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THE OKLAHOMA LIBRARIAN Official Journal of the Oklahoma Library Association PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Volume 1 SPRING 1950 Number 1 CONTENTS ARTICLES PAGE Literature on the Ceiling-Projected Books. . Elizabeth Cooper 4 Using the Long-Distance Loan Service. . . . Betty Austin 5 The Librarian-Curator of Local History. . . .Gaston Litton 6 Planning a Children's Vacation Reading Club. . . .Louise Townsend 7 Librarians to See O. U. Treasure Room. . . . . 12 The Library and the Local Newspaper. . . . 17 FEATURES A Message from the OLA President. . . . 2 As the Editor Sees It. . . . . 3 From the Four Corners. . . . .8 Who's Where. . . . 11 Meet the Authors. . . .18 NEAL F . AUSTIN, Editor Journalism Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman Associates VIRGINIA OWENS, Public Library, Oklahoma City ALLIE BETH MARTIN, Public Library, Tulsa [pencil] OK-S-LIB [bar code]A15303783188
Lee Spencer A Message from The OLA President I join with all members of the Oklahoma Library Association in welcoming this new professional organ. We Oklahoma librarians have been inarticulate for quite some time now, but this promising journal should enable us to speak out on library issues and items of importance. Even though most of us will still tend to favor the oral as opposed to the printed form of communication, having our own magazine should stimulate all of us to some critical and creative thinking about our own programs and activities. (The word 'problem' has been banned in many quarters, I'm told, so its use will be avoided here.) If it is possible to adopt our revised constitution at the 1950 convention we will be poised for a new epoch in association affairs-an epoch without precedent in our state. A new committee system, more adequate revenues, and this publication itself, will make the OLA a more effective organization in every sense of the word. However, we cannot rely on constitutional revision alone to bring us out of the doldrums. We must foster a keener sense of personal responsibility on the part of the individual member. We should at all times attempt to "make a go of it" with the tools at hand. A prominent state librarian recently criticized the American Library Association as being eternally concerned with reorganization. The "reorganizers" will probably always have some basis for their work in the OLA, but it is my hope that such a high degree of personal morale will develop in our number that good library service and successful cooperative activity will become as prevalent in Oklahoma as personal hospitality. As we consider our library situation during this mid-century year of stock-taking, I think Oklahoma can congratulate herself on the fine progress being made. Quite a number of state colleges are now occupying handsome and functional new buildings. The larger library systems are either developing greater book collections at an excellent rate, or are modernizing their entire array of services. The humane and fascinating projected books program is being given intelligent and aggres sive leadership, and courses in library sci ence are being kept scrupulously up to date. There are many other examples of library vitality that could be cited if space permitted. As significant to me as any other library development is the establishment, during the past few months, of several public libraries in smaller communities, and t he information that plans for similar action are being perfected in other localities as well. This is convincing proof that there is demand for extended library service. De spite momentary delay, the struggle to secure adequate legislation is bound to suc ceed because of this spontaneous demand and the intelligent efforts of those who know the possibilities of libraries. We hope for these smaller places that random gifts and book "showers" will soon be superseded by an efficient program of book selection. And now-the mantle of a seer and prophet hangs heavy on my shoulders. To have had the privilege of speaking my piece in this brave new publication has dazzled me. Before I, as an Oklahoma librarian, sing again that quaint old western ballad, "Give me my books and riddle . . ." and revert to the peace of a " tome on the range" I would thank all of yoU who have so generously and capably resounded to my "feverish" calls for help (as that arch archivist, Gaston Litton described them.) And to Neal Austin and his committee of indefatigables - thanks for pulling a near-miracle! "Feverishly" yours, Lee Spencer, a 105 degree specimen 2
[pencil]020.6 Ok41 v.1-3/cop.2 As the Editor Sees It This first issue of The Oklahoma Librarian marks the beginning of a new program of public relations for the Oklahoma Library Association. The editor hopes that this issue will be the first of hundreds, and he sees no reason why the bulletin should not succeed. Perhaps something should be saiq about how this publication came into being. About two years ago, when the editor had first become a member of the Oklahoma Library Association, he started hoping and planning for a quarterly journal. He, and others, felt that it was almost a necessity. Nothing was done, however, except a few plans which were made at that time. Then, in the fall of 1949, Lee Spencer, President of the Association, appointed a Committee on Publications, and instructed it to investigate the problems and possibilities of publication. At the A.L.A. Conference in Fort Worth in November, 1949, the plans and recommendations of that committee were rejected. Perhaps the rejection was justifiable. It was said that the Association could not finance such a venture. The editor, however, was of the opinion that advertising would provide sufficient income. On the 25th of February, 1950, the editor again presented his plans to the Executive Committee of the Association, and they were approved. With a very early deadline facing the committee, a great deal of red-tape had to be cut through. Mrs. Allie Beth Martin of the Tulsa Public Library, agreed to collect and edit the news notes. Miss Virginia Owens, of the Oklahoma City system took care of a large part of the advertising. Articles were assigned; and the writers cooperated marvelously. Advertising was solicited, printing arranged for, design set up, etc. Here is the important thing: This issue of 'The Oklahoma Librarian' was published at no cost whatsoever to the Oklahoma Library Association. The above statement is not made in the nature of a boast. It is simply a statement of pure fact. There is no reason, in the opinion of the editor, for any failure in the future. Many of the advertisers want to advertise on a yearly basis. Two have already asked about advertising deadlines in future issues this year. It is possible, though not likely, that the Association might be called upon to pay the expenses of mailing. As far as the editor knows, this is the only publication of a state library association in the country which is self-supporting. Further, it ranks among the top three from the point of view of content and design. It is attractive, informal, and the articles are all well written by competent members of the profession. The editor respectfully urges the Association and its individual members to give the bulletin support. This is an important venture ... perhaps one of the most important ever undertaken by the OLA. Until this issue, the OLA was one of only three state associations Which did not have journals! Space does not permit mention of all the persons to whom the editor is grateful. Response was excellent, and most gratifying. His work in establishing and editing the first issue of the Oklahoma Librarian has been made much easier and more pleasant by this cooperation from the association members. He would be grateful for the privilege of continuing his work as editor, if he were planning to remain in the state. Having accepted an out-of-state position, however, he can only express his appreciation, for the fine cooperation he has received and hope for a fine future for the Association and its journal. 3 [stamped] 208050 Oklahoma State Library.
Elizabeth Cooper Literature on the Ceiling - Projected Books Most of you, as librarians, have heard or read about Projected Books. Coronet magazine h as carried at least three articles about it, the Saturday Evening Post not long ago ran a long editorial concerning it, and the ALA Bulletin and various hospital magazines have covered the field. This gadget , a projector for throwing the microfilmed pages of a book on the ceiling, can be operated to turn the pages by simply pressing buttons. Manipulation of the controls is possible by the pressure of a finger-tip; the wrist, elbow or shoulder muscles, the toes or feet or knees or thighs-in extreme cases of paralysis, the chin has called upon to press the buttons. This has enabled otherwise helpless people to read or study for hours without assistance. Can you imagine what this means to those unable to help themselves in any other way? Or how a child with rheumatic fever may find himself recovering because at last he has something he can do and still be as quiet as is necessary? The cost of the machine is slight-all things considered-$187.50. $27.50 of the amount is profit, which goes to Projected Books, Inc. for promotional purposes only. Otherwise, the machine sells at cost, as does the film. Publishers, authors, and , illustrators have waived the royalties on books photographed for Projected Books.
COOPERATION WITH CIVIC GROUPS As-you know from your own experiences, no library has the appropriation to cover the extensive cost of this new service. Even though the equipment is sold at cost, it is still more expensive than most of us can handle. But all over the United states libraries have called on and received aid from such civic groups as Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis Clubs, Optimist , Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Altrusa; Pilot, and Cham bers of Commerce. To name them all would take a book itself, and to them all we are grateful. The story of Projected Books in Oklahoma is one of a dream long cherished. Ralph Hudson of, the Oklahoma State Library returned from the army in the spring of 1946 with the determination that someday-somehow-the bedfast of this state would know the comfort of reading on the ceiling through the services of their local libraries. It was not until late 1948 that help from the Oklahoma Society for Crippled Children and the Soroptimist Club of Oklahoma City turned this dream into the beginnings of reality. With four machines from the Society and the promise of service and the spearheading of a quietly effective campaign from the Soroptimists, the following plan was launched.
PLAN OF OPERATION The State Library would service state institutions and their out-patients ,as well as rural communities where no local library service is available. It would encourage local libraries to start their own services, and supplement those services in instances when havoc following disaster made their needs greater than those of normal times. (Need is estimated roughly on a basis of one projector for each 4,000 population.) Local libraries would service their own communities-extending even into the entire county where possible. They would seek aid from the State Library in the establishment of service. From there, demonstration machines and films could be borrowed and a speaker obtained to make the initial plea to local clubs for help if desired. This plan, as you know, is only partially in operation, but we are slowly forging ahead. Following the beginnings in the State Library-actually almost simultaneous with our first efforts-Oklahoma City (Continued on Page 13) 4
Betty Austin Using the Long Distance Loan Service You had thought the day was starting off fine when a patron enters the library and wants to see all the material you have on Townsend Harris and his work in Japan. ~ince the possibility is pretty good that you don't have such material on Harris, don't let this person upset your otherwise pleasant day. Instead, take advantage of the services of college libraries in the state. These several libraries , can send you the materials requested by your patrons which you would ordinarily have no reason to have on your shelves. Through the services of interlibrary loan anyone has access to publications of all sorts. Often periodicals, theses, dissertations may be had as well as books on any subject. This service of the college libraries is set up, not only to take care of the needs of the college students and the faculty members, but also the patrons of the small public• librarJy who do not have direct access to many types of publica-tions. HOW 'INTERLIBRARY LOAN WORKS Its use is simple and direct. The librarian Simply writes to the interlibrary loan department of any of the colleges, requesting the book. She states in this request the name of the book and the author and any other information she may have as to where and when the book was published. Shortly the book will be sent to her; or if the library does not have the book requested, it can suggest where the book might be located in some 'of the larger libraries as the Library of Congress or the John Crerar Library in Chicago. Ordinarily, however, the requests of the pUblic libraries in the state can be taken care of by the state college libraries. And this is probably preferable as your patron 5 receives the book much sooner if it is sent from some library in the state. The services of interlibrary loan have been extended to a great extent by the use of microfilm. Often materials or articles appearing in old newspapers or magazines cannot be sent to inquiring libraries because of their value or because they are too fragile. But many of the larger libraries have photographic services which will microfilm almost any printed matter for a very small fee. For most libraries .of the state, however, there will not be many times when the use of microfilm would be needed. But its use only points up a type of progress made in the availability of materials, and particularly research materials. REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE The rules governing the use of books through interlibrary loan vary slightly from one library to another. The length of time a borrowing library may keep a book depends on the lending library and usually it is for two or three weeks. A renewal for another two weeks can usually be made. This length of time would allow a busy housewife or business man ample time to use the book before its return. Postal or express charges are paid by· the borrowing library which is the only charge for the service. As was stated above, theses and dissertations are !;tvailable, but most of the requests from the public libraries of the state are requests for books on gardening, child and nursery care, criticism for book reviewing, books of poetry, Oklahoma history, and history of the Southwest in general. The University of Oklahoma Library is fortunate in having an Oklahoma Collection composed of books on Oklahoma and by Oklahoma authors. These books are available for interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan in this manner pro- (Continued on Page 14) Gaston Litton The Public librarian: Curator of local History Anyone who has seen and used the tiny little volume by Dr. Charles Gould entitled Oklahoma Place Names, or has had access to the Guide to Oklahoma prepared by the Writers' Project of the WPA, or who has travelled extensively in the Sooner State is aware of the great differences which exist among our communities. Oklahoma towns and ~ities are different and distinct, as varied and unlike as if a whole continent separated them. Some were settled predominately by a single racial or religious group. Others grew out of some freak of circumstance. Still others were products of. necessity. But wherever they are and Whatever their destiny, they are surrounded by innumerable details Which make the fascinating fabric of history. These details should be preserved and made available to the public. Perhaps it has not seemed important to most of the public librarians of our Oklahoma