The American Philatelic Research Library has joined forces with preeminent philatelic libraries around the world to provide a centralized gateway to the greatest philatelic research in existence. Founding partners in the initiative include the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum (www.postalmuseum.si.edu/) and Smithsonian Libraries (www.sil.si.edu/), Washington, DC, the Royal Philatelic Society London (www.rpsl.org.uk), United Kingdom, and the American Philatelic Research Library (www.stamplibrary.org), Bellefonte, PA.

The goal of the project is to establish a single destination on the web where philatelists around the world can search, locate, and access philatelic research from partner libraries in real-time, from any computer. Searchable listings of books and publications, as well as resource locations and access, will soon be one click away, providing an invaluable resource to those doing philatelic research. Major pre-1923 publications, including The Stamp-Collector’s Magazine, Illustrated, London, from 1865–1874, have been digitized and will be made available at no charge. Other resources considered proprietary by partner libraries may also be accessed through membership programs and other avenues via the portal, which is planned to launch in June.

“This is a fantastic program that will benefit philatelists around the world,” said Allen Kane, director of the National Postal Museum. “I would like to thank Alan Holyoake for championing the effort and helping to make it become a reality.”

Other partners participating in the project include: Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library, Denver, CO; Slusser Memorial Library, Postal History Foundation, Tucson, AZ; The Collectors Club Library, New York; Harry Sutherland Philatelic Library, Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation, Toronto, Canada; and Western Philatelic Library, Sunnyvale, CA.

“All philatelists should welcome the introduction of a centralized information gateway, a project that could never have been undertaken without the active participation of its preeminent founding partners, all of whom should be thanked,” said Alan Holyoake, internationally-known philatelist.

“This cooperation between philatelic libraries will not only will it make the researcher’s quest more efficient, but it will also help the researcher uncover previously unknown sources of information,” said Tara Murray, director of information services and librarian at the APRL.

The 12,500-square foot American Philatelic Research Library contains more than 20,000 book titles, more than 5,500 periodical titles, government documents, auction catalogs, philatelic exhibits, and several unique archives, including the Daniel Hines Air Mail Collection. The library staff of four serve the public and also publish the quarterly Philatelic Literature Review with the American Philatelic Society editorial department.

The APRL is a public nonprofit that relies heavily on donations of materials. Members of the APRL and the APS may borrow materials directly through the mail and others may use the library through interlibrary loan. Scholars are always welcome to do research on site.

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