the database to include a larger number of books, exhibits, maps, photographs, and video files. In the case of exhibits, we have received permissions from 54 exhibitors who participated in the 2020 Virtual Stamp Show presented by the APS back in August to
Figure 2. The APRL Digital collection has roughly doubled its monthly unique users (members and non-members alike) since June. include 72 digital exhibits. In addition, there are a number of books that we will pursue to digitize and upload into the database. For 2021, the APRL is also looking into the inclusion of the Annual Postmaster General Reports, and if funding becomes available, will begin the task of digitizing the American Bank Note Company files which are housed in the Archives section of the library. Help Us to Grow As we improve the database and make some of the aforementioned additions, we need your help to make this happen. Your one time or continuing donation to the Adopt-A-Book campaign (support. stamps.org.adoptabook) will help the library begin and further its digitization goals for the year and enable the APRL to bring its resources to members worldwide in the future. In addition to donating to the Adopt-A-Book campaign, clubs, societies and organizations can also assist us by contacting the library (stiffney@stamps.org) to begin the process of having their journal, newsletter or publication become part of the digital collections database. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing the services, content and access that our members expect and demand from your philatelic library. DUTCH COUNTRY AUCTIONS R The Stamp Center R Serving the hobby worldwide since 1979 U.S. & Worldwide Stamps • Coins • Historical/Classic Sports Memorabilia Americana • Currency • Covers • Postcards • Retail • Wholesale • Supplies & More! Auctions Auction 332 January 19-21, 2021 Coin & Currency Sale #15 February 18, 2021 Auction 333 March 23-25, 2021 Coin & Currency Sale #16 April 22, 2021 Live Internet Bidding Via Stamp Auction Network When you are ready to liquidate your collection, we are at your service! No matter the size — drop off, ship or call us to arrange a pick-up. We will provide a free and prompt appraisal by our professional and bonded staff supported by either an outright purchase offer or an estimate of what you would realize by consigning to Dutch Country Auctions! DutchcountryAuctions.com 302-478-8740 | AUCTIONS@DUTCHCOUNTRYAUCTIONS.COM 4115 CONCORD PIKE, 2ND FLOOR | WILMINGTON, DE 19803 RUSSELL EGGERT OWNER, APPRAISER, LICENSED & BONDED AUCTIONEER JANUARY 2021 / AMERICAN PHILATELIST 73
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