‘MLMA introduces BINO’

    

The front page of the MLMA’s spring newsletter shows one of sculptor Bryant Baker’s George Washingtons, located in the famous Hollender Room of Masonic Hall. I hope we’ll be able to hold our board meeting there.

The new issue of The Page & Pillars, the quarterly newsletter of the Masonic Library and Museum Association, is in our members’ inboxes, delivering the essential news of the annual meeting in Manhattan and the roll-out of BINO also.

I know we’re only a day into summer, but let me again promote this annual meeting in autumn, scheduled for the weekend of October 16. Most details can be seen here, and they’ll be posted to our website soon. As you can see, it will be hosted by the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library, located in Masonic Hall on 23rd Street. The official events will take place Saturday the 17th, so those visiting New York City will have all day Sunday for sightseeing. We’ll gather for dinner on Friday night.

BINO is Books Indexed Neatly Online—a monicker only a librarian could devise! I know a project like this has been in discussion at the MLMA for nearly twenty years (maybe longer), with the goal of providing our members the mother of all library databases.

Ideally, our Institutional Members, namely the libraries and museums of Freemasonry, will submit to MW Thomas Hauder, Past Grand Master of Nebraska who quarterbacks this initiative, their catalogs of books and other texts. The BINO will show researchers, readers, etc. where to find the book, journal, etc. being sought. The MLMA/BINO will not get you the book, but will show you where to find it. Then you would contact the library in question directly with your request. (Which reminds me to ask the Livingston guys about an old Collectanea.)

Click to enlarge.

Membership in the MLMA is understood under two denominations: Regular and Institutional. Individuals would sign up for Regular at only $30 per year and benefit from access to BINO and our other platforms; support from library and museum professionals via our online discussions and, naturally, in person contact; and access to members-only events. Such Masons could be research lodge guys, lodge historians, grand historians, keepers of your lodge’s archive, library, and antiques—or really anyone who wants to support the labors of the MLMA.

Institutions, such as Masonry’s grand lodges, supreme councils, etc., libraries, museums, research lodges & societies, historical societies, et al. may join at $50 annually to receive those same benefits, plus have voice in creating MLMA content, vote at the annual meeting, and other leadership opportunities.

In addition to signing up yourself, ask your lodge, especially your research lodge, to apply for Institutional Membership. You’ll be glad you did.