Welcome

Welcome to the Freeport Memorial Library blog. We hope to use this blog to offer in-depth information about library services that we do not have room to explore in our bi-monthly newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Patron Spotlight

Patron Spotlight: Larry Gumbs
by Regina G. Feeney and Cynthia J. Krieg

What does Larry Gumbs love about the Library? “It’s a lot more than just books!” Mr. Gumbs was born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He left the Caribbean to attend Seton Hall University and received his B.A. in political science. He then attended the University of Michigan and was awarded a master’s degree in social work. While at the university, he met his wife, Marianne.

Mr. Gumbs is a proud Vietnam veteran. He served as a naval officer for almost seven years in San Diego and Japan. He and Marianne spent six years in the U.S. Virgin Islands before moving to Freeport in 1973. He worked as a social worker for the Freeport Family Community Project.

In 1980, Mr. Gumbs began working at Family Services in Hempstead. After 20 years, he retired and has now begun a new career as what he calls a “professional volunteer.” Using his social work background, Mr. Gumbs has counseled Vietnam veterans, and he will soon volunteer as a financial counselor for teens at the Family and Children’s Center in Hempstead.

Mr. Gumbs loves not just the Freeport Library; he loves all libraries. When he and Marianne travel, they often find themselves in the local public library. The Gumbs family loves to travel. They have been to Oregon to visit one son and attended their other son’s wedding in India. They plan to visit Eastern Europe in the near future. Before any of their trips, they come to the Freeport Memorial Library to borrow travel books. But for Larry Gumbs, the Library offers much more than books. He loves the free movies, lectures, and concerts.

The Library has benefited greatly from Mr. Gumbs’ volunteer spirit. In 2005, he became president of the Friends of the Freeport Memorial Library. As president, he has helped raise money for Library programs and much needed equipment. He would like more people to join the Friends.

Since 1975, the Friends of the Freeport Memorial Library have served as capable fundraisers and advocates for the Library. Over the years, the Friends have helped the Library expand, they purchased a piano for concerts, and they made generous donations including: chairs for the meeting rooms, a video projector and a laptop computer used for programs, and the large display screen in the lobby. The Friends also sponsor many programs including an annual holiday concert. For more information about the Friends, visit the Library’s website: www.freeportlibrary.info.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Book Recommendation

Summer Reading (Fiction)
Shadow of the Night (2012)
(All Souls Trilogy book 2)
by Deborah Harkness
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In Elizabethan London, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch Diana Bishop seeks a magical tutor, while vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont confronts elements from his past at the same time the mystery of the enchanted manuscript Ashmole 782 deepens. Book one of the trilogy is Discovery of Witches.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Digitization Statistics

Long Island Memories Digitization Statistics
June 2012

Since 2004, the Freeport Memorial Library and the Freeport Historical Society have been scanning and making historical material pertaining to Freeport available online through the
Long Island Memories Digitization Project: www.longislandmemories.org
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Items Available as of June 2012 for Freeport
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4,356 Pictures/Pamphlets
7 Newspapers
50 Years - Village of Freeport Newsletters
8 Years - American Legion Post #342 Minutes (1919-1927)
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Hits for June 2012
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22,649 - Freeport Leader
19,424 - Nassau County Review
14,665 - Nassau Post
8,268- Photographs/Pamphlets
5,011 - Daily Review of Nassau County
4,619 - South Side Messenger
2,129 - Queens County Review
1,158 - Village of Freeport Newsletters
28 - American Legion Post Minutes
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82,389 Hits for June 2012