Program Accomplishments, February 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 I. The first library demonstration in California was started May 15, 1957, to provide bookmobile service for residents of the rural area of Butte County. An experienced project director was employed; a bookmobile and equipment purchased. The bookmobile service was started in November 1957; on May 14, 1958, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to include bookmobile service in the county library budget for the next fiscal year. A color film was made on the activities of the bookmobile and shown to the County Board of Supervisors at their preliminary budget hearing. Films and records were included in the bookmobile service and extensively used. The daily average book circulation was 248. The average cost per mile for operating the bookmobile was $0.079, and average cost per month, $76.74. II. The Processing Center completed its first year of actual service on June 30, 1959. A total of 29,873 volumes (5,717 titles) has been processed for the 16 member libraries. The director was appointed January 1, 1958, and the full-time staff now numbers nine-two of whom are trained librarians. A workshop for members has been held to promote mutual understanding of the problems. III. To strengthen the extension services from the State library, the Field Services Unit has been improved by the addition of a small exhibit bookmobile and a consultant, driver, and typist-clerk, as well as additional equipment and supplies. A print of the film Books for All has been purchased and is used in connection with this bookmobile. IV. The strengthening of extension service from county libraries centered in three projects: A. The Amador County project (contract service with Stockton Public Library) started November 1, 1957, at which time a project librarian was assigned to the headquarters library in Jackson. By contract with the Stockton Public Library, all ordering and processing has been done at Stockton and special requests have been filled from this source. By June 30, 1958, circulation had increased 42 percent, reference and reading aid transactions had increased 79 percent, and shipments to stations had increased 46 percent. In June 1959 the Board of Supervisors voted to renew the contract with the Stockton Public Library, and it adopted all the proposals made in the survey and will continue the project with local support. The project librarian has been appointed Amador County librarian. This is the second project brought to a successful conclusion. Amador County, with its own librarian, will continue to operate its County Free Library with reference to book selection, quarters, and equipment, but it will have the enriched collection of Stockton, including records and films, available for use. All ordering and processing will be done by the Stockton Public Library. The Amador County librarian will continue to attend Stockton-San Joaquin County book selection meetings. The Citizens Library Committee of Amador County has been active from the planning stages to the successful conclusion of the project. The approximate cost of the project was $18,000, supplemented by an extra appropriation by Amador County of $2,000, spread over a period of 20 months. B. The Santa Barbara County project was officially started November 1, 1957, with actual work starting December 1. Its purpose was to develop a pilot regional center at Lompoc and strengthen reference and readers' advisory services. Books have been ordered and processed, staff employed, and equipment purchased. Public relations work, especially by means of radio and programs at public meetings, has aroused much interest. Weekly radio programs have been taped and used at Lompoc and Santa Maria. The library stations personnel have been given special training with emphasis on reference work. One outlet has moved to better quarters and displays have been made and used in the larger outlets. For the period September 1958 to February 1959, circulation increased 41.8 percent over the circulation figures for the same period in 1957-58. The percentage increase in Lompoc, where the greatest concentration of books and effort took place, was 267 percent. Funds were not appropriated by the county to continue the added services, in spite of a general recognition of their value. C. The Lassen and Plumas-Sierra County Libraries project was organized to assist in the coordination of the administration of the two libraries. A contract was signed under which the two libraries agreɛd to share the services of one head librarian. Project funds have been used to purchase a station wagon; buy additional books, especially juvenile titles; establish record collections in the two libraries; pay part-time personnel to catalog the new collection and coordinate records; and provide additional travel funds. The project has been successful. This is the first area to employ one librarian as the official county librarian of two county libraries. Other Significant Facts The Reports-California Public Library Commission' recommended a program of State grants based on meeting specified standards. Legislation to implement the report was introduced in the 1959 legislature but failed to pass. However, a bill was passed declaring that it is in the interest of the State that there be a general diffusion of knowledge through public libraries and that public libraries deserve adequate financial support from government at all levels. In 1957, the maximum tax levy for county library purposes was raised from 1 mill on the dollar to 3 mills on the dollar. COLORADO 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. Number 2 4,588 11 127, 283 2 1 Wight. Edward A. "Report Number One: General Report and Recommendations." In California' Public Library Commission, Reports (1959), pp. 7–117. Program Accomplishments, February 15, 1957, to June 30, 1959 I. The resources of the central library have been strengthened and steps taken to provide expanding services for the rural areas of the State. To provide improved field services, the State has been divided into four areas. Fieldworkers have been employed to provide counseling and inservice training to public librarians. In addition, each area fieldworker has been exploring