towns that community history should be collected and preserved, or that the obligation rests on their shoulders. But it does. There is, first of all, the librarian's obligation to the officialdom at the City Hall, to be able to provide historical material for frequent civic needs. Information of an historical nature is frequently needed by mayors and city managers for patriotic occasions. City planners and others in the official circles need this sort of material. If the public librarians were better known among all city officials, such requests and opportunities to serve would be more numerous. Others, outside the official · pale, have occasional need for local history material. Newspaper editors, teachers, chambers of commerce, and others who may be writing and illustrating brochures or preparing 'for anniversary celebrations are on the "l,lert for such material. The librarian, her- 6 self, in planning exhibits and displays, can often make use of such items. TYPES OF MATERIAL Local history materials assume a wide variety of forms. There are the inevitable clippings from the local newspaper. Clippings of items of an historical and descriptive nature about the community-if carefully kept and identified-can be of great service in any local history collection in countless ways. Gleanings from the n ewspaper definitely have their place, especially when the files of the newspaper itself become too bulky to be kept in the library, Microfilm is solving the problem of bulkiness for many libraries, but clippings can still be of great value. Handbills-or broadsides - covering a wide range of local activities are certainly to be sought. There will undoubtedly be opportunities extended to the public librarian to accept collections made by others. Such materials, if sqrted and classified, could have interest to many and will be used by many. Programs of recitals and .concerts, or old stage plays and operettas, carnivals, anc;l athletic events, will all give a piCture of printing and of public amusement which no other single type of material could give. Innumerable types of brochures are published in the course of time in any community, and many of these pass through the hands of the librarians, possibly without their realizing their historical value and interest. Photographs will come the way of the receptive librarian, and many of these in neat new frames with appropriate matting add to the dignity of any room· Others, carefully identified and filed, can be hoarded against the day when theY will surely be mustered into service to illustrate some newspaper article or bro' (Continued on Page 15) Planning a Children's Vacation Reading Club We have all heard the statement-"Anything that is worth doing at all is worth doing well." I agree with that statement but want to change it this much: "Anything worth doing at all is worth a plan." A carefully planned vacation reading club is certain to be an outstanding success. In conversation with young readers the librarian will meet with attitudes of dislike for summer reading. There may be the complaint that they have been working so hard that they "do not want to see a book all summer;" that they plan vacation trips and will not have time for re\id' ing; or that they are "afraid to sign anything for fear that they will fail to read enough books to earn a certificate." The wise librarian will bring no pressure to bear on the readers. She may discuss with parents and children the matter of this planned program for summer vacation reading and may suggest benefits. She will continue to strive for happy contacts even though the enrollment in the club is not large. Planning for the vacation Reading Club should start during Children's Book Week in the fall. Teachers and parents may be contacted and frequent mention made of the summer reading program. The teachers usually find that pupils who belonged to the reading club during the summer are more alert and "book-minded" when school opens in the fall. The librarian should work with teachers throughout the year, helping them select books to take to their classrooms for leisure reading periods as well as directing the individual child's selection when necessary. Announcements should be made in the spring meetings of the Parent Teachers Association, and the suggestions of teachers are also very helpful. . Advance publicity for the summer readlUg program will be given by the local 7 newspaper. Plans for the story hour will be outlined and the whole summer program will be' given a prominent place in the local program of activities. PLANS FOR THE STORY HOUR Plans for the story hour should receive careful attention. Some librarians have the story hour session every day, some twice a week. But this part of the project seems to be most successful when held only once a week, for example, from ten to twelve on Wednesday mornings. The complete arrangements should be publicized in the newspapers, announced in the close-of-school programs, and by means of posters made by the library staff. Often mothers and teachers will volunteer to take the prepared program and supervise its execution with the help of highschool girls, graduated students, and others selected for their talents in this type of work. In the plans for the story hour program, the theme or themes to be used, books to be used, references to stories or book pages, etc. should be clearly and definitely noted. The program may be varied by the use of phonograph records, group singing, stories about songs, short plays of original dramatization, and games. If the story hour is devoted to one day each week, the groups should meet in separate rooms so that the partiCipants will have only that material which is suitable to the age group in understanding and entertainment. Lack of stress, ease in discussion, and a helpful attitude on the part of the library staff will aid in enrollment of members in the Vacation Reading Club. Attendance charts of the story hour sessions with the proper amount of publicity will also help. If the eager ch~ldren come early, they may be given pictures or books to look through, and a seat at one of the (Continued on Page 16) 11,1111 11 111 11 11 11 111 111 111 11 1111 1111 1111 1111 11 11 11 11 11 11 1111 111 11 11 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11 111 111 111 111 111 11 11 11 111 11 11 1111 11 11 1111 1111 1111 1111 111 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1111 1111 1111 11 11 1111 11 11 11 111 11 11 11 11 111 11 11 111111 1111 "" 111 '1 From the Four Corners • NEWS OF OKLAHOMA LIBRARIES 1 111 111 11 111 11 11 11 11 11 111 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 11 11 111 1 1 11 11 11 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1 111 1 111 1 111 1 11 1 1 11 11 11 11 111 11 11 1) 111 11 11 11 11 1 1 11 11 11 1 1 111 1 11 1 1 11 111 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1 1 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 111 11 [1 11 11 11 11 11 111 11 111 11 11 1 IIIIIIII~ ADA - The Ada Public Library installed a Gaylord automatic charging machine in March. ALVA - Northwestern state College Library boasts the only air-conditioned college library in the state. The ,library is for tunate in having an almost new collection, as most of the book have been added since the fire in 1939. Outstanding activities of the past year include reorganization of the documents collection in a separate department with its own reading room. Two courses for school librarians have been added to the college curriculum. A special service of the Northwestern Library is the mimeographed quarterly acquisition list which is distributed to faculty and students. Library privileges are extended to the community as well as to the college group. The Northwestern Library is a regional film depository and serves as a distribution center for films and film-strips to a large percentage of schools in the surrounding -area. BLACKWELL - The Public Library is being repaired and redecorated. CLINTON - The Library Council will hold open house in the Clinton Public Library in May for the Gold Star mothers. Books purchased by the American Legion in memory of Clinton servicemen lost in World War II will be formally presented. The Clinton Library Advisory Council is made up of members of the library board, the librarian, and two representatives of each civic and study club. Contributions from the clubs assist in the' maintenan<;e of the duplicate pay shelf and the Council cooperates in many library activities. DURANT - Southeastern State College 8 maintains a traveling library and sends books to rural schools, The library has purchased a microfilm reader and is starting a collection of films. FREDERICK - The Public Library repo r t s numerous publicity activities. These include a weekly book column in the local paper, a fifteen minute weekly radio program on the local station and twenty-six talks by the librarian during the past year, , HENRYETTA - The Public Library has added nearly 1,000 volumes, a gift of Mrs, M. K. Moody in honor of Dr. Dudley Claggett. MIAMI - Mrs. David Steele reports that the A.A.U,W. is sponsoring a story hour in the Pubilc Library. OKLAHOMA CITY - Mrs. J. R. Dale, secretary of the Oklahoma Library Commission since 1919 has been named Oklahoma City's "Woman of the Year" selected by the Business and Professional Women's Club. OKMULGEE - The Public Library has conducted a series of book reviews of general interest sponsored and paid for by the library. Tl),e Toastmaster's Club attended the meetings in a group and led the discussions which followed the r eviews. Target You by Stowe, Crisis in Education by Bell and Midwest at Noon by Hutton were presented. Mrs. Deane Barnett, librarian, reports the revieWs were well attended. PAWHUSKA - The Public Library haS been moved to a more central location and has been remodeled and redecorat ed, This is a temporary location, as the li brary is to be housed in a new building in the not too distant future. The lot has jtlready been selected. The Pawhuska Public Library is the fourth public library in the state to establish a film information center in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma Department of Visual Education. Other new services established during the past year include a "Teen-Age Section" and a "Family Book Shelf." PERRY - A new tile floor adds greatly to the appearance of the first floor of the Carnegie Public Library. PONCA CITY - The Junior Chamber of Commerce has presented the library with a ceiling projector and 44 books on film. The books include: fiction, travel, humor, religion, biography, and science. About half the projected books are for boys and girls. The library has purchased five new exhibit cases for displaying Indian and historical relics and four new doublefaced book stacks. Various units of the Ponca City Garden Club are supplying flower arrangements for the main desk. Each unit is responsible for the "Arrangements for the Month." Mrs. Gertrude Sterba, librarian, reports that patrons have been enthusiastic about the arrangements which have included: floral bouquets, winter scene with handmade felt birds, cactus plants in a homemade Mexican cart drawn by a donkey, a Christmas sled scene, a winter bouquet, and pussy willows. A printed gift card giving credit to the garden club unit responsible accompanies each arrangement. TULSA - An extensive program was begun in the Tulsa Public Library in 1948 to purchase books listed in the ESSAY INDEX so that a well rounded collection of general literature could be available to Tulsa readers. Of the 6,000 titles in the ESSAY AND GENERAL LITERATURE INDEX, the Library now has all but 800. The Library now has a file of the Tulsa Tribune on microfilm from 1927 to date. The Tulsa World and the New York Times are on film from 1940 to date. ltitute, The Journal of the Society of 9 Rare, unusual, .a~d 0!1t~of-print petroleum books are being . borrowed from many sources and are being microfilm!(d. TULSA UNIVERSITY.",.. A grant of $10,- 000 from the General Education Board to the University of Tulsa Library has made possible the acquisition of files of several import.ant scientific journals. Some of the publications recently acquir~ ed are the Transactions of the Institute of Chemical Engineers , Math~~atical_ Reviews, the Journal of the Frankli9 InChemicaJ Industry, Die Berichte der ·~deutschen chemischen. Gesellschaft, and, the Transactions of the Faraday Society. Another noteworthy addition is the Report on the SCientific Results of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Challenger in 40 vol\1mes. A spacious and well-eq~ipped library has been opened in the n~w building of the Downtown Division Qfthe University of Tulsa. The library, which is administered by Mrs. Marjorie Gilham, comprises approximately 12,000 volumes in the field of law and 1,000 in the general collection. VINITA - The late W. M. Malone made a $250 bequest to the Vinita Public Library which was used to buy books suited especially to the needs of the high school stUdents. WEATHERFORD - The library of the Southwestern State College extends services to the town as well as to the college community as the town has no public library. New services include a collection of 150 albums of recorcis which are available for home use or in the library listening room. Also, a collection of colored reproductions of paintings has been started. These are loaned framed for ten cents a month. In January the library had an exhibit of published and unpublished works of the faculty which was so succeSSful plans are being made to repeat it. WILBURTON - The library of the Eastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College has recently received a one hundred and twenty-five year old grandfather clock, the gift of Mr. 1. Yourman, a Wilbur- ! i ton jeweler. The clock has been refinished in the manual arts shop of the college and the unusual and beautiful timepiece has created quite an interest among library patrons. WOODWARD - Plans are under way to extend services of the Carnegie Library to serve the entire county. The city of Woodward has voted additional library funds to enlarge the library building and allow for expanded activities. The plan is now before the county commissioners. The Junior Library Club has been revived after a period of several years. Made up of members of the 1949 apprentice class of volunteers, the group will study Find It Yourself by Scripture and Greer. YALE - Dr. F. Keith Odschlager has presented the Yale Public Library with a Hebrew Bible printed in 1878. TAHLEQUAH - The Library of Northeastern State College has recently acquired the A. E. Bonnell library consisting largely of religion and philosophy. The library is now in a new building which contains a "Cherokee Room" which h ous. es the collection of rare Cherokee t itles. The Library also has a model childrens department. The new building, Occupied in January of 1949, is semi-modern, and will accomodate about 150,000 volumes. There is also an art exhibit room. The reading room, which has three walls of glass, will seat about 400 readers. Roscoe Rouse is acting librarian in the absence of Miss Sue Thornton. The Carnegie Library has inaugur ated book truck to the hospital recently. Ser· vice is maintained several times each week. Editor's Note - All librarians are reo quested to answer news-notes queries promptly. The Oklahoma Librarian should be a clearing house for library news, and it hopes to fulfill that task through the two news columns, "From the Four Corners" and "Who's Where." Your cooperation in helping the staff to meet the deadlines will be greatly appreciated. Books. • • and Service from McCLUR'G'S McClurg's with over half a century of specialized library service, is equipped to serve you well! Our staff is skilled in the handling of Library, School and College book orders. We welcome your patronage ... and the opportunity to serve you . • A. c. M~Clurg & Co. 333 E. Ontario St. Chicago 11, Illinois "Serving Librarians Is Our Business" ::J I \ 10 2 r"'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''~'''''~''''''o'''':'''''~'''''''''''''~'''''~'"'''~'''''~'''''~''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''~ • NEWS OF OKLAHOMA LIBRARIANS -- Fo l l l ll ll l ll l ll!