On the first day of operation, 1,300 books were lent to public libraries. In 11 months. 19,000 books were made available to supplement the collections of public libraries. Advisory services were added through the employment of a consultant in September 1958. Group meetings have been held in two areas, and a Public Library Institute and Trustee Conference has been held at Southern Illinois University for the 34 counties. A newsletter and booklists have been published and sent to all libraries, and a study is being made on centralized processing. III. In April 1958, the Illinois Valley District Library demonstration was begun with headquarters at the Peru Public Library. The demonstration has been extended to November 1959 to allow for public vote and legal action. To date, one township has dropped out and two other townships added. The area receives services by means of 16 bookmobile stops and an up-to-date book collection. A bookmobile librarian, driver-clerk, assistant librarian, cataloger, and secretary have been added. The Peru librarian supervises the project. IV. The Prairie Trails Library District project was under consideration for many years but did not become a reality until April 1, 1958. Bookmobile service was started on July 1, 1958. Because of an unsuccessful district library election in June 1959, service has been withdrawn and materials returned to the State library. The library boards of the Flagg Township Library and the Stillman Valley Library are reviewing plans and preparing for another election. V. Savanna Regional Library, with headquarters in the Savanna Public Library which has been expanded and remodeled, will begin full self-support operation during the fall of 1959. In the spring of 1958, after consultation with the librarians and trustees of the Savanna area, the State library expanded the Savanna Service Center (established in 1954) into a regional library. The regional librarian from De Kalb was transferred to Savanna, and two additional staff members added. Group meetings have been held, the book collection enlarged, and inservice training institutes held. VI. The Kaskaskia Regional Library, with headquarters at Mascoutah, serves 46 townships (portions of 5 adjacent counties) and four cooperative libraries. I was established in March 1959 after a year of study and public relations work by the Jaycees. Six branches have been established and six more are in the planning stages. A staff of five, two bookmobiles, and a station wagon have been added; and a large supply of books is being assembled. planned for the fall of 1960. Other Significant Facts A district election is A bill has been passed that provides that district board members be elected and not appointed. Boards of trustees for district libraries are now required to transmit to the Secretary of State (and keep up to date) the name, address, and office of each member of the board. The debt limit of libraries has been placed at 5 percent instead of 21⁄2 percent. The State library's appropriation for the 1959-61 biennium passed with an increase of over $230,000. Equipment has been installed at the State library for a catalog card duplication system. Plans are underway to install similar equipment at the Southern Regional Library in Carbondale. If the offering of catalog card service to libraries in the 34 counties of the Carbondale area proves successful, this service will be offered throughout the State. IOWA Statistical Summary Services Counties now receiving library service which were unserved prior to program. People in these counties to whom this service is available. Bookmobiles purchased under program.. Field librarians... Other professional librarians. Clerks and drivers.. Others.. Total.. Personnel added Number 0 0 29 21, 502 0 4 1 7 2 14 Program Accomplishments, January 4, 1957, to June 30, 1959 The strengthening of the State agency has been extensive and one of the major projects. The State library has been reorganized, and an extension program has been launched. Mail services have been set up in the reference and circulation division, and travel funds augmented. New books in all categories have been purchased for the Traveling Library, and three professional librarians and six clerks have been added to the staff. A record collection for statewide use has been started, and a film collection developed to encourage better use of libraries. Four field offices (Cherokee, Mason City, Cedar Falls, and Jefferson) have been established. The Iowa State Traveling Library negotiated contracts with the participating libraries from which the field representatives operate. This has made consultation and evaluation services available on a much broader basis. One hundred and thirteen libraries have been "weeded"; 78, cataloged; and 70, evaluated. The public library laws have been interpreted to trustees at more than 340 board meetings and 18 trustee workshop sessions or district meetings. Eighty-seven libraries have met the minimum Iowa public library standards and thus qualified for reference books and special professional services. Cooperative enterprises have been encouraged. In the field services area of Jefferson, nine libraries each have contributed $75 to a central purchasing fund for rotating collections. The Mason City area is using duplicate copies of books for a similar program and has developed a regional newsletter. This area has crossed county lines and the eastern area of the State has been working for a regional cooperative federation of 20 or more libraries and four or more counties. District meetings and leadership-training workshops have increased awareness of improved library services, planning, and public relations. A Kansas workshop session, typical of many meetings of librarians and trustees which were held in the States on aspects of Library Services Act programs. KANSAS Statistical Summary Services Counties now