A Great Day at the Library

Kenny Burck

There was a lot happening today at the Main Branch of the Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.  The Hamilton County Genealogical Society sponsored a presentation by Kenny Burck, Chapter President, and Barbara Gargiulo of Little Miami Publishing Co.  The two discussed what you would need to know and do should you want to publish a family history.

Barbara Gargiulo

About thirty people took advantage of their expertise. Kenny discussed the steps that he took when attempting to compile his initial book. He also discussed the necessity of coming up with a marketing plan in order to decide how many copies you would like to publish. He has plans to eventually publish eight volumes.

Barbara gave us handouts detailing the "parts of a book" and how to go about the writing process. She discussed the difference between a "printer" and a "publisher." We learned about how ISBN numbers (International Standard Book Number) and Library of Congress Catalog Numbers (LCCN) are assigned to books upon publication. A lot of decisions must be made including the cover material, type of binding, and the minimum scanning requirements for pictures.  Publishers can assist you in making those decisions.

Several of us chose to stay for the afternoon dedication of the new interactive exhibit of one of Cincinnati's major treasures.  On September 24, 1848, Charles Fontayne and William Porter set up their specially-designed camera and took a picture of the Cincinnati cityscape.  At the time, Cincinnati was the nation's sixth largest city. The picture, taken  from a rooftop in Newport, panned across the Ohio River and included two-miles of the Cincinnati riverfront. The image was comprised of eight separate plates.

There are two interactive displays -- one housed in the Main Floor Atrium and the other in the Cincinnati Room just steps away from the 3rd Floor Genealogy and History Department.  Patrons are able to click on touch screens to access high-definition images of specific locations within the daguerreotype.  Not only are you able to zoom in on digital images up to 32 times the size of the original, but the images are linked to related portraits, newspaper articles, documents and maps.  This is not a static display.  Library patrons can submit artifacts for possible inclusion.

Our own Patricia Van Skaik was part of a panel of leaders who participated in the dedication ceremony.  The Atrium was filled with library patrons who understood the value of this priceless piece of Cincinnati history.  The original plates are on permanent display in the Cincinnati Room in a specially-designed case.

For more information on this project, please go to this link:  Cincinnati Panorama of 1848.