Rudolf Steiner's Vision for the Future - Anthroposophical Society in ...

What’s Happening in
the Rudolf Steiner Library
by Judith Soleil
• The library hosted a World Café event at Camphill Vil-
lage, Copake, in October to envision the library’s ongoing
role in the Berkshire-Taconic region. Representatives
from local initiatives brought a lot of creativity and enthusiasm
to the lively conversations, and we will work
to realize a number of suggested activities in the coming
year. We’ll keep you posted!
• We’re happy to report that every week we hear from Anthroposophical
Society members who are using the library
for the first time. If you’ve not yet availed yourself
of our services, please do! The library is full of treasures,
and we are here to help you find just what you need (or
help you discover something amazing that you didn’t
know you needed).
• As many readers know, we are working hard to create
an online public access catalog of the library’s holdings.
To date, records for about 69% of the collection can
be viewed at http://rsl.scoolaid.net . We download
quite a few of these records from the Internet, as libraries
around the world share their electronic records.
The Rudolf Steiner Library’s collection is so eclectic,
broad, and deep that to date we have had to mine the
electronic records of 180 different libraries to find
holdings that match ours. What does this mean? You
would need access to 180 libraries around the world to
find all the books that are available here in one location!
Rudolf Steiner Library’s borrowing service is free for
Anthroposophical Society in America members; non-members
pay an annual fee. Borrowers pay round-trip postage.
Requests can be made by mail (65 Fern Hill Road Ghent, N.Y.
12075), phone (518-672-7690), fax (518-672-5827), or
e-mail: rsteinerlibrary@taconic.net
In some instances,
we are
the only library
in the U.S. that
owns a particular
work.
• The mastermind of the above-mentioned automation
project, my indispensable colleague, Judith Kiely,
graduated from the Simmons College Graduate School
of Library and Information Science in December with
a master’s degree. Judith has patiently completed one
course each semester for the past five years while working
here at the Rudolf Steiner library full time, and the
knowledge she has gained in each course has informed
and enriched library operations immeasurably. Bravo,
Judith!
• We’ve had some interesting research requests this fall.
Topics included: the larynx as an organ of reproduction
in the future; the destiny of the United States; planetary
influences during adolescence; and child study in the
high school. We also received a query about pioneering
anthroposophical physician, Sigfried Knauer, from an
author writing a biography of his second wife, famed
yoga exponent Indra Devi.
• Poetry evenings at the library this fall have been a great
success. Featuring local poets, these evenings have been
convivial and stimulating.
• We will be conducting a survey of members and friends
(both online and on paper) in the new year. Please help
us tailor our services to your needs by responding to the
survey invitation when you receive it.
Library Annotations continue on page 93.
first issue 2011 • 45