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Included among the 70 Berk shire County libraries listed with the Massachusetts Board of Library Com mis sioners are nine libraries categorized as "special." These are libraries with materials on specific topics.
For example, Kathleen Adams manages a part-time library at MRA Laboratories Inc., located at 15 Print Works Drive in Adams. MRA Lab oratories is a manufacturer and supplier of formulated ceramics used for their unique electrical properties, specifically dielectric materials.
"It's pretty much a technical library," said Anton Polotai, a senior scientist at MRA Lab oratories. He took a phone call from The Eagle for Adams, who was off that day.
He said the lab library has between 20,000 and 30,000 books and journals relating to the fields of technology, electronics and chemistry. Some of the materials were acquired through the former Sprague Electric Company. The MRA lab library also has electronic subscriptions to current journals and offers an inter-library loan service.
"We provide people the service to find information in these specific fields," Polotai said.
Similarly, the American Ins titute for Economic Re search, located at 250 Division St. in Great Barrington, has about 25,000 volumes in its economics library.
Several local museums and hospitals also have libraries relating to their respective fields which are open to the public and/or researchers.
Off the MBLC list, there are several other
Temple Anshe Amunim at 26 Broad St. in Pittsfield has its Julius & Rose Adler Mason Library, stocked with more than 2,500 titles covering Jewish history, music, fiction and more. It also hosts a book club.
Sheep Hill on Route 7 in Wil liamstown has a lending library with materials such as field guides and gardening manuals.
Beyond the traditions of book lending, other places lend other things.
The Northern Berkshire Early Intervention program at 25 Marshall St. in North Adams has a Toy Library which is open to families with children.
United Cerebral Palsy at 208 West St., in Pittsfield has a lending library with assistive devices and toys for people with disabilities and special needs.
And the Center for Eco Technology, at 112 Elm St. in Pittsfield loans energy saving guides, curriculum materials and even wattmeters.
Berkshire Museum
Collection of art history, natural history and other resources
39 South St., Pittsfield
For information, call the museum at (413) 443-7171
Berkshire Law Library
Courthouse, 76 East St., Pittsfield
Monday to Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(413) 442-5059
Chapin Rare Book Library
Rare books and manuscripts
Southworth Schoolhouse, Southworth Street, Williamstown
Reading room hours Monday
to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Clark Art Institute
Library of art history
225 South St., Williamstown
open to the public Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hancock Shaker Village
Amy Bess and Lawrence K. Miller Library of 13,000 primary and secondary manuscripts and more.
Routes 20 and 41, Pittsfield
Open to all, by appointment.
(413) 443-0188
Jacob's Pillow dance archive
Correspondence and history of the festival and its dancers, film, audio and scrapbooks
358 George Carter Road, Becket
Outside the festival season, open year round by appointment: (413) 243-9919, ext. 150
Norman Rockwell Museum
Norman Rockwell archives and library on the art of illustration
9 Route 182
Open to all by appointment
-- Berkshire Eagle Staff