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!III!1 1 111111111111 1l11 1I.1 1111 1 1 1 11111111 11111111111111111 11111 11 1 1 1illlllli l l lll l llllllllll ll llltllllJllll l llllllJlllltlt I lltl l lllllll l lllllllll l lll lll llllll l lll l l l lll l lll l l l lll l ll lll l ll~ ALVA - Northwestern State College Library. Miss Frances DuVall, M. A. (Library Science), George Peabody College for Teachers is librarian. Miss Edith Gor man, M. A. (Library Science), George Peabody College for Teachers is Reference Librarian. BLACKWELL - Miss Florence M. Williams succeeds Mrs. R. M. Parkhurst as librarian. Miss Williams was previously librarian in Wellington, Kansas; on the staff of the Wichita City Library ; and on the staff of the Kan as Library Commission where she edited the Bulletin of the Kansas Library Commission. HENRYETTA - Mrs. Grover Bynum is now librarian of the Henryetta Public Library. / HOMINY - Mrs. John J. Starks h as suc~ ceeded Mrs. C. O. Crossley as librarian. PAWHUSKA - Mrs. Louis A. DeNoya has been librarian since the res~gnation of Mrs. Frances Stalcup. Her assistant is Mrs. Jack A. King. TAHLEQUAH - V. E. Porterfield (M. A., University of Texas) has joined the staff of the Northeastern State College Library, Roscoe Rouse, Acting Librarian has reported. Porterfield is the Assistant Librarian. TONKOWA - Mrs. Margaret Zinn is the new librarian of the Tonkawa Public Li..' brary which serves both the community and the high school. TULSA - Tulsa University reports. the following staff additions and changes: Mr. Willard Watson (O.U. '36) was apPOinted first assistant in the Cataloging Department, January 15, 1950. He preVioUsly worked in the Library of Congress as cataloger and in the Catalog- 11 ing Department of the University of Arizona Library. Mrs. Zuline Trammell (0 . U. '42) joined the staff of the University Library in September, 1949. Before coming to Tulsa Mrs. Trammell was reference librarian of the Carnegie Public Library, Ardmore. Prior to this service she was reference librarian in the Chico State College Library, Chico, California. Mrs. Marjorie Gilham (Columbia Univ. '40) was appointed librarian of the Downtown Division Library, December I , 1949. Mrs. Gilham, who is treasurer of the Kansas City chapter of the Special Libraries Association, was employed as Research Librarian of the Phillips Petroleum Company before joining the staff of the University of Tulsa Library. She has also held library positions in the University of Washington Library, the Cincinnati Public Library and the Findlay Public Library. Mr. James Murry, formerly an assistant in the Circulation Department, has just enrolled in the Department of Library Science of Our Lady of the Lake College, San Antonio, Texas. Miss Gretchen Britton, a former student assistant, is attending the University of Denver College of Librarianship this year. Miss Patricia Jeeter (0. U. '46), periodicals librarian, was married to William Robert Neely, Oct. 15, 1949. TULSA - Mrs. Geraldine Fleetwood - B. A. (Library Science) o. U., 1935 is head of the Central Circulation Department of the Tulsa Public Library. Mrs. Allie Beth Martin - M. S. (Library Science) Columbia, 1948 · is head of the Children's Department, succeeding Miss Anna M. Anderson, who retired September 1, 1949. Mr. A. L. Layton, head of the Technical Department of the Tulsa Public Library leaves soon to become Librarian, United Gas Company, Shreveport, La. Mrs. Helen Norvell has completed two years of Veteran's Administration onthe- job training and is at present an assistant in the Children's Department. WEATHERFORD - Mrs. Charlotte Ratcliffe has been assistant librarian of Southwestern State College since July, 1949. WOODWARD - Miss Maedine Jones is assistant librarian succeeding Myrl Whitley at the Woodward Public Library. Librarians to 'See O.U.' Treasure Room Madame Schumann-Heink, Will James, . Admiral Byrd, Carl Sandburg, Mary Roberts Rinehart, William Allen White are some of the names you will see written in the books which form a part of the Treasure Collection at the University of Oklahoma. Autographed books form a part of a priceless collection of rare books which are kept in this Treasure Room, which . will be open to the Oklahoma Library Association at the Convention in May, 1950. This reporter, though he is not an authority on fine books, was impressed by the collection which Mr. J . L. Rader will show to Oklahoma librarians. On display will be a copy of the famous "Byron Forgery" the date of which was supposed to have been 1810, but whose water-mark bears the date 1818. There will also be a -copy of the first edition of Sheridans "The Rivals", and a copy of the first Dublin edition of "The Duenna," both of which are extremely rare. Fine bindings will also be displayed. A copy of a book which has a leather-inlay of the head of Thomas Hardy on the front is one of the rare and unusual examples of binding which will be seen. There will allo be some manuscripts op vellum, calf 12 bindings of all types, and a facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible. Of particular interest to many librarians will be the Bizzell Bible Collection. This collection of Bibles, the work of former University of Oklahoma President William Bennett Bizzell, is probably the finest private Bible collection in the world, and is now housed in the Treasure Room of the University Library which now bears his name. This Treasure Collection is the only one of its kind in the area and r epresents years of work and/ thousands of dollars. Mr. Rader, an authority on rare books and incunabula, has spent many years building up a fine collection of literary rarities Which is unique in this area. A tour of the Treasure Room has been scheduled as' a part of the convention program, and all those attending the conference are urged to take advantage of seeing this priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts. BOOKS NEW AND USED * Rental Library Out-of-Print Book Service IVlagazine Subscriptions Greeting Cards Gifts Stationery Toys and Games Pens and Pencils Gift Wrapping * STEVENSO N'S OPEN EVENINGS anl SUNDAYS 119 West Main 2-4296 Oklahoma City J -----~- . - -~- ----- Literature on · the Ceiling (Continued from Page 4) Libraries borrowed a projector for demonstration and were off on their own program. Tulsa was next on the list, then Shawnee, and Ada. Shawnee, incidentally, was the first city to meet its quota of machines, and that quickly. It is the only city to offer this service to the whole county, thereby lightening the load for the State Library. Other cities have followed with established programs-Bistow, Cushing, Ardmore, Enid, and Ponca City. Woodward has a projector in the hospital. Service is being rendered to individuals in a number of places throughout the state -some in communities capable of handlIng their own services-if the communities back the libraries in their efforts. Many communities have borrowed demonstration machines and are laying plans for starting their own programs. OKLAHOMA HAS FIRST STATEWIDE PLAN Oklahoma was the first to conceive a state-wide plan, and other states are following our lead. Arkansas is deep in a similar program and letters from other states, even those where local programs are established, have come to this office requesting information. Projected Books is only one of many services you, as a librarian; can render to your community. Your buildings were not designed for storehouses of booksnor were you intended to act simply as a middleman in the checking process of books for your patrons. Yours is the privilege to serve your people- at all times, under all conditions in Whatever situations. You are not bound by any creed or doctrine, but can pull all groups together. You are not routed through educational channels, but can coordinate all efforts toward knowledge. Yours is not the cordiality of salemanship but the true hospitality of friendliness, becaUse you are not selling but giving-of 13 your time, your knowledge, your service, yourself. The vehicle you may use may be adult education, a record collection, the books on your shelves, book cart service to hospitals, or simply the gracious use of your telephone! Yours should be the magnetic force in your community, pulling together -quietly-the scattered forces that make up your town's spirit. If, as a librarian, yo.u . are living up to the standard of service which your professional pride and personal interests dictate, can you, without slighting other services, take on even so worthy a cause as Projected Books? You can indeed! The very fact of your doing so will enable those services to grow. Strangely enough, the more service you give-the more that is expected of you -the easier serving becomes. It is impera~ ive to the life of established service in librarianship to keep adding to it. The answer for this particular one is this: enlist your community is your cause-all of it-your newspapers and radio, your stores and business offices, your civic clubs and study groups. It is too large a project for anyone organization to handle alone. It is too rich in experience to be held selfishly by one group. Let them all help you with money, with advertising, and with service; they will be many times repaid. And those in the community who have use for Projected Books will have opened for them a new life though literature on the ceiling. .EDITOR'S NOTE: For further information, write The Oklahoma State Library, 109 State Capitol, Oklahoma City. Or Projected Books, Inc. 313 North First Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Recent issues of the Library Journal and ALA Bulletin have articles on projected books. Additional material may be found in the March 11, 1950 issue of Saturday Evening Post and in Coronet for August 1948 and November, 1949. long Distance loans (Continued from Page 5) vides a service through which any patron of any library can get materials · which at first glance would seem difficult to get. WHICH LIBRARY TO USE? All of the college libraries of the state schools, including the state teachers' colleges, The University of Oklahoma, and A&M College are eager and happy to serve the public libraries in this directi:on. The library one would be most likely to request books from would depend on certain factors. Often the college nearest to your town would have the materials your patron needs. If so, that library would be the one to use, as transportation costs would be less and it is probable that the service would be faster. Or it is possible that you are familiar with one particular library, from student days or from other association. This knowledge would help you to know if it would be possible that the library would have the materials. Too, the type of material wanted by your patron would be a factor in deciding which library to request from. If publications are agricultural in nature, for instance, Oklahoma A&M would be the logical choice. The University of Oklahoma has a good collection of works on Oklahoma history. Many excellent theses on oil and its production are also written there, and are in constant demand from oil company librarians. The type of materials wanted by pa trons cannot be predicted. The other day a patron frantically called long-distance to the University library with a plea to send her everything available on gourmets, that afternoon, the library sent by Mistletoe Express all the books available on the subject. A few weeks ago, a copy of Rostand's Chantecler was sent out. When the book was due, two copies were returned, along with ·a note explaining that the additional copy was meant to replace the original one, which had been chewed by a hungry dog 14 who had apparently taken a decided interest in 'the works of Rostand. But this sort of incident is indeed the exception in interlibrary loan service. Normally, it works efficiently and effectively for all concerned. This incident indicates the spirit of cooperation that exists : the librarian sent the new book along WHO USES THE SERVICE? Interlibrary loan service can be invaluable to anyone in your town who is engaged in almost any particular kind of work. In its beginnings, it was set up for research purposes only, for the convenience of men who were doing serious work in the arts or sciences. But over a period of years, the scope of interlibrary loan has widened and increased to the point that it may now be popularly used. Today a doctor in your town doesn't need to be preparing a paper for an important medical journal in order to use interlibrary loan. He can simply be checking material for his own use. He, with other professional men in the community, are logical users of the service, which can provide him with highly technical material which the smaller library does not have. Students, high school or college, may need interlibrary loan to complete research projects. Clubs doing special work in certain fields may welcome the opportunity to use the service in preparing their projects or programs. County ag~nts , tea'chers, ministers, and the librarian herself, may have reason to use the services of interlibrary loan. It will facilitate their work, and add to 'the opportunities of the library for extended service. So, through the use of the mails and express, the small library needing rare, technical, or other types of material, can obtain them quickly and with almost no expense. The larger libraries in the state are eager to be of service, and are staffed to provide it. The results of using this service will be a finer spirit of cooperation between libraries, and better and more adequate services for the library patrons. a The Public Librarian: Curator of Local History (Continued from Page 6) chure. These will thereby win friends for the library who might not come in any other way. THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED In proposing the creation of a vertical file of local history materials, or the extension of a beginning already made in collection of such material, the author is not unmindful of the addition of another heavy burden to the public librarian's .load. Perhaps this would call for a new attitude, a change of philosophypossibly a new way of life for the public librarian. An antidote for the boredom that sometimes goes with life in a small town is the development, through consistent effort and initiative, of an interest in the beginnings of the community and its history. A necessary accessory for this proposed get-acquainted campaign is a pair of low-heel walking shoes. Because the librarian who is bent on getting acquainted in the community would find it difficult to summon up a warm smile while wearing a pair of tight shoes that pinch her toes! A partial readjustment of the librarian's daily schedule would be desirable. A streamlining of present activities would allow time for attendance at special city fUnctions, service on policy committees and participation in conferences and rallies. There must be also speech-making before the civic and community groupsthe women's and professional clubs, the University women, and the service groups, as well as associations of tradesmen and professional . leaders. This recommended program might very likely win new friends for the library-and the librarian is almost certain to enjoy it! In the course of these errands, the librarian may possibly come across early minute books of the city council, the kahom 15 correspondence of early mayors, reports of the city department heads, and other strictly archival material which pose complicated problems and require space and equipment beyond the facilities of the local libraries. These records, together with duplicates of the strictly non-official items would be welcome at any institution of higher learning doing graduate research in the humanities. There are nearly eight hundred students enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Oklahoma. It was to provide these students with the raw materials from which :to draw the lessons of the past that the University established the Division of Manuscripts. The Archivist and the Director of the Division of Manuscripts invites the librarians of Oklahoma to become his agents in locating material in these categories and to help assemble them at the university. The goal is a vast coordinated collection, representing every town and city in the state. This is work worth the attention of librarians of this state. Any task which results in better research materials for the students of the state should be of interest to state librarians. Other material, of a purely local and non-official nature should be carefully collected, identified, preserved and filed in the local public library. Through this medium, the librarians of the state can serve their people well. In providing historical material which could not otherwise be located, the public librarian will make possible many new civic affairs, and will help to a great extent to improve the services of other community agencies. Surely every community in this state is proud of its past-proud of its heritage, and sure of its future. The public librarian has within the range of her duty the collection of the historical material of the community, and the ability to organize that material and make it available. In this way, the librarian becomes, in addition to her other duties, the curator of local history. Vacati'on Reading Club (Continued from Page 7) reading tables in the childrens department of the library. With casual supervision of the staff, they may be kept happy until the hour for the meeting arrives and a worker comes to take them to the room where they are to have their meeting. ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY ATTENDANCE Enrollment for the vacation reading club should be properly motivated by the library staff but entirely voluntary on the part of the child. When faced with the question, "How many books do I have to read?" the librarian should make it clear that the number of books is left entirely up to the reader. He may read ten books and get a certificate to show for them. If he reads less than that number, he will still have something gained from his effort, which is better than not to have tried at all. Or if he reads more books and outstrips his fellows, he will receive an award. Sometimes a chart is kept in plain sight so contestants can see where they stand in tl;1e race. Some table or blackboard demonstrations may be carried out as a motivation project. Often·, an easy contest may be promoted with the child racing against his own former record. This is an excellent builder of self-confidence. Here again the local newspaper will aid with publicity. Snapshots or flash pictures of groups working together may be used as casual inducements and for publicity. The winners and the runners-up may be photographed. These pictures may be used immediately, and then used again in the spring when publicity for the coming summer session is needed. SELECTION OF MATERIALS AND AWARDS Material read in the contests need not be too closely censored by the librarian. However, the books must be on the grade level of the reader. The upper group will read books of fifth grade level or higher. The second group may read anything the members can understand. The pre-school group should be read to by parents or 16 other older members of the family who will choose the material, frequently with the assistance of the librarian. The mothers usually take care of the motivation for the pre-school group. The awards should be books or subscriptions to children's magazines. These awards should be carefully selected by the staff and should be representative of the best type of reading material of the age group involved. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM The benefits of a Vacation Reading Program for the pre-school groups are simply the broadening experience of coming to the library, and an interest in books at an early age. For those children who attend school, the program provides a transition from the end of school to the starting in the fall. This is apparent to teachers when school starts again. For the community as a whole, the program offers entertainment and education for the children and helps to prepare them for the responsibilities which com~ with growing up. BOOKS • NEW • USED • RARE Books on all subjects supplied from stock or by special order. • Particular emphasis Oll Southwestern Americana. • Locating out-of-print books our specialty. • Liberal discounts to libraries. MILES BOOK STORE 319 North Robinson OKLAHOMA CITY . - I The Library and the Local Newspaper Much has been said during the past few years about publicity. We have learned that, living in an age such as this, we must accept publicity as a necessity. There are many agencies which offer education and entertainment just as our libraries do. Radio, television, magazines, and motion pictures all offer services which are, to a certain extent, competitors of the library. In order to have our services used (as we are obviously convinced they should be) we must make those services known to the people who are in a position to use them. This work in making our services known falls under the general heading of public relations. There are several means of public relations other than direct contact with the library patron. Radio programs, posters, exhibits, direct mail, and the newspaper are ~ll public relations media, and are agencies Which are within the reach of most of us. Perhaps of all of these, the newspaper suits our purposes best. But we must not be content with book lists and lists of recent additions to the library. The newspaper wants news; it employs ~eporters to gather it. They appreciate any news material that the library can give them. Only one thing needs to be avoided: free advertising. The material you give the reporter must not in any way be suggestive of advertising; it must either be of news of or feature value. And there you have the solution to your problem. News is a very common piece of material in your library. Use your extension services to the best advantage. For instance, watch your calendar. Mark every holiday or special event several Weeks in advance. During the middle of May, for example, you should be planning a Fourth of July exhibit. Use your own ingenuity in gathering and arranging the material Which will form the exhibit. 17 Now most of us do this sort of exhibit and promotional "{ork. But we stop with the exhibi~ itself, when actually it is here that the job begins. The exhibit will reach only those who happen to come in the library. The logical thing to do is to call the newspaper and ask them to send over a reporter. Or, depending on the town and the policies of the paper, you might go to the newspaper office and give them the story there. But regardless of how it is done, your exhibits, displays, and promotions should be given newspaper publicity. Your childrens programs should receive attention. Interest not only the children, but their parents, the teachers, and the entire community. The chances are that you should not try to write the newspaper articles yourself. ' A better procedure is to simply give the newspaper the facts in ABC order. All of your publiCity through the newspaper must be tied in with some important event or activity of the library or the community. It cannot be simply publicity for the . sake of publicity. There must be something worth While about it. . .. something in which the people of your town will be interested. Perhaps a book review once a week would be the thing for your newspaper. Or perhaps a weekly column about library activities. The cardinal point is this: it is not . boasting to give a story to the newspaper. The people of your community contribute to the support of their library and are therefore entitled to know about its activities and progress. The newspaper, the community's informative agency, should be glad to have the news. So get acquainted with your newspaper and begin to contribute to it. Together, you and your newspaper can help to build a better community. ~ ~.J 1111 1 1 1IJI I IIJI I II I IIII I IIIII: ! 'lljlllll l ll lll llllll l l1 11 1 111 11 11 11 1 111 1 111 1 111 11 11 11 11 11 111 11 11 11 111 11[ 1 1 111 11 111 1 11 11 111 1 111 1 11 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 111 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 : 11l l lllllllllll l llll l lllllll l llllllilllll l llllll11111111!IIII I~ BETTY AUSTIN. Mrs. Austin, InterLoan Librarian at the University of Oklahoma, brings to her position several years of varied and unusual experience outside the library profession. She received a degree in education at the University and taught in the school systems of Portland and Oklahoma City. She was later a member of the Secretariat o~ the Third General Assembly of The United Nations in 1947. She spent the following year in Japan and The Philippines, where she became interested in professional ' writing. She returned to the University of Oklahoma in 1949 to study writing under Professor Walter S. Campbell, and is at present enrolled in one of his advanced courses in addition to her work with interlibrary loan. GASTON LITTON. Dr. Gaston Litton, Archivist of the University of Oklahoma, is also Treasurer- of the Oklahoma Library Association. He has recently returned to the University after a varied career in government service. During his association with the National Archives, he took several leaves of absence to undertak~ missions in Latin America for the ALA and the State Department. Dr. Litton has attended the University of Southern California, the University of Oklahoma (where he received his library training) and Georgetown University, where he received his doctorate. He has been director of the American Library of Nicaragua, Librarian of the National Archives. He is the co-author with Dr. E. E. Dale of Cherokee Cava:iers, and has published articles in Library Journal and in the Chronicles of Oklahoma. 18 ELIZABETH C. COOPER is reference librarian at the Oklahoma State Library. She received her degree in Library Science from the University of Oklahoma. She has had wide and varied experience in library service. Following her graduation, she was· in the cataloging depar tment of the Oklahoma City library. Then she was with the Veterans Administration and the Army Special Services. She was Acting Librarian of the Oklahoma state Library during 1944 and 1945. She has been in her present position as reference librarian there since 1948. Miss Cooper is President of Kappa Tau Delta Alumnae Association and Corresponding Secretary of The Soroptimist Club of Oklahoma City. LOUISE TOWNSEND is the Librarian of the Mangum Public Library. For a number of years, Mrs. Townsend was a free-lance writer, contributing feature material to the Daily Oklahoman, Daily Ardmorite, and Farmer-Stockman. Her main writing interest however, was in the field of children's literature, which makes her article on vacation reading clubs even more interesting and authorative. Sl1e published stories and articles for chilo dren and young people for many magaZ' ines and for six different religious pub' lishing companies. Mrs. Townsend has a B.S. and an 1\1.A· from Sull Ross State College and received library training at Texas State College for Women. She' has taught highschOol . English and has been in libraries in sa Diego, Ardmore, and Mangum. Library Commission Serves People of State For some thirty years, the Oklahoma Library Com 'mission has been quietly serving the people of the state. Of interest . to librarians especially is the fact that to 1948, the Commission had issued over 500 certificates to librarians. In addition to certification, the Comission sponsors library legislation, offers professional assistance, helps establish new libraries, and serves the reading public of the state. It maintains traveling Libraries ;to rural schools, public libraries, clubs, and special groups. These Travelling Libraries are collections which range in number from 35 to 150 books. Also, in addition to Travelling Libraries, the commission provides library service to individuals through out the state who have no local library service. In the Braille and Talking Book Department, there are about 650 active borrowers registered. To take care of these borrowers, some twenty talking books are added each month. In June, 1948, there were 2,920 Talking Books, representing about 1,100 titles in the Talking Book Collection. At ' that time, there were also about 10,000 volumes in Braille, totalling about 2,200 Braille titles. This service to the blind would justify the existence of the Commission even if it offered no other services. The Travelling Libraries circulated over 100,000 volumes in the year 1947-1948. They loaned 26,000 to individuals, 14,000 to the blind, to bring to total circulation for that year up to about 150,000. Thus, since its beginnings in 1919, the Oklahoma Library Commission has cirCUlated over 30,000,000 books to the people of Oklahoma. That record indicates that people in this state do want library serVice, and it is up to us, as individual librarians, to increase our efforts to serve them. 19 for 1 950 To keep in touch with modern times-to meet the ever increasing library reference needs- genuine continuous revision adds 360 pages to the 1950 Compton's-complete refolio. The famous Fact-Index (section in back of each volume) has been completely reset and expanded to include many new entries. No increase in price -greatest value ever offered. Write for information to: Martin J. Phillippe, Mgr. COMPTON'S PICTURED ENCYCLOPEDIA 918 West Eufaula Norman, Okla. SPECIAL LIBRARY SERVICE SUPPLYING Out Of Print BOOKS and MAGAZINES W rite Us Your WANTS? NEEDS? QUOTATIONS SENT WITHOUT OBLIGATION Second-hand Reading Copies-SetsFirst Editions-Fine Bindings Autographed Copies JAMES NEILL NORTHE 1016 North Central Oklahoma City 4, Oklahoma OLA Committee Issues Historical Booklet An eight page booklet entitled "Special Historical Collections in Oklahoma Libraries" has been published by a committee of the Oklahoma Library Association. This -booklet, a survey of historical materials in the state was distributed at the recent conference of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. Arranged by city, the p!\cmphlet is a survey and analysis of materials of historical value located in state libraries. Each library listed gives a summary of its resources as far as history is concerned, and a brief statement about extension services including interlibrary loan and photoduplication services. This publication is another step toward more and better service to the people of the state through the Oklahoma Library Association. Too, it is a valuable piece of material for any library or individual interested in doing research into any phase of Oklahoma history. Oklahoma Writers To Be Revised The Handbook ot Oklahoma Writers is being revised, Mrs. Mary Hays Marable, co-author, announced this week. Written in 1938, the handbook is an important compilation of material about Oklahoma writers and is a standard part of most Oklahoma library collections. "After twelve years it needs some revision," Mrs. Marable said, "And we hope this revision brings to light the more obscure yet important works of Oklahoma writers." Many new writers from Oklahoma have appeared since the book was written, and those writers included have continued to do work which is not listed in the first edition. The handbook lists authors by the type of writing in which they achieved prom-inence, and/ihere is a brief biographical sketch of each author listed. The appendix includes a list of authors by towns. "We are eager to continue this revision and to add new Oklahoma authors" Mrs. Marable commented, "and we especially want to bring the authors mentioned in the first edition up to date, listing all their recent works." Mrs. Marable has asked for the assistance of Ok~ahoma librarians in completing the research for the revision. All information which any librarian has a bout Oklahoma authors since 1938 should be sent to Mrs. Marable at the School of Library Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. With only one exception, every City in the state of Oklahoma with a population of 5,000 or more has a public library. There are 87 public lfbraries serving a population of over one million.
