Update on the Rosenbach-Philadelphia Free Library merger

This is an update to my previous story posted about the merger of the Philadelphia Free Library and the Rosenbach Library. My article noted involvement of the Pew Memorial Trusts in the merger. There's more to this than meets the eye.

An opinion article from 2007 by Marie C. Malara, "The New Goals at the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Fate of the Nonprofit Sector" (Nonprofit Quarterly, volume 14, summer 2007:70 – 72). In this piece, the author attacks president of Pew, Rebecca W. Rimel, who wishes to make Philadelphia (Pew's home) into a major center for the arts in the US. The author cites the case of the Barnes Foundation which Pew interfered with in order to move it to Center City Philadelphia. She regards this as a betrayal of the Pew's founding principles.

The article, perhaps rightly, did not receive much play outside the supporters of the old Barnes Foundation. My own take? I don't agree with the thrust of this piece. Merger is the continuing story of foundations urging smaller organizations to consolidate in order to survive and (we all hope) thrive. Pew and Rimel may make some mis-steps, but I don't think it's necessarily a case of bad faith and betrayal of founding principles. There's a lot to be said for Rimel's vision in an extended (post-1980) period of economic contraction and reduced government funding. Still, pieces like this one should make us pause, and ensure that we're really engaged in an alignment of activities, mission and founding ideas.

Rosenbach Library and Museum to merge with Philadelphia Free Library [updated]

The Rosenbach Library & Museum of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Free Library have announced plans to merge. The press release notes that bridge funding for the merger (the details of which have not been announced) has been provided in part by the Pew Charitable Trust.

Rosenbach Museum and Library 2008-2010 Delancey Place Philadelphia, PA 19103 Home of Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach (1876-1952) and his brother Philip, book dealers and collectors The Maurice Sendak Building, ca. 1860 Townhouse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although this is described as a merger, when a larger organization takes over management of a small organization, it's more often a take over. I don't details and I can only speculate, but I believe that the merger will be good for researchers and staff as well as collections. It makes a lot of sense for smaller institutions to seek the aid of larger ones, and the merged institution can achieve economies that would be impossible for an independent Rosenbach. The Rosenbach was the private collection of the legendary pair of early 20th C book and manuscript dealers, the Rosenbach brothers. The Rosenbach, in addition to its extraordinary manuscript collection and holdings such as Joyces's Ulysses, has more recently been the recipient of many of Maurice Sendak's illustrations and manuscripts.