Baseball-loving Librarians visit Museum
I’m amazed – and continue to be amazed – that 98 percent of the [library collection] is donated. What [the Hall of Fame Library] does with the resources [it has] is absolutely phenomenal.
“Tony (Landolt) had been given marching order from Tug’s wife to get him out of the hotel by a certain time,” recalled Fisher. “The question-and-answer (session’s) going on, and Tony’s trying to cut him off and says, ‘Tug, I told your wife…’ Tug just turns to him and says, ‘They can wait. I’m enjoying myself.’”
It’s just not former ballplayers who enjoy the SLA Baseball Caucus’ company. According to Landolt, authors appreciate the caucus’ knowledge because they “realize it’s just a well-read group of people.” Authors such as John Thorn and Paul Dickson have spoken before the group at past conferences, and Baseball Caucus membership vote for the best baseball book from five to six candidates.
“It makes it a fun experience for the authors because they’re quite surprised and quite pleased that we not only interview a lot of book authors, but it gives them a chance to promote their [work] on our site,” Landolt explained.
But what the SLA Baseball Caucus took away from their visit to Cooperstown is a better understanding of what makes the Baseball Hall of Fame Library unique among institutions.
“I’m amazed – and continue to be amazed – that 98 percent of the [library collection] is donated,” Fisher expressed. “What [the Hall of Fame Library] does with the resources [it has] is absolutely phenomenal.”
I’m a huge sports fan, and I’m also a bit of a sports snob, thinking that baseball is the most intelligent sporting event that’s out there,” he said. “After seeing all those statistics and all the records that are kept, I think most people these days visualize that it’s all done electronically, and it isn’t.
Landolt agreed and added: “I’m always impressed by the way Jim (Gates) runs the staff and the camaraderie of everybody, and the passion of baseball and the fact that you love baseball and you’re librarians. It really all comes together.”
For Demetri Kyriakis, a SLA member from the Morse Institute Library in Natick, Mass., librarians and baseball are a natural fit.
“I’m a huge sports fan, and I’m also a bit of a sports snob, thinking that baseball is the most intelligent sporting event that’s out there,” he said. “After seeing all those statistics and all the records that are kept, I think most people these days visualize that it’s all done electronically, and it isn’t.
“But they have no idea of the history as to how it got there, and I don’t know that football or European football or other sports do the same thing or have the same fascination. It makes sense that librarians are drawn to baseball.”
Matt Rothenberg is the manager of the Giamatti Research Center at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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