Staff members of the Technical Processing Division of the Nevada State Library at work on the recataloging project under the State plan. NEVADA 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 0 0 8 56, 540 0 Personnel added Field librarians... Other professional librarians. Clerks and drivers. Others..... Total. Program Accomplishments, July 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 2360 11 I. A survey of public library service in Nevada was made by a special consultant, and the published report was distributed and discussions held throughout the State. Inadequacies of public library services were revealed, and it was recommended that libraries cooperate to form three regional centers to be supported through cooperative financing and that these regional centers provide bookmobile service and centralized cataloging and processing. II. A special project completed with the help of a professional consultant resulted in an active library services-promotion program, which is being continued. A bookmobile exhibit demonstration was the most important part of the 1958–59 library interpretation program. At the end of these showings throughout Nevada, thousands of enthusiastic viewers had seen a modern bookmobile, loaned for this purpose by the manufacturer. III. The State library was improved by the establishment of an Advisory Services Division to provide consultant service on a full-time basis. Two library consultants have been secured. Workshops were held on library finance, audiovisual services, reference books, and on public library services to children. Publications include Nevada Library Notes, a bimonthly periodical, and the Nevada Library Finance Handbook. A twofold "crash program" of recataloging and enrichment of the State agency's collections is being carried on, and use of interlibrary loan and reference facilities increased tremendously during the year. Improvement of the library collection made it possible to aid libraries in developing story hour and summer reading programs. IV. A centralized cataloging service was established at the State library in February 1959 and six county libraries have joined: Churchill, Elko, Humboldt, Mineral, Pershing, and Lyon. A union catalog of the books processed is maintained. V. Grants were made to eight contracting county libraries (Churchill, Elko, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Humboldt, Washoe, and Lincoln), providing specific benefits such as better collections, improved physical facilities, increased library hours, improved library services for adults, better public information programs, and a "book bus." There have been substantial gains in circulation and better understanding by the public of the library's role in the community. Other Significant Facts Significant library legislation was enacted in 1959. Library boards were increased from three to five members and given 4-year terms; the State library was empowered 10 make financial grants to regional, county, city, or town libraries; a regional law was passed enabling the establishment of regional libraries by means of joint agreement; and contract laws were amended to foster cooperation between libraries. NEW HAMPSHIRE Statistical Summary Services Towns now receiving library service which were unxerved prior to program.. People in these towns to whom this service is available. Program Accomplishments, January 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 I. The State agency branch and bookmobile services have been improved and expanded. A new branch office of the State Library Extension Division has been furnished and opened in Exeter to improve the service in the southeastern area, formerly serviced from State agency headquarters. An experienced librarian was placed in charge of the new office, and a chauffeur-clerk employed. The northern branch office has been improved by employing a chauffeur-clerk so that all areas now have full-time chauffeur-clerks and the librarians are released from routine clerical procedures. Four new walk-in type bookmobiles have been purchased and assigned to branch offices. These replace the old panel trucks formerly used and they have doubled the book capacity. The bookmobiles have made regular visits to 218 of the 228 libraries in communities of less than 10,000 population. The book resources have been greatly increased (88 percent more volumes added in 1959 than in 1956). Circulation from bookmobiles has increased 40 percent. II. The advisory service has been enlarged and extended. Two public library consultants have been added to the staff and advisory activ ities of all types have increased (visits by 125 percent, group meetings by 111 percent, and special projects by 70 percent). Eighty workshops (four series) were held throughout the State, attended by both librarians and trustees. Topics for the series were standards, public relations, budgets, book selection. III. Book and reference resources of the Division have been strengthened. There has been a 15 percent increase in the number of volumes added since 1956 and circulation has increased 11 percent in the same period. The number of reference questions increased from 9,033 in 1956 to 16,506 in 1959. The borrowing of books on interlibrary loan increased 47 percent during the same period. To handle the increased loads, two clerical assistants have been added to the State agency headquarters staff. IV. A cooperative film group was started in May 1958 in cooperation with the Vermont Free Public Library Commission, the Maine State Library, and interested libraries in New Hampshire. The films purchased by the participating agencies are deposited with the University of New Hampshire Audio-Visual Center in Durham. A rental fee has been established for each film, and participating libraries may borrow the films free of charge up to the amount spent by that agency in purchasing films for the cooperative. Rural libraries in New Hampshire may borrow films against the credit established by the State library. In its first year, 143 films were lent to 23 rural libraries. Six regional workshops were conducted in the spring of 1959 to acquaint local libraries with the techniques of operation and use. This New Hampshire youth is surrounded by a small portion of the more than 5 million books and other instructional and educational materials which have been added to the resources of rural communities. V. A public relations program has been emphasized. A new publication, North Country Libraries, has been issued in cooperation with the Vermont Free Public Library Commission. It is edited on a contractual basis by a person outside the agencies and is mailed free of charge to librarians and trustees in the State. A public relations firm has been employed to conduct a program. In 1958-59, 12,000 column inches of news items and feature stories about rural libraries appeared in 41 daily and weekly newspapers. A field worker for the firm has successfully promoted eight Friends of Library groups and three Senior Citizens Clubs, and, in cooperation with the State library staff, has made two surveys of community attitudes toward libraries. Three colorful posters have been designed and distributed to local libraries and three-dimensional exhibits on "Science as a Career" have been loaned to local libraries for display. Booklists and books are sent with these exhibits. A bimonthly series of publicity packets have been developed and three issues sent thus far to all New Hampshire libraries. Other Significant Items The effectiveness of the inservice training program and the public relations effort is indicated by the fact that a survey of New Hampshire libraries taken immediately 551294 0-60- 6 following the 1959 March town meetings showed that 143 of the 205 libraries which responded received budgetary increases. Through inservice workshops and the use of the pamphlet How Good is Your Library? the first step has been taken to improve standards. NEW JERSEY Statistical Summary Services Counties now receiving library service which were unserved prior to program. 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 21 1,595, 195 1 217O 10 Program Accomplishments, January 1, 1957, to June 30, 1959 I. The Public and School Library Services Bureau has been strengthened by increased staff. A station wagon to facilitate the work with the Deposit and Exchange collection and new equipment for more efficient processing and shipping routines were added. The Accessions List of the Bureau's holdings has been made available to all libraries. Advisory and consultant services have been increased and inservice training programs have been held. Five regional institutes have been held in cooperation with the New Jersey Library Association to study the national library standards. Six reference clinics have been held in which 93 libraries participated and attendance totaled 193. A 2-day institute on effective trusteeship was held, sponsored by the Bureau, Trustees Association, Rutgers Graduate Library School, and the American Library Association Community Project. Six regional institutes on "Cooperative Action for Libraries: Practical Application" were held jointly with the New Jersey Library Association. The areas of cooperation considered were book selection, technical services, reference, children's services, public relations, interlibrary loan, and reciprocal borrowers' privileges. |