Gaylord CARD CATALOG CABINETS MAGAZINE RACK BOOK TRUCKS DICTIONARY STAND and Other Standard Library Furniture IN STOCK for Prompt Shipment: Beautiful Quartersawed Oak Light and Dark Finish Gaylord Bros. Inc. LIBRARY SUPPLIES Syracuse, New York - THE TRANSCRIPT PRESS -NORMAN
Object Description
Title | Oklahoma Librarian. |
Author |
Oklahoma Library Association |
Subject |
Libraries--Oklahoma--Periodicals |
Physical description | 1- spring 1950-; v. ill., ports. 26 cm. |
Frequency | Bimonthly , July/Aug. 1982- ; Former: Semiannual, 1950-winter 1954 Quarterly, July 1954- , Apr. 1977. |
Place of Publication | Oklahoma City, OK. |
Publisher | Oklahoma Library Association |
Publication Date | 1950- |
Notes | "Official bulletin of the Oklahoma Library Association." |
Type | text; PDF; Adobe Acrobat required to view. |
Format | application/pdf (.pdf) |
Rights | Copyright of this digital resource, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, 2010. For further information regarding use please consult the Rights and Permissions page, http://www.crossroads.odl.state.ok.us/shell/rights.php or contact the holding institution of the digital resource. |
Digital Resource Librarian | Kitty Pittman |
OCLC number | 1761199 |
Description
Title | vol 1 no.1 1950 |
Transcript |
THE OKLAHOMA LIBRARIAN
Official Journal of the Oklahoma Library Association
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY
Volume 1 SPRING 1950 Number 1
CONTENTS
ARTICLES PAGE
Literature on the Ceiling-Projected Books. . Elizabeth Cooper 4
Using the Long-Distance Loan Service. . . . Betty Austin 5
The Librarian-Curator of Local History. . . .Gaston Litton 6
Planning a Children's Vacation Reading Club. . . .Louise Townsend 7
Librarians to See O. U. Treasure Room. . . . . 12
The Library and the Local Newspaper. . . . 17
FEATURES
A Message from the OLA President. . . . 2
As the Editor Sees It. . . . . 3
From the Four Corners. . . . .8
Who's Where. . . . 11
Meet the Authors. . . .18
NEAL F . AUSTIN, Editor
Journalism Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman
Associates
VIRGINIA OWENS, Public Library, Oklahoma City
ALLIE BETH MARTIN, Public Library, Tulsa
[pencil] OK-S-LIB [bar code]A15303783188 Lee Spencer A Message from The OLA President I join with all members of the Oklahoma Library Association in welcoming this new professional organ. We Oklahoma librarians have been inarticulate for quite some time now, but this promising journal should enable us to speak out on library issues and items of importance. Even though most of us will still tend to favor the oral as opposed to the printed form of communication, having our own magazine should stimulate all of us to some critical and creative thinking about our own programs and activities. (The word 'problem' has been banned in many quarters, I'm told, so its use will be avoided here.) If it is possible to adopt our revised constitution at the 1950 convention we will be poised for a new epoch in association affairs-an epoch without precedent in our state. A new committee system, more adequate revenues, and this publication itself, will make the OLA a more effective organization in every sense of the word. However, we cannot rely on constitutional revision alone to bring us out of the doldrums. We must foster a keener sense of personal responsibility on the part of the individual member. We should at all times attempt to "make a go of it" with the tools at hand. A prominent state librarian recently criticized the American Library Association as being eternally concerned with reorganization. The "reorganizers" will probably always have some basis for their work in the OLA, but it is my hope that such a high degree of personal morale will develop in our number that good library service and successful cooperative activity will become as prevalent in Oklahoma as personal hospitality. As we consider our library situation during this mid-century year of stock-taking, I think Oklahoma can congratulate herself on the fine progress being made. Quite a number of state colleges are now occupying handsome and functional new buildings. The larger library systems are either developing greater book collections at an excellent rate, or are modernizing their entire array of services. The humane and fascinating projected books program is being given intelligent and aggres sive leadership, and courses in library sci ence are being kept scrupulously up to date. There are many other examples of library vitality that could be cited if space permitted. As significant to me as any other library development is the establishment, during the past few months, of several public libraries in smaller communities, and t he information that plans for similar action are being perfected in other localities as well. This is convincing proof that there is demand for extended library service. De spite momentary delay, the struggle to secure adequate legislation is bound to suc ceed because of this spontaneous demand and the intelligent efforts of those who know the possibilities of libraries. We hope for these smaller places that random gifts and book "showers" will soon be superseded by an efficient program of book selection. And now-the mantle of a seer and prophet hangs heavy on my shoulders. To have had the privilege of speaking my piece in this brave new publication has dazzled me. Before I, as an Oklahoma librarian, sing again that quaint old western ballad, "Give me my books and riddle . . ." and revert to the peace of a " tome on the range" I would thank all of yoU who have so generously and capably resounded to my "feverish" calls for help (as that arch archivist, Gaston Litton described them.) And to Neal Austin and his committee of indefatigables - thanks for pulling a near-miracle! "Feverishly" yours, Lee Spencer, a 105 degree specimen 2 [pencil]020.6 Ok41 v.1-3/cop.2 As the Editor Sees It This first issue of The Oklahoma Librarian marks the beginning of a new program of public relations for the Oklahoma Library Association. The editor hopes that this issue will be the first of hundreds, and he sees no reason why the bulletin should not succeed. Perhaps something should be saiq about how this publication came into being. About two years ago, when the editor had first become a member of the Oklahoma Library Association, he started hoping and planning for a quarterly journal. He, and others, felt that it was almost a necessity. Nothing was done, however, except a few plans which were made at that time. Then, in the fall of 1949, Lee Spencer, President of the Association, appointed a Committee on Publications, and instructed it to investigate the problems and possibilities of publication. At the A.L.A. Conference in Fort Worth in November, 1949, the plans and recommendations of that committee were rejected. Perhaps the rejection was justifiable. It was said that the Association could not finance such a venture. The editor, however, was of the opinion that advertising would provide sufficient income. On the 25th of February, 1950, the editor again presented his plans to the Executive Committee of the Association, and they were approved. With a very early deadline facing the committee, a great deal of red-tape had to be cut through. Mrs. Allie Beth Martin of the Tulsa Public Library, agreed to collect and edit the news notes. Miss Virginia Owens, of the Oklahoma City system took care of a large part of the advertising. Articles were assigned; and the writers cooperated marvelously. Advertising was solicited, printing arranged for, design set up, etc. Here is the important thing: This issue of 'The Oklahoma Librarian' was published at no cost whatsoever to the Oklahoma Library Association. The above statement is not made in the nature of a boast. It is simply a statement of pure fact. There is no reason, in the opinion of the editor, for any failure in the future. Many of the advertisers want to advertise on a yearly basis. Two have already asked about advertising deadlines in future issues this year. It is possible, though not likely, that the Association might be called upon to pay the expenses of mailing. As far as the editor knows, this is the only publication of a state library association in the country which is self-supporting. Further, it ranks among the top three from the point of view of content and design. It is attractive, informal, and the articles are all well written by competent members of the profession. The editor respectfully urges the Association and its individual members to give the bulletin support. This is an important venture ... perhaps one of the most important ever undertaken by the OLA. Until this issue, the OLA was one of only three state associations Which did not have journals! Space does not permit mention of all the persons to whom the editor is grateful. Response was excellent, and most gratifying. His work in establishing and editing the first issue of the Oklahoma Librarian has been made much easier and more pleasant by this cooperation from the association members. He would be grateful for the privilege of continuing his work as editor, if he were planning to remain in the state. Having accepted an out-of-state position, however, he can only express his appreciation, for the fine cooperation he has received and hope for a fine future for the Association and its journal. 3 [stamped] 208050 Oklahoma State Library. Elizabeth Cooper Literature on the Ceiling - Projected Books Most of you, as librarians, have heard or read about Projected Books. Coronet magazine h as carried at least three articles about it, the Saturday Evening Post not long ago ran a long editorial concerning it, and the ALA Bulletin and various hospital magazines have covered the field. This gadget , a projector for throwing the microfilmed pages of a book on the ceiling, can be operated to turn the pages by simply pressing buttons. Manipulation of the controls is possible by the pressure of a finger-tip; the wrist, elbow or shoulder muscles, the toes or feet or knees or thighs-in extreme cases of paralysis, the chin has called upon to press the buttons. This has enabled otherwise helpless people to read or study for hours without assistance. Can you imagine what this means to those unable to help themselves in any other way? Or how a child with rheumatic fever may find himself recovering because at last he has something he can do and still be as quiet as is necessary? The cost of the machine is slight-all things considered-$187.50. $27.50 of the amount is profit, which goes to Projected Books, Inc. for promotional purposes only. Otherwise, the machine sells at cost, as does the film. Publishers, authors, and , illustrators have waived the royalties on books photographed for Projected Books. COOPERATION WITH CIVIC GROUPS As-you know from your own experiences, no library has the appropriation to cover the extensive cost of this new service. Even though the equipment is sold at cost, it is still more expensive than most of us can handle. But all over the United states libraries have called on and received aid from such civic groups as Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis Clubs, Optimist , Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Altrusa; Pilot, and Cham bers of Commerce. To name them all would take a book itself, and to them all we are grateful. The story of Projected Books in Oklahoma is one of a dream long cherished. Ralph Hudson of, the Oklahoma State Library returned from the army in the spring of 1946 with the determination that someday-somehow-the bedfast of this state would know the comfort of reading on the ceiling through the services of their local libraries. It was not until late 1948 that help from the Oklahoma Society for Crippled Children and the Soroptimist Club of Oklahoma City turned this dream into the beginnings of reality. With four machines from the Society and the promise of service and the spearheading of a quietly effective campaign from the Soroptimists, the following plan was launched. PLAN OF OPERATION The State Library would service state institutions and their out-patients ,as well as rural communities where no local library service is available. It would encourage local libraries to start their own services, and supplement those services in instances when havoc following disaster made their needs greater than those of normal times. (Need is estimated roughly on a basis of one projector for each 4,000 population.) Local libraries would service their own communities-extending even into the entire county where possible. They would seek aid from the State Library in the establishment of service. From there, demonstration machines and films could be borrowed and a speaker obtained to make the initial plea to local clubs for help if desired. This plan, as you know, is only partially in operation, but we are slowly forging ahead. Following the beginnings in the State Library-actually almost simultaneous with our first efforts-Oklahoma City (Continued on Page 13) 4 Betty Austin Using the Long Distance Loan Service You had thought the day was starting off fine when a patron enters the library and wants to see all the material you have on Townsend Harris and his work in Japan. ~ince the possibility is pretty good that you don't have such material on Harris, don't let this person upset your otherwise pleasant day. Instead, take advantage of the services of college libraries in the state. These several libraries , can send you the materials requested by your patrons which you would ordinarily have no reason to have on your shelves. Through the services of interlibrary loan anyone has access to publications of all sorts. Often periodicals, theses, dissertations may be had as well as books on any subject. This service of the college libraries is set up, not only to take care of the needs of the college students and the faculty members, but also the patrons of the small public• librarJy who do not have direct access to many types of publica-tions. HOW 'INTERLIBRARY LOAN WORKS Its use is simple and direct. The librarian Simply writes to the interlibrary loan department of any of the colleges, requesting the book. She states in this request the name of the book and the author and any other information she may have as to where and when the book was published. Shortly the book will be sent to her; or if the library does not have the book requested, it can suggest where the book might be located in some 'of the larger libraries as the Library of Congress or the John Crerar Library in Chicago. Ordinarily, however, the requests of the pUblic libraries in the state can be taken care of by the state college libraries. And this is probably preferable as your patron 5 receives the book much sooner if it is sent from some library in the state. The services of interlibrary loan have been extended to a great extent by the use of microfilm. Often materials or articles appearing in old newspapers or magazines cannot be sent to inquiring libraries because of their value or because they are too fragile. But many of the larger libraries have photographic services which will microfilm almost any printed matter for a very small fee. For most libraries .of the state, however, there will not be many times when the use of microfilm would be needed. But its use only points up a type of progress made in the availability of materials, and particularly research materials. REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE The rules governing the use of books through interlibrary loan vary slightly from one library to another. The length of time a borrowing library may keep a book depends on the lending library and usually it is for two or three weeks. A renewal for another two weeks can usually be made. This length of time would allow a busy housewife or business man ample time to use the book before its return. Postal or express charges are paid by· the borrowing library which is the only charge for the service. As was stated above, theses and dissertations are !;tvailable, but most of the requests from the public libraries of the state are requests for books on gardening, child and nursery care, criticism for book reviewing, books of poetry, Oklahoma history, and history of the Southwest in general. The University of Oklahoma Library is fortunate in having an Oklahoma Collection composed of books on Oklahoma and by Oklahoma authors. These books are available for interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan in this manner pro- (Continued on Page 14) Gaston Litton The Public librarian: Curator of local History Anyone who has seen and used the tiny