receiving library service which were unserved prior to People in these counties to whom service is now available.. People in these counties to whom this service is available. Bookmobiles purchased under program. Field librarians. . . Other professional librarians. Clerks and drivers.. Others... Total. Personnel added Number 0 104 1, 171, 229 2 2020 4 Program Accomplishments, July 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 The Traveling Libraries Commission has been strengthened and services expanded. The Commission has moved to larger quarters which will allow for more extensive development of the agency's program and more efficient work. The staff has been increased by four (two professional librarians and two clerical staff members). The procedures for lending books to libraries were revised to provide more adequate and enriched collections. Language records have been added, and films on library services have been purchased for the use of groups. The first State agency bookmobile, delivered in February 1958, has been heavily scheduled for exhibits and workshops. Four workshops for trustees, with over 200 in attendance, were held in cooperation with the Kansas Library Association and the Governmental Research Center. National standards and relationships of libraries with governmental agencies were stressed. Two workshops for public librarians were also held. A western Kansas office was opened at the Kansas State College at Hays and a field consultant appointed for this area. Work was started in September 1958, and more than 75 visits were made during the 10-month period. The office has been temporarily closed due to lack of staff. In December 1958, the countywide studies were started. Information concerning the plan was sent to 17 librarians and to the presidents of the respective library boards. Three counties requested studies: Stevens, Seward, and Grant. The Stevens County report has been completed and is available in printed form. Several changes in library routines and improvements in the book collection have already been made based on the report. Other Significant Facts Changes have been made in the legal statutes of the State to more clearly define the responsibilities of the Traveling Libraries Commission. Several tax limitations that blocked library development were eased with passage of three bills by the legislature. The new laws provide for removal of all or part of the library millage from the aggregate for city and county libraries. The Traveling Library Commission's appropriation—while not sufficient to match for all Federal funds-was increased over former years. That there was an increase and not a cut is significant, since the appropriation of only one other State agency was increased in 1959. An advisory committee, a group of about 30 persons representing various organizations and the Kansas Library Association, has been meeting regularly since 1955. Although at first its role was concerned with working for the passage of the Library Services Act, the committee now acts to give advice and publicity on the activities of the Traveling Libraries Commission. KENTUCKY Statistical Summary Services Number Counties now receiving library service which were unserved prior to program. Counties with some service prior to program now receiving improved or extended service.... 32 People in these counties to whom this service is available. 578, 718 Bookmobiles purchased under program.. 0 Program Accomplishments, April 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 I. The Library Extension Division has been strengthened. Professional and clerical staff members have been added, and needed equipment has been purchased. Books for the regions have been selected, ordered, cataloged, processed, and delivered. Centralized cataloging for the regions is a new service which is being offered by the Division. Field librarians are helping in the regions to prepare union catalogs and adequate but simple catalogs for each participating county. Each of the six regional libraries under the State plan has begun to circulate collections of classical records, films, and framed paintings for the first time. This material cannot be ordered and processed fast enough to satisfy the librarians or the public. In addition to having its own collection of films, the Library Extension Division has contracted with the University of Kentucky for the use of its film collection for showing in the regions. Exhibits and displays have been planned and set up in all areas—i -in the libraries themselves, in stores, churches, and organization meeting rooms. II. Development of regional libraries has been under way. A. There were many accomplishments in the development of the first four regional libraries which have been under the State plan: 1. Eden Shale Regional Library (Anderson, Carroll, Henry, Owen, Oldham, Shelby, and Trimble Counties). 2. Eastern Kentucky Regional Library (Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, and Morgan Counties). 3. Lake Cumberland Regional Library (Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Russell, and Wayne Counties). 4. Valley of Parks Regional Library (Bell, Laurel, Pulaski, Rockcastle, and Whitley Counties). B. Work is also going forward in the development of the two new regional libraries which started in 1958: 1. Pennyrile Regional Library (Caldwell, Christian, Muhlenberg, Trigg, and Webster Counties). 2. South Central Regional Library (Allen, Barren, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Simpson Counties). C. Assistance of the Library Extension Division to these six regions has been given in many ways, such as weeding and cataloging of collections, inservice training for librarians, expanded reference services, public information services, record concerts and art exhibits, children's story hours, monthly newsletters, and summer reading programs for children. |