Office of Administration Executive Office of the President: EEOB Library

 Last week the NTL interns visited the War Department Library and Library and Research Services at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Before the actual field trip I thought we were going to tour President Obama's personal White House library! Close.

The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President which include:

• Council of Economic Advisers
• Council on Environmental Quality
• Executive Residence
• National Security Staff
• Office of Administration
• Office of Management and Budget
• Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Office of the United States Trade Representative
• Office of the Vice President
• White House Office

Library and Research Services is compromised of the three libraries of the Executive Office of the President: Eisenhower Executive Office Building Library, New Executive Office Building Library, and the EOP Law Library.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building Library (formally The War Department Library 1888-1938) features materials on the presidency, American and world history, U.S. government and politics, foreign relations, homeland security, and national security. It also houses a core collection in the arts and humanities.

The design of the War Department Library reminds me of one of my favorite childhood movies, 1994's "The Pagemaster" starring Macaulay Culkin. "The Pagemaster" is the quintessential librarian movie. I remember watching it with my litle brother in awe hoping that my books would come to life if I didn't earmark the pages. It is a wonder I didn't realize I wanted to be a librarian earlier. All the signs were there!

The library was designed by Richard Ezdorf who is credit with most of the interior decoration in the building which was orginally named the State, War and Navy Building. He also designed the West Rotunda, the Navy Department Library (now called the Indian Treaty Room), and the light fixtures, sculptural ornamentation, and other decorative elements for the building.

Karen, a 20 year EOP Library vet, gave us a demonstration of the EOP Virtual Library which includes Ask a Librarain, How do I...?, Database Center, E-journals, Online Catalog, and Subject Resources. Karen shared how the Excecutive Office changes every four years when a new cabinet is installed who need assistance with EVERYTHING.

Michele, the Law Librarian told us all about the history of the architecture of the EOP including the symbolism and ornaments used to reflect military heraldy and the mosaic-patterned imported English Minton tiles. She shared with us that the original shelves were built to organize books by size, not subject matter. Dewey what? Dewey who?

Per usual, enjoy the pictures below! Peace.

Sings theme fromt The Pagemaster "Whatever You Imagine"

Old School Mailbox

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http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States