little volume by Dr. Charles Gould entitled Oklahoma Place Names, or has had access to the Guide to Oklahoma prepared by the Writers' Project of the WPA, or who has travelled extensively in the Sooner State is aware of the great differences which exist among our communities. Oklahoma towns and ~ities are different and distinct, as varied and unlike as if a whole continent separated them. Some were settled predominately by a single racial or religious group. Others grew out of some freak of circumstance. Still others were products of. necessity. But wherever they are and Whatever their destiny, they are surrounded by innumerable details Which make the fascinating fabric of history. These details should be preserved and made available to the public. Perhaps it has not seemed important to most of the public librarians of our Oklahoma towns that community history should be collected and preserved, or that the obligation rests on their shoulders. But it does. There is, first of all, the librarian's obligation to the officialdom at the City Hall, to be able to provide historical material for frequent civic needs. Information of an historical nature is frequently needed by mayors and city managers for patriotic occasions. City planners and others in the official circles need this sort of material. If the public librarians were better known among all city officials, such requests and opportunities to serve would be more numerous. Others, outside the official · pale, have occasional need for local history material. Newspaper editors, teachers, chambers of commerce, and others who may be writing and illustrating brochures or preparing 'for anniversary celebrations are on the "l,lert for such material. The librarian, her- 6 self, in planning exhibits and displays, can often make use of such items. TYPES OF MATERIAL Local history materials assume a wide variety of forms. There are the inevitable clippings from the local newspaper. Clippings of items of an historical and descriptive nature about the community-if carefully kept and identified-can be of great service in any local history collection in countless ways. Gleanings from the n ewspaper definitely have their place, especially when the files of the newspaper itself become too bulky to be kept in the library, Microfilm is solving the problem of bulkiness for many libraries, but clippings can still be of great value. Handbills-or broadsides - covering a wide range of local activities are certainly to be sought. There will undoubtedly be opportunities extended to the public librarian to accept collections made by others. Such materials, if sqrted and classified, could have interest to many and will be used by many. Programs of recitals and .concerts, or old stage plays and operettas, carnivals, anc;l athletic events, will all give a piCture of printing and of public amusement which no other single type of material could give. Innumerable types of brochures are published in the course of time in any community, and many of these pass through the hands of the librarians, possibly without their realizing their historical value and interest. Photographs will come the way of the receptive librarian, and many of these in neat new frames with appropriate matting add to the dignity of any room· Others, carefully identified and filed, can be hoarded against the day when theY will surely be mustered into service to illustrate some newspaper article or bro' (Continued on Page 15) Planning a Children's Vacation Reading Club We have all heard the statement-"Anything that is worth doing at all is worth doing well." I agree with that statement but want to change it this much: "Anything worth doing at all is worth a plan." A carefully planned vacation reading club is certain to be an outstanding success. In conversation with young readers the librarian will meet with attitudes of dislike for summer reading. There may be the complaint that they have been working so hard that they "do not want to see a book all summer;" that they plan vacation trips and will not have time for re\id' ing; or that they are "afraid to sign anything for fear that they will fail to read enough books to earn a certificate." The wise librarian will bring no pressure to bear on the readers. She may discuss with parents and children the matter of this planned program for summer vacation reading and may suggest benefits. She will continue to strive for happy contacts even though the enrollment in the club is not large. Planning for the vacation Reading Club should start during Children's Book Week in the fall. Teachers and parents may be contacted and frequent mention made of the summer reading program. The teachers usually find that pupils who belonged to the reading club during the summer are more alert and "book-minded" when school opens in the fall. The librarian should work with teachers throughout the year, helping them select books to take to their classrooms for leisure reading periods as well as directing the individual child's selection when necessary. Announcements should be made in the spring meetings of the Parent Teachers Association, and the suggestions of teachers are also very helpful. . Advance publicity for the summer readlUg program will be given by the local 7 newspaper. Plans for the story hour will be outlined and the whole summer program will be' given a prominent place in the local program of activities. PLANS FOR THE STORY HOUR Plans for the story hour should receive careful attention. Some librarians have the story hour session every day, some twice a week. But this part of the project seems to be most successful when held only once a week, for example, from ten to twelve on Wednesday mornings. The complete arrangements should be publicized in the newspapers, announced in the close-of-school programs, and by means of posters made by the library staff. Often mothers and teachers will volunteer to take the prepared program and supervise its execution with the help of highschool girls, graduated students, and others selected for their talents in this type of work. In the plans for the story hour program, the theme or themes to be used, books to be used, references to stories or book pages, etc. should be clearly and definitely noted. The program may be varied by the use of phonograph records, group singing, stories about songs, short plays of original dramatization, and games. If the story hour is devoted to one day each week, the groups should meet in separate rooms so that the partiCipants will have only that material which is suitable to the age group in understanding and entertainment. Lack of stress, ease in discussion, and a helpful attitude on the part of the library staff will aid in enrollment of members in the Vacation Reading Club. Attendance charts of the story hour sessions with the proper amount of publicity will also help. If the eager ch~ldren come early, they may be given pictures or books to look through, and a seat at one of the (Continued on Page 16) 11,1111 11 111 11 11 11 111 111 111 11 1111 1111 1111 1111 11 11 11 11 11 11 1111 111 11 11 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11 111 111 111 111 111 11 11 11 111 11 11 1111 11 11 1111 1111 1111 1111 111 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1111 1111 1111 11 11 1111 11 11 11 111 11 11 11 11 111 11 11 111111 1111 "" 111 '1 From the Four Corners • NEWS OF OKLAHOMA LIBRARIES 1 111 111 11 111 11 11 11 11 11 111 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 11 11 111 1 1 11 11 11 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1 111 1 111 1 111 1 11 1 1 11 11 11 11 111 11 11 1) 111 11 11 11 11 1 1 11 11 11 1 1 111 1 11 1 1 11 111 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1 1 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 111 11 [1 11 11 11 11 11 111 11 111 11 11 1 IIIIIIII~ ADA - The Ada Public Library installed a Gaylord automatic charging machine in March. ALVA - Northwestern state College Library boasts the only air-conditioned college library in the state. The ,library is for tunate in having an almost new collection, as most of the book have been added since the fire in 1939. Outstanding activities of the past year include reorganization of the documents collection in a separate department with its own reading room. Two courses for school librarians have been added to the college curriculum. A special service of the Northwestern Library is the mimeographed quarterly acquisition list which is distributed to faculty and students. Library privileges are extended to the community as well as to the college group. The Northwestern Library is a regional film depository and serves as a distribution center for films and film-strips to a large percentage of schools in the surrounding -area. BLACKWELL - The Public Library is being repaired and redecorated. CLINTON - The Library Council will hold open house in the Clinton Public Library in May for the Gold Star mothers. Books purchased by the American Legion in memory of Clinton servicemen lost in World War II will be formally presented. The Clinton Library Advisory Council is made up of members of the library board, the librarian, and two representatives of each civic and study club. Contributions from the clubs assist in the' maintenan<;e of the duplicate pay shelf and the Council cooperates in many library activities. DURANT - Southeastern State College 8 maintains a traveling library and sends books to rural schools, The library has purchased a microfilm reader and is starting a collection of films. FREDERICK - The Public Library repo r t s numerous publicity activities. These include a weekly book column in the local paper, a fifteen minute weekly radio program on the local station and twenty-six talks by the librarian during the past year, , HENRYETTA - The Public Library has added nearly 1,000 volumes, a gift of Mrs, M. K. Moody in honor of Dr. Dudley Claggett. MIAMI - Mrs. David Steele reports that the A.A.U,W. is sponsoring a story hour in the Pubilc Library. OKLAHOMA CITY - Mrs. J. R. Dale, secretary of the Oklahoma Library Commission since 1919 has been named Oklahoma City's "Woman of the Year" selected by the Business and Professional Women's Club. OKMULGEE - The Public Library has conducted a series of book reviews of general interest sponsored and paid for by the library. Tl),e Toastmaster's Club attended the meetings in a group and led the discussions which followed the r eviews. Target You by Stowe, Crisis in Education by Bell and Midwest at Noon by Hutton were presented. Mrs. Deane Barnett, librarian, reports the revieWs were well attended. PAWHUSKA - The Public Library haS been moved to a more central location and has been remodeled and redecorat ed, This is a temporary location, as the li brary is to be housed in a new building in the not too distant future. The lot has jtlready been selected. The Pawhuska Public Library is the fourth public library in the state to establish a film information center in cooperation with the University of Oklahoma Department of Visual Education. Other new services established during the past year include a "Teen-Age Section" and a "Family Book Shelf." PERRY - A new tile floor adds greatly to the appearance of the first floor of the Carnegie Public Library. PONCA CITY - The Junior Chamber of Commerce has presented the library with a ceiling projector and 44 books on film. The books include: fiction, travel, humor, religion, biography, and science. About half the projected books are for boys and girls. The library has purchased five new exhibit cases for displaying Indian and historical relics and four new doublefaced book stacks. Various units of the Ponca City Garden Club are supplying flower arrangements for the main desk. Each unit is responsible for the "Arrangements for the Month." Mrs. Gertrude Sterba, librarian, reports that patrons have been enthusiastic about the arrangements which have included: floral bouquets, winter scene with handmade felt birds, cactus plants in a homemade Mexican cart drawn by a donkey, a Christmas sled scene, a winter bouquet, and pussy willows. A printed gift card giving credit to the garden club unit responsible accompanies each arrangement. TULSA - An extensive program was begun in the Tulsa Public Library in 1948 to purchase books listed in the ESSAY INDEX so that a well rounded collection of general literature could be available to Tulsa readers. Of the 6,000 titles in the ESSAY AND GENERAL LITERATURE INDEX, the Library now has all but 800. The Library now has a file of the Tulsa Tribune on microfilm from 1927 to date. The Tulsa World and the New York Times are on film from 1940 to date. ltitute, The Journal of the Society of 9 Rare, unusual, .a~d 0!1t~of-print petroleum books are being . borrowed from many sources and are being microfilm!(d. TULSA UNIVERSITY.",.. A grant of $10,- 000 from the General Education Board to the University of Tulsa Library has made possible the acquisition of files of several import.ant scientific journals. Some of the publications recently acquir~ ed are the Transactions of the Institute of Chemical Engineers , Math~~atical_ Reviews, the Journal of the Frankli9 InChemicaJ Industry, Die Berichte der ·~deutschen chemischen. Gesellschaft, and, the Transactions of the Faraday Society. Another noteworthy addition is the Report on the SCientific Results of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Challenger in 40 vol\1mes. A spacious and well-eq~ipped library has been opened in the n~w building of the Downtown Division Qfthe University of Tulsa. The library, which is administered by Mrs. Marjorie Gilham, comprises approximately 12,000 volumes in the field of law and 1,000 in the general collection. VINITA - The late W. M. Malone made a $250 bequest to the Vinita Public Library which was used to buy books suited especially to the needs of the high school stUdents. WEATHERFORD - The library of the Southwestern State College extends services to the town as well as to the college community as the town has no public library. New services include a collection of 150 albums of recorcis which are available for home use or in the library listening room. Also, a collection of colored reproductions of paintings has been started. These are loaned framed for ten cents a month. In January the library had an exhibit of published and unpublished works of the faculty which was so succeSSful plans are being made to repeat it. WILBURTON - The library of the Eastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College has recently received a one hundred and twenty-five year old grandfather clock, the gift of Mr. 1. Yourman, a Wilbur- ! i ton jeweler. The clock has been refinished in the manual arts shop of the college and the unusual and beautiful timepiece has created quite an interest among library patrons. WOODWARD - Plans are under way to extend services of the Carnegie Library to serve the entire county. The city of Woodward has voted additional library funds to enlarge the library building and allow for expanded activities. The plan is now before the county commissioners. The Junior Library Club has been revived after a period of several years. Made up of members of the 1949 apprentice class of volunteers, the group will study Find It Yourself by Scripture and Greer. YALE - Dr. F. Keith Odschlager has presented the Yale Public Library with a Hebrew Bible printed in 1878. TAHLEQUAH - The Library of Northeastern State College has recently acquired the A. E. Bonnell library consisting largely of religion and philosophy. The library is now in a new building which contains a "Cherokee Room" which h ous. es the collection of rare Cherokee t itles. The Library also has a model childrens department. The new building, Occupied in January of 1949, is semi-modern, and will accomodate about 150,000 volumes. There is also an art exhibit room. The reading room, which has three walls of glass, will seat about 400 readers. Roscoe Rouse is acting librarian in the absence of Miss Sue Thornton. The Carnegie Library has inaugur ated book truck to the hospital recently. Ser· vice is maintained several times each week. Editor's Note - All librarians are reo quested to answer news-notes queries promptly. The Oklahoma Librarian should be a clearing house for library news, and it hopes to fulfill that task through the two news columns, "From the Four Corners" and "Who's Where." Your cooperation in helping the staff to meet the deadlines will be greatly appreciated. Books. • • and Service from McCLUR'G'S McClurg's with over half a century of specialized library service, is equipped to serve you well! Our staff is skilled in the handling of Library, School and College book orders. We welcome your patronage ... and the opportunity to serve you . • A. c. M~Clurg & Co. 333 E. Ontario St. Chicago 11, Illinois "Serving Librarians Is Our Business" ::J I \ 10 2 r"'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''~'''''~''''''o'''':'''''~'''''''''''''~'''''~'"'''~'''''~'''''~''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''~ • NEWS OF OKLAHOMA LIBRARIANS -- Fo l l l ll ll l ll l ll!