Museum

Reading Courses

Many members of the Grand Lodge know the Library primarily because of our carefully structured reading courses which are available by mail. This outreach program is designed to provide educational guidance and to bring new perspectives to both the newly raised Mason and the veteran of many years. Free of charge, these challenging and informative courses are offered to all Master Masons in good standing with a lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., of the State of New York.

During the last year we have revised and updated these reading courses. New volumes reflecting current trends in research and Lodge management were added while outdated materials were eliminated. Two new courses were created and others were consolidated. To meet the requests of many of our patrons, new courses focus upon the lives of famous Freemasons and on the history of organizations related to Freemasonry such as the Shrine Eastern Star, DeMolay, and Royal Order of Jesters.

Currently, the Livingston Masonic Library offers our patrons twelve reading courses. Brief descriptions of them follow.

Standard Course 11 books. A general overview of the history and philosophy of Freemasonry. Advanced Course 14 books. A selection of specialized materials on Masonic history, philosophy, and symbolism, designed as a continuation of the Standard Course. American History Course 11 books. A review of the role that Masons and Masonry have played in the history of the United States. Recreational Course 9 books. An assortment of Masonic essays, fiction, and light history. Warden's Course 14 books. A guide to assist Lodge Officers in preparing for assuming the Master's chair. Includes materials on Masonic leadership, Lodge methods, and symbolism. Public Speaking Course 8 books. A selection of materials to enhance public speaking and presentation skills.

District Deputy's Course 8 books. A collection of works on leadership and  public speaking, as well as ritual, Masonic philosophy, jurisprudence, and poetry. Royal Arch Course 8 books. An overview of Royal Arch philosophy and symbolism. Scottish Rite Course 10 books. A compilation of works on the history and philosophy of the Scottish Rite. Masonic Antique Collector's Course 6 Books. A guide to assist collectors of antiques related to Freemasonry. Lives of Famous Masons 12 books. An assortment of biographies of brethren known for their accomplishments within the fraternity and in the public realm. Masonic Organizations 7 books. A selection of books about Masonic groups, including the Eastern Star and the Shrine.

Although many patrons avail themselves of these structured learning experiences, others conduct self guided instruction by reading books from the library's vast circulating collection. Many biographies, institutional histories, books about symbolism, and other volumes may be borrowed either in person or through the mail. The library staff attempts to ensure that copies of recent popular books about the Fraternity are available, such as Steven Bullock's critically praised Revolutionary Brotherhood or the controversial The Hiram Key. Please contact the library by phone, mail, or email if you are interested in taking advantage of our Books by Mail program.

Computerization

The Library staff and trustees have been busy this year preparing to convert to electronic form the library's catalog of books, periodicals, and other printed materials. When this conversion is completed, library patrons will be able to access the institution's catalog via the Internet and search our holdings from the comfort of their own homes and offices. This undertaking will provide greater accessibility to the collection for readers across the state and around the world and will position the library in the forefront of the Masonic scholarship. When our catalog becomes available on the Internet, we will be the first

Masonic library in the world to have a fully interactive, searchable, on line public access catalogue. As a result our patrons will gain an increased awareness of the resources available to them through the mail or upon their visit to our facilities

Our loyal volunteers in Utica have continued to make strides in organizing and managing our collections housed on the grounds of the Masonic Care Community in Utica. They have provided worthy stewardship of the many historic artifacts in their care and with the thousands of volumes of proceedings of Grand Lodges and other