the possibilities for demonstrating larger units of service. II. The area field office located in Pueblo (Area A) was opened in November 1957 under the direction of a professional librarian. There are 19 counties within the area and 35 public libraries. An areawide status survey has been initiated, and the supervisor has acted as the coordinator of a statewide study in which the three other areas are involved. "Operation Wastepaper," a project designed to help public libraries weed obsolete and worn material, was placed in operation, and the central purchasing program for the 19 countries developed. The Southeast Colorado Advisory Committee was organized. In March 1958 the seven-county (Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers) Lower Arkansas Valley demonstration was started at Las Animas. This program was set up to demonstrate the effectiveness of cooperative action through a system of federated libraries. Total population to be served numbers over 68,500 and the area covers 11,393 square miles. Funds were used for books, furniture and other equipment, salaries, and a bookmobile. A staff of five has been appointed, and bookmobile and audiovisual services have been provided. Over 1,000 reference and research questions have been answered, and 720 interlibrary loans made. One library, closed since 1950 has reopened. The gross circulation of the demonstration totaled 169,000. A monthly newsletter has been published and workshops held. Weekly radio programs have been broadcast from the largest station in the region. III. The Area B field office, located in Grand Junction with quarters provided by Mesa College, was established in December 1957. It is staffed by a professional librarian and a secretarial assistant. The area is mountainous, consisting of 22 counties with 30 rural libraries, covering 39,000 square miles. The Western Slope Advisory Committee has been organized and workshops held. IV. The Area D field office, located in Denver at the State library, has a supervisor and stenographer. In addition to the fieldwork in the area, this supervisor has cooperated with the Area E supervisor in cataloging the demonstration collections. In May 1959, a demonstration program in Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Washington, and Yuma Counties was begun. These counties cover an area of 10,233 square miles and have a population of 62,208. Headquarters have been opened at Yuma and a staff of two employed. In the 2 months of operation, the circulation from 17 deposit stations and 69 bookmobile stops has totaled 18,900 volumes. Five county planning committees have been organized and the areawide advisory committee is in process of organization. V. The Area E field office is also located in the State library, and the supervisor works with three counties adjacent to Denver County. In addition, this supervisor serves as coordinator of activities in all four areas of the State and has charge of selection, ordering, and cataloging materials for demonstrations and field offices. Other Significant Facts In October 1958, a State Library Association Legislative Committee was appointed to work with the State library and the Department of Education on a legislative program. Primary objectives are grants-in-aid, certification, standards, and an expanded agency. It is also studying sections of the 1947 State library law for needed changes. Three regional trustee conferences have been held, and a tentative schedule has been drawn up for additional meetings to culminate in a statewide conference to be called by the Governor. The Mile-High Trustee, a newsletter, was initiated by the State library. The Capitol Hill Library Crier, first issued in October 1957, has carried news of the program and related library information to all parts of the State. The 1958-59 State library appropriation showed a 17-percent increase over 1957–58, and local library funds in areas coyered by the plan showed a gain of 10 percent for the same period. CONNECTICUT Statistical Summary Services Number Towns now receiving library service which were unserved prior to program.. 0 121 People in these towns to whom this service is available. Bookmobiles purchased under program. 520, 148 0 Program Accomplishments, January 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 The agency has enlarged its staff and increased its book resources. The consultant services in the eastern and western areas of the State have been expanded. In 1959, over 67 public libraries serving populations under 10,000 were visited and given consultant services. Workshops have been held on the State plan, public relations, storytelling, and cataloging. Help also has been given to the Trustees Section of the State Library Association in planning a trustees workshop. The Central Book Collection has been established in rented quarters. The collection now numbers over 10,000 cataloged volumes and approximately 10,000 uncataloged titles. The Traveling Library Collection of 15,000 volumes is gradually being merged with it and 75 percent of the eligible libraries have made use of this Central Collection. The Central Processing Unit was organized in 1957 to prepare all the material for the Central Book Collection and the Bureau's Library Service Center at Middletown. A union catalog is maintained. The cards of the Library Service Center were reproduced photographically at a cost of $1,650 and served as the basis for this catalog. Over 6,000 titles are processed annually. Other Significant Facts Staff changes slowed down the program and curtailed some services. Town appropriations have increased and many libraries have moved to new quarters. A bill passed by the legislature in 1959 authorized the establishment of a Library Service Center in the Windham-Tolland County area and an appropriation of $25,000 was included in the budget. FLORIDA Statistical Summary Services Counties now receiving library service which were unserved prior to program. People in these counties to whom this service is available.. Program Accomplishments, July 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 I. The State agency has been strengthened by increasing the staff and augmenting equipment for the extra services and the more efficient handling of the added workload. |