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!III!1 1 111111111111 1l11 1I.1 1111 1 1 1 11111111 11111111111111111 11111 11 1 1 1illlllli l l lll l llllllllll ll llltllllJllll l llllllJlllltlt I lltl l lllllll l lllllllll l lll lll llllll l lll l l l lll l lll l l l lll l ll lll l ll~ ALVA - Northwestern State College Library. Miss Frances DuVall, M. A. (Library Science), George Peabody College for Teachers is librarian. Miss Edith Gor man, M. A. (Library Science), George Peabody College for Teachers is Reference Librarian. BLACKWELL - Miss Florence M. Williams succeeds Mrs. R. M. Parkhurst as librarian. Miss Williams was previously librarian in Wellington, Kansas; on the staff of the Wichita City Library ; and on the staff of the Kan as Library Commission where she edited the Bulletin of the Kansas Library Commission. HENRYETTA - Mrs. Grover Bynum is now librarian of the Henryetta Public Library. / HOMINY - Mrs. John J. Starks h as suc~ ceeded Mrs. C. O. Crossley as librarian. PAWHUSKA - Mrs. Louis A. DeNoya has been librarian since the res~gnation of Mrs. Frances Stalcup. Her assistant is Mrs. Jack A. King. TAHLEQUAH - V. E. Porterfield (M. A., University of Texas) has joined the staff of the Northeastern State College Library, Roscoe Rouse, Acting Librarian has reported. Porterfield is the Assistant Librarian. TONKOWA - Mrs. Margaret Zinn is the new librarian of the Tonkawa Public Li..' brary which serves both the community and the high school. TULSA - Tulsa University reports. the following staff additions and changes: Mr. Willard Watson (O.U. '36) was apPOinted first assistant in the Cataloging Department, January 15, 1950. He preVioUsly worked in the Library of Congress as cataloger and in the Catalog- 11 ing Department of the University of Arizona Library. Mrs. Zuline Trammell (0 . U. '42) joined the staff of the University Library in September, 1949. Before coming to Tulsa Mrs. Trammell was reference librarian of the Carnegie Public Library, Ardmore. Prior to this service she was reference librarian in the Chico State College Library, Chico, California. Mrs. Marjorie Gilham (Columbia Univ. '40) was appointed librarian of the Downtown Division Library, December I , 1949. Mrs. Gilham, who is treasurer of the Kansas City chapter of the Special Libraries Association, was employed as Research Librarian of the Phillips Petroleum Company before joining the staff of the University of Tulsa Library. She has also held library positions in the University of Washington Library, the Cincinnati Public Library and the Findlay Public Library. Mr. James Murry, formerly an assistant in the Circulation Department, has just enrolled in the Department of Library Science of Our Lady of the Lake College, San Antonio, Texas. Miss Gretchen Britton, a former student assistant, is attending the University of Denver College of Librarianship this year. Miss Patricia Jeeter (0. U. '46), periodicals librarian, was married to William Robert Neely, Oct. 15, 1949. TULSA - Mrs. Geraldine Fleetwood - B. A. (Library Science) o. U., 1935 is head of the Central Circulation Department of the Tulsa Public Library. Mrs. Allie Beth Martin - M. S. (Library Science) Columbia, 1948 · is head of the Children's Department, succeeding Miss Anna M. Anderson, who retired September 1, 1949. Mr. A. L. Layton, head of the Technical Department of the Tulsa Public Library leaves soon to become Librarian, United Gas Company, Shreveport, La. Mrs. Helen Norvell has completed two years of Veteran's Administration onthe- job training and is at present an assistant in the Children's Department. WEATHERFORD - Mrs. Charlotte Ratcliffe has been assistant librarian of Southwestern State College since July, 1949. WOODWARD - Miss Maedine Jones is assistant librarian succeeding Myrl Whitley at the Woodward Public Library. Librarians to 'See O.U.' Treasure Room Madame Schumann-Heink, Will James, . Admiral Byrd, Carl Sandburg, Mary Roberts Rinehart, William Allen White are some of the names you will see written in the books which form a part of the Treasure Collection at the University of Oklahoma. Autographed books form a part of a priceless collection of rare books which are kept in this Treasure Room, which . will be open to the Oklahoma Library Association at the Convention in May, 1950. This reporter, though he is not an authority on fine books, was impressed by the collection which Mr. J . L. Rader will show to Oklahoma librarians. On display will be a copy of the famous "Byron Forgery" the date of which was supposed to have been 1810, but whose water-mark bears the date 1818. There will also be a -copy of the first edition of Sheridans "The Rivals", and a copy of the first Dublin edition of "The Duenna," both of which are extremely rare. Fine bindings will also be displayed. A copy of a book which has a leather-inlay of the head of Thomas Hardy on the front is one of the rare and unusual examples of binding which will be seen. There will allo be some manuscripts op vellum, calf 12 bindings of all types, and a facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible. Of particular interest to many librarians will be the Bizzell Bible Collection. This collection of Bibles, the work of former University of Oklahoma President William Bennett Bizzell, is probably the finest private Bible collection in the world, and is now housed in the Treasure Room of the University Library which now bears his name. This Treasure Collection is the only one of its kind in the area and r epresents years of work and/ thousands of dollars. Mr. Rader, an authority on rare books and incunabula, has spent many years building up a fine collection of literary rarities Which is unique in this area. A tour of the Treasure Room has been scheduled as' a part of the convention program, and all those attending the conference are urged to take advantage of seeing this priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts. BOOKS NEW AND USED * Rental Library Out-of-Print Book Service IVlagazine Subscriptions Greeting Cards Gifts Stationery Toys and Games Pens and Pencils Gift Wrapping * STEVENSO N'S OPEN EVENINGS anl SUNDAYS 119 West Main 2-4296 Oklahoma City J -----~- . - -~- ----- Literature on · the Ceiling (Continued from Page 4) Libraries borrowed a projector for demonstration and were off on their own program. Tulsa was next on the list, then Shawnee, and Ada. Shawnee, incidentally, was the first city to meet its quota of machines, and that quickly. It is the only city to offer this service to the whole county, thereby lightening the load for the State Library. Other cities have followed with established programs-Bistow, Cushing, Ardmore, Enid, and Ponca City. Woodward has a projector in the hospital. Service is being rendered to individuals in a number of places throughout the state -some in communities capable of handlIng their own services-if the communities back the libraries in their efforts. Many communities have borrowed demonstration machines and are laying plans for starting their own programs. OKLAHOMA HAS FIRST STATEWIDE PLAN Oklahoma was the first to conceive a state-wide plan, and other states are following our lead. Arkansas is deep in a similar program and letters from other states, even those where local programs are established, have come to this office requesting information. Projected Books is only one of many services you, as a librarian; can render to your community. Your buildings were not designed for storehouses of booksnor were you intended to act simply as a middleman in the checking process of books for your patrons. Yours is the privilege to serve your people- at all times, under all conditions in Whatever situations. You are not bound by any creed or doctrine, but can pull all groups together. You are not routed through educational channels, but can coordinate all efforts toward knowledge. Yours is not the cordiality of salemanship but the true hospitality of friendliness, becaUse you are not selling but giving-of 13 your time, your knowledge, your service, yourself. The vehicle you may use may be adult education, a record collection, the books on your shelves, book cart service to hospitals, or simply the gracious use of your telephone! Yours should be the magnetic force in your community, pulling together -quietly-the scattered forces that make up your town's spirit. If, as a librarian, yo.u . are living up to the standard of service which your professional pride and personal interests dictate, can you, without slighting other services, take on even so worthy a cause as Projected Books? You can indeed! The very fact of your doing so will enable those services to grow. Strangely enough, the more service you give-the more that is expected of you -the easier serving becomes. It is impera~ ive to the life of established service in librarianship to keep adding to it. The answer for this particular one is this: enlist your community is your cause-all of it-your newspapers and radio, your stores and business offices, your civic clubs and study groups. It is too large a project for anyone organization to handle alone. It is too rich in experience to be held selfishly by one group. Let them all help you with money, with advertising, and with service; they will be many times repaid. And those in the community who have use for Projected Books will have opened for them a new life though literature on the ceiling. .EDITOR'S NOTE: For further information, write The Oklahoma State Library, 109 State Capitol, Oklahoma City. Or Projected Books, Inc. 313 North First Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Recent issues of the Library Journal and ALA Bulletin have articles on projected books. Additional material may be found in the March 11, 1950 issue of Saturday Evening Post and in Coronet for August 1948 and November, 1949. long Distance loans (Continued from Page 5) vides a service through which any patron of any library can get materials · which at first glance would seem difficult to get. WHICH LIBRARY TO USE? All of the college libraries of the state schools, including the state teachers' colleges, The University of Oklahoma, and A&M College are eager and happy to serve the public libraries in this directi:on. The library one would be most likely to request books from would depend on certain factors. Often the college nearest to your town would have the materials your patron needs. If so, that library would be the one to use, as transportation costs would be less and it is probable that the service would be faster. Or it is possible that you are familiar with one particular library, from student days or from other association. This knowledge would help you to know if it would be possible that the library would have the materials. Too, the type of material wanted by your patron would be a factor in deciding which library to request from. If publications are agricultural in nature, for instance, Oklahoma A&M would be the logical choice. The University of Oklahoma has a good collection of works on Oklahoma history. Many excellent theses on oil and its production are also written there, and are in constant demand from oil company librarians. The type of materials wanted by pa trons cannot be predicted. The other day a patron frantically called long-distance to the University library with a plea to send her everything available on gourmets, that afternoon, the library sent by Mistletoe Express all the books available on the subject. A few weeks ago, a copy of Rostand's Chantecler was sent out. When the book was due, two copies were returned, along with ·a note explaining that the additional copy was meant to replace the original one, which had been chewed by a hungry dog 14 who had apparently taken a decided interest in 'the works of Rostand. But this sort of incident is indeed the exception in interlibrary loan service. Normally, it works efficiently and effectively for all concerned. This incident indicates the spirit of cooperation that exists : the librarian sent the new book along WHO USES THE SERVICE? Interlibrary loan service can be invaluable to anyone in your town who is engaged in almost any particular kind of work. In its beginnings, it was set up for research purposes only, for the convenience of men who were doing serious work in the arts or sciences. But over a period of years, the scope of interlibrary loan has widened and increased to the point that it may now be popularly used. Today a doctor in your town doesn't need to be preparing a paper for an important medical journal in order to use interlibrary loan. He can simply be checking material for his own use. He, with other professional men in the community, are logical users of the service, which can provide him with highly technical material which the smaller library does not have. Students, high school or college, may need interlibrary loan to complete research projects. Clubs doing special work in certain fields may welcome the opportunity to use the service in preparing their projects or programs. County ag~nts , tea'chers, ministers, and the librarian herself, may have reason to use the services of interlibrary loan. It will facilitate their work, and add to 'the opportunities of the library for extended service. So, through the use of the mails and express, the small library needing rare, technical, or other types of material, can obtain them quickly and with almost no expense. The larger libraries in the state are eager to be of service, and are staffed to provide it. The results of using this service will be a finer spirit of cooperation between libraries, and better and more adequate services for the library patrons. a The Public Librarian: Curator of Local History (Continued from Page 6) chure. These will thereby win friends for the library who might not come in any other way. THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED In proposing the creation of a vertical file of local history materials, or the extension of a beginning already made in collection of such material, the author is not unmindful of the addition of another heavy burden to the public librarian's .load. Perhaps this would call for a new attitude, a change of philosophypossibly a new way of life for the public librarian. An antidote for the boredom that sometimes goes with life in a small town is the development, through consistent effort and initiative, of an interest in the beginnings of the community and its history. A necessary accessory for this proposed get-acquainted campaign is a pair of low-heel walking shoes. Because the librarian who is bent on getting acquainted in the community would find it difficult to summon up a warm smile while wearing a pair of tight shoes that pinch her toes! A partial readjustment of the librarian's daily schedule would be desirable. A streamlining of present activities would allow time for attendance at special city fUnctions, service on policy committees and participation in conferences and rallies. There must be also speech-making before the civic and community groupsthe women's and professional clubs, the University women, and the service groups, as well as associations of tradesmen and professional . leaders. This recommended program might very likely win new friends for the library-and the librarian is almost certain to enjoy it! In the course of these errands, the librarian may possibly come across early minute books of the city council, the kahom 15 correspondence of early mayors, reports of the city department heads, and other strictly archival material which pose complicated problems and require space and equipment beyond the facilities of the local libraries. These records, together with duplicates of the strictly non-official items would be welcome at any institution of higher learning doing graduate research in the humanities. There are nearly eight hundred students enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Oklahoma. It was to provide these students with the raw materials from which :to draw the lessons of the past that the University established the Division of Manuscripts. The Archivist and the Director of the Division of Manuscripts invites the librarians of Oklahoma to become his agents in locating material in these categories and to help assemble them at the university. The goal is a vast coordinated collection, representing every town and city in the state. This is work worth the attention of librarians of this state. Any task which results in better research materials for the students of the state should be of interest to state librarians. Other material, of a purely local and non-official nature should be carefully collected, identified, preserved and filed in the local public library. Through this medium, the librarians of the state can serve their people well. In providing historical material which could not otherwise be located, the public librarian will make possible many new civic affairs, and will help to a great extent to improve the services of other community agencies. Surely every community in this state is proud of its past-proud of its heritage, and sure of its future. The public librarian has within the range of her duty the collection of the historical material of the community, and the ability to organize that material and make it available. In this way, the librarian becomes, in addition to her other duties, the curator of local history. Vacati'on Reading Club (Continued from Page 7) reading tables in the childrens department of the library. With casual supervision of the staff, they may be kept happy until the hour for the meeting arrives and a worker comes to take them to the room where they are to have their meeting. ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY ATTENDANCE Enrollment for the vacation reading club should be properly motivated by the library staff but entirely voluntary on the part of the child. When faced with the question, "How many books do I have to read?" the librarian should make it clear that the number of books is left entirely up to the reader. He may read ten books and get a certificate to show for them. If he reads less than that number, he will still have something gained from his effort, which is better than not to have tried at all. Or if he reads more books and outstrips his fellows, he will receive an award. Sometimes a chart is kept in plain sight so contestants can see where they stand in tl;1e race. Some table or blackboard demonstrations may be carried out as a motivation project. Often·, an easy contest may be promoted with the child racing against his own former record. This is an excellent builder of self-confidence. Here again the local newspaper will aid with publicity. Snapshots or flash pictures of groups working together may be used as casual inducements and for publicity. The winners and the runners-up may be photographed. These pictures may be used immediately, and then used again in the spring when publicity for the coming summer session is needed. SELECTION OF MATERIALS AND AWARDS Material read in the contests need not be too closely censored by the librarian. However, the books must be on the grade level of the reader. The upper group will read books of fifth grade level or higher. The second group may read anything the members can understand. The pre-school group should be read to by parents or 16 other older members of the family who will choose the material, frequently with the assistance of the librarian. The mothers usually take care of the motivation for the pre-school group. The awards should be books or subscriptions to children's magazines. These awards should be carefully selected by the staff and should be representative of the best type of reading material of the age group involved. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM The benefits of a Vacation Reading Program for the pre-school groups are simply the broadening experience of coming to the library, and an interest in books at an early age. For those children who attend school, the program provides a transition from the end of school to the starting in the fall. This is apparent to teachers when school starts again. For the community as a whole, the program offers entertainment and education for the children and helps to prepare them for the responsibilities which com~ with growing up. BOOKS • NEW • USED • RARE Books on all subjects supplied from stock or by special order. • Particular emphasis Oll Southwestern Americana. • Locating out-of-print books our specialty. • Liberal discounts to libraries. MILES BOOK STORE 319 North Robinson OKLAHOMA CITY . - I The Library and the Local Newspaper Much has been said during the past few years about publicity. We have learned that, living in an age such as this, we must accept publicity as a necessity. There are many agencies which offer education and entertainment just as our libraries do. Radio, television, magazines, and motion pictures all offer services which are, to a certain extent, competitors of the library. In order to have our services used (as we are obviously convinced they should be) we must make those services known to the people who are in a position to use them. This work in making our services known falls under the general heading of public relations. There are several means of public relations other than direct contact with the library patron. Radio programs, posters, exhibits, direct mail, and the newspaper are ~ll public relations media, and are agencies Which are within the reach of most of us. Perhaps of all of these, the newspaper suits our purposes best. But we must not be content with book lists and lists of recent additions to the library. The newspaper wants news; it employs ~eporters to gather it. They appreciate any news material that the library can give them. Only one thing needs to be avoided: free advertising. The material you give the reporter must not in any way be suggestive of advertising; it must either be of news of or feature value. And there you have the solution to your problem. News is a very common piece of material in your library. Use your extension services to the best advantage. For instance, watch your calendar. Mark every holiday or special event several Weeks in advance. During the middle of May, for example, you should be planning a Fourth of July exhibit. Use your own ingenuity in gathering and arranging the material Which will form the exhibit. 17 Now most of us do this sort of exhibit and promotional "{ork. But we stop with the exhibi~ itself, when actually it is here that the job begins. The exhibit will reach only those who happen to come in the library. The logical thing to do is to call the newspaper and ask them to send over a reporter. Or, depending on the town and the policies of the paper, you might go to the newspaper office and give them the story there. But regardless of how it is done, your exhibits, displays, and promotions should be given newspaper publicity. Your childrens programs should receive attention. Interest not only the children, but their parents, the teachers, and the entire community. The chances are that you should not try to write the newspaper articles yourself. ' A better procedure is to simply give the newspaper the facts in ABC order. All of your publiCity through the newspaper must be tied in with some important event or activity of the library or the community. It cannot be simply publicity for the . sake of publicity. There must be something worth While about it. . .. something in which the people of your town will be interested. Perhaps a book review once a week would be the thing for your newspaper. Or perhaps a weekly column about library activities. The cardinal point is this: it is not . boasting to give a story to the newspaper. The people of your community contribute to the support of their library and are therefore entitled to know about its activities and progress. The newspaper, the community's informative agency, should be glad to have the news. So get acquainted with your newspaper and begin to contribute to it. Together, you and your newspaper can help to build a better community. ~ ~.J 1111 1 1 1IJI I IIJI I II I IIII I IIIII: ! 'lljlllll l ll lll llllll l l1 11 1 111 11 11 11 1 111 1 111 1 111 11 11 11 11 11 111 11 11 11 111 11[ 1 1 111 11 111 1 11 11 111 1 111 1 11 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 111 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 : 11l l lllllllllll l llll l lllllll l llllllilllll l llllll11111111!IIII I~ BETTY AUSTIN. Mrs. Austin, InterLoan Librarian at the University of Oklahoma, brings to her position several years of varied and unusual experience outside the library profession. She received a degree in education at the University and taught in the school systems of Portland and Oklahoma City. She was later a member of the Secretariat o~ the Third General Assembly of The United Nations in 1947. She spent the following year in Japan and The Philippines, where she became interested in professional ' writing. She returned to the University of Oklahoma in 1949 to study writing under Professor Walter S. Campbell, and is at present enrolled in one of his advanced courses in addition to her work with interlibrary loan. GASTON LITTON. Dr. Gaston Litton, Archivist of the University of Oklahoma, is also Treasurer- of the Oklahoma Library Association. He has recently returned to the University after a varied career in government service. During his association with the National Archives, he took several leaves of absence to undertak~ missions in Latin America for the ALA and the State Department. Dr. Litton has attended the University of Southern California, the University of Oklahoma (where he received his library training) and Georgetown University, where he received his doctorate. He has been director of the American Library of Nicaragua, Librarian of the National Archives. He is the co-author with Dr. E. E. Dale of Cherokee Cava:iers, and has published articles in Library Journal and in the Chronicles of Oklahoma. 18 ELIZABETH C. COOPER is reference librarian at the Oklahoma State Library. She received her degree in Library Science from the University of Oklahoma. She has had wide and varied experience in library service. Following her graduation, she was· in the cataloging depar tment of the Oklahoma City library. Then she was with the Veterans Administration and the Army Special Services. She was Acting Librarian of the Oklahoma state Library during 1944 and 1945. She has been in her present position as reference librarian there since 1948. Miss Cooper is President of Kappa Tau Delta Alumnae Association and Corresponding Secretary of The Soroptimist Club of Oklahoma City. LOUISE TOWNSEND is the Librarian of the Mangum Public Library. For a number of years, Mrs. Townsend was a free-lance writer, contributing feature material to the Daily Oklahoman, Daily Ardmorite, and Farmer-Stockman. Her main writing interest however, was in the field of children's literature, which makes her article on vacation reading clubs even more interesting and authorative. Sl1e published stories and articles for chilo dren and young people for many magaZ' ines and for six different religious pub' lishing companies. Mrs. Townsend has a B.S. and an 1\1.A· from Sull Ross State College and received library training at Texas State College for Women. She' has taught highschOol . English and has been in libraries in sa Diego, Ardmore, and Mangum. Library Commission Serves People of State For some thirty years, the Oklahoma Library Com 'mission has been quietly serving the people of the state. Of interest . to librarians especially is the fact that to 1948, the Commission had issued over 500 certificates to librarians. In addition to certification, the Comission sponsors library legislation, offers professional assistance, helps establish new libraries, and serves the reading public of the state. It maintains traveling Libraries ;to rural schools, public libraries, clubs, and special groups. These Travelling Libraries are collections which range in number from 35 to 150 books. Also, in addition to Travelling Libraries, the commission provides library service to individuals through out the state who have no local library service. In the Braille and Talking Book Department, there are about 650 active borrowers registered. To take care of these borrowers, some twenty talking books are added each month. In June, 1948, there were 2,920 Talking Books, representing about 1,100 titles in the Talking Book Collection. At ' that time, there were also about 10,000 volumes in Braille, totalling about 2,200 Braille titles. This service to the blind would justify the existence of the Commission even if it offered no other services. The Travelling Libraries circulated over 100,000 volumes in the year 1947-1948. They loaned 26,000 to individuals, 14,000 to the blind, to bring to total circulation for that year up to about 150,000. Thus, since its beginnings in 1919, the Oklahoma Library Commission has cirCUlated over 30,000,000 books to the people of Oklahoma. That record indicates that people in this state do want library serVice, and it is up to us, as individual librarians, to increase our efforts to serve them. 19 for 1 950 To keep in touch with modern times-to meet the ever increasing library reference needs- genuine continuous revision adds 360 pages to the 1950 Compton's-complete refolio. The famous Fact-Index (section in back of each volume) has been completely reset and expanded to include many new entries. No increase in price -greatest value ever offered. Write for information to: Martin J. Phillippe, Mgr. COMPTON'S PICTURED ENCYCLOPEDIA 918 West Eufaula Norman, Okla. SPECIAL LIBRARY SERVICE SUPPLYING Out Of Print BOOKS and MAGAZINES W rite Us Your WANTS? NEEDS? QUOTATIONS SENT WITHOUT OBLIGATION Second-hand Reading Copies-SetsFirst Editions-Fine Bindings Autographed Copies JAMES NEILL NORTHE 1016 North Central Oklahoma City 4, Oklahoma OLA Committee Issues Historical Booklet An eight page booklet entitled "Special Historical Collections in Oklahoma Libraries" has been published by a committee of the Oklahoma Library Association. This -booklet, a survey of historical materials in the state was distributed at the recent conference of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. Arranged by city, the p!\cmphlet is a survey and analysis of materials of historical value located in state libraries. Each library listed gives a summary of its resources as far as history is concerned, and a brief statement about extension services including interlibrary loan and photoduplication services. This publication is another step toward more and better service to the people of the state through the Oklahoma Library Association. Too, it is a valuable piece of material for any library or individual interested in doing research into any phase of Oklahoma history. Oklahoma Writers To Be Revised The Handbook ot Oklahoma Writers is being revised, Mrs. Mary Hays Marable, co-author, announced this week. Written in 1938, the handbook is an important compilation of material about Oklahoma writers and is a standard part of most Oklahoma library collections. "After twelve years it needs some revision," Mrs. Marable said, "And we hope this revision brings to light the more obscure yet important works of Oklahoma writers." Many new writers from Oklahoma have appeared since the book was written, and those writers included have continued to do work which is not listed in the first edition. The handbook lists authors by the type of writing in which they achieved prom-inence, and/ihere is a brief biographical sketch of each author listed. The appendix includes a list of authors by towns. "We are eager to continue this revision and to add new Oklahoma authors" Mrs. Marable commented, "and we especially want to bring the authors mentioned in the first edition up to date, listing all their recent works." Mrs. Marable has asked for the assistance of Ok~ahoma librarians in completing the research for the revision. All information which any librarian has a bout Oklahoma authors since 1938 should be sent to Mrs. Marable at the School of Library Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. With only one exception, every City in the state of Oklahoma with a population of 5,000 or more has a public library. There are 87 public lfbraries serving a population of over one million. Gaylord CARD CATALOG CABINETS MAGAZINE RACK BOOK TRUCKS DICTIONARY STAND and Other Standard Library Furniture IN STOCK for Prompt Shipment: Beautiful Quartersawed Oak Light and Dark Finish Gaylord Bros. Inc. LIBRARY SUPPLIES Syracuse, New York - THE TRANSCRIPT PRESS -NORMAN |
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