Delaware Library Association Bulletin SPRING 1974 DELAWARE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BULLETIN Spring, 1974 Volume 27, No.4 Judy Matz, Editor DELAWARE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 1974-75 President Mrs. Irene Larrimore Vice President Mrs. Jane Hukill Secretary Mr. Walter Lyfeld Treasurer Mr. David Burdash Immediate Past President Mrs. Gloria Rabinowitz ALA Councilor Mrs. Myrtice Wickham MARLF Representative Mrs. Jean Trumbore COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Historian Mr. William Calhoon Membership Mrs. Barbara May Library Development Mrs. Billie Jean Ouellette Scholarships and Awards Miss Norma Jean Lynch Intellectual Freedom Mr. Robert H. Marshall Program and Hospitality Mrs. Jane Hukill Finance Mr. David Burdash Publications and Publicity Miss Judy Matz PUBLIC LIBRARY DIVISION President Mr. Jeremiah E. Greene, Jr. Vice President Mr. Benedict Prestianni Secretary VACANT Treasurer Mrs. Carolyn Huff ON LEAVING OFFICE “To promote library service and librarianship in the state of Delaware" is one of the objectives of the Delaware Library Association as outlined in this organization's Constitution. A poll of the 200 members of our organization would most probably yield as many methods of facilitating this goal. We are seeking new ideas, fresh approaches to problems, new light on issues discussed before and still pertinent. In the past year several new ideas have come to the fore and have been pursued with very interesting results. One of these was undertaken by an Ad Hoc Committee on Library Co-operation formed this fall. The work of this committee has yielded a published directory of all libraries in the state with brief information on hours, lending policies, reference, etc. Two avenues are being explored by the Committee on Library Development, which is in the process of formulating a proposal for a program to be submitted to the Delaware Humanities Forum. Focusing attention on the issue of "An informed citizeney--what resources are available to achieve this?", the format of the program is a panel discussion with interaction between the audience and panel, composed of representatives from the media, 1ibraries, government, and humanists from local institutions. The second project initiated by this committee is a program for a state-wide educational program, directed toward the goal of informing Delawareans of their library facilities, resources, and services. Sources for funding this program are presently being explored. An Ad Hoc Committee is currently studying the viability of forming an academic division within DLA. There are limitless possibilities for achieving the stated and implicit goals of the DLA. We would like to explore as many as practical. We believe that the membership is in accord with this idea; however, the officers and committee members need your input. Inform us because we are ready to go. - Gloria Rabinowitz, DLA President, 1973-74 Media Mall, Bookhaven, Delaware The operative and enabling principle of a democratic society and representative government is the marketplace of ideas. Libraries are important outlets in that marketplace. A walk through the Media Mall in Bookhaven, Delaware might be instructive. The first store we come to is the supermarket. Here -we can obtain all the most essential goods, especially food and everyday popular items. People of all ages can shop here. Even children can obtain all kinds of food. The check-out clerk makes no attempt to protect them from buying unhealthy food such as sweets. Control of the child's diet is the parents' responsibility. People who do not know enough about nutrition are allowed to buy high cholestrol and other unhealthy foods. Even the sloppiest people can obtain food and other substances, which, if not used properly, can make them and everything they touch filthy dirty. Fortunately, in order to accomodate people who wish to avoid dirt, filth, and smut, a full line of laundry and detergent products and other cleaning agents is stocked. The name of this supermarket where everyone can obtain food for thought is the Public Library. The next store we come to is a farmers' market. Like the supermarket, the emphasis is on food, but all kinds of other wares are also displayed. Most of the merchants are farmers. Farmers are those people who cultivate things and make them grow. Their products are new and fresh. They are often still ripening. The farmers feel that if their products are not properly cared for they become rotten. They don't want any bad apples. In order to have good fruit, farmers use all kinds of special equipment and machines to plant good seeds and nurture them to mature fruit. In order for the seeds to grow, all elements of nature must be utilized; the sun and light, the water, and the soil, dirt and fertilizing manure. One farmer thought that his food would be cleaner and more sanitary, hence healthier, if he used only sunlight and water. But life dosen't work that way. The seeds never germinated, never grew, never became mature plants. This farmer was called the School Media Center. The next store is a large department store. All the best products from all manufacturers are available here. In order to assure that it always has the best products, it maintains a special incentive program for its employees encouraging research and invention called Achievement Foundation. Its customers come in and browse in every department, but usually choose one department in which they spend most of their time, and make most of their purchases. It is quite apparent that this department store's products are quite superior to those of its competitor who does not have a viable Achievement Foundation program. This department store is the Academic Library. There are many other shops of diversified character in Media Mall. There are several factory outlets, antique shops, a post office, and various specialty shops. The factory oulets have found that it is often useful to share and exchange information to save money in research. Sometimes their competitors gain vital information, but as often they receive vital information that gives them a competitive edge over the factory outlets that do not exchange information. The antique shops exchange information and catalogues and help each other because many of their items are unique and they need access to information about the unique items in other shops. The Post Office's unique services are, of course, vital in helping all the stores communicate with each other and with all those outside the Mall having information, materials, and services they need. This vital support service together with the service of the other government agencies housed with it make it an indispensible partner in the marketplace of ideas. In the same way, all the specialty shops found that sharing information with others in their specialty and providing information about their specialties to the general public was in their interest. Most of these shops are housed in the Special Library wing of the Mall. In short, all occupants of Media Mall benefit by participating in the marketplace of ideas. And they need each other's support. All around the mall, throughout Bookhaven, indeed throughout the entire state of Delaware, the storms have done much damage. Other merchants in the marketplace of ideas in Delaware have been toppled by the storms. In the last five years in this state: an underground newspaper has been suppressed, all issues confiscated, and its editor arrested by the State Police for blasphemy; many bookstores and newsstands have been harassed and their merchandise confiscated by Wilmington and Dover police; one Wilmington movie theater was closed and another forced to limit its advertising due to police harrassment; state laws have been passed making the distribution of "obscene" materials illegal with the distributors liable to arrest prior to the material being declared "obscene" in a judiciary hearing. Librarians are not exempt from persecution; state laws have been passed making the distribution of materials "harmful to minors" illegal. Librarians are specifically exempted from prosecution; a state law has been passed making "obscene" materials a nuisance actionable by civil suit. A judgement can be rendered confiscating all equipment from the building where the "nuisance" was found and closing the building. The winds of the storm are blowing stronger and closer to home. Can the walls of Media Mall withstand them? Bookstores, newsstands and movie theaters in the mall itself have already suffered damage. Perhaps all the stores in the Mall need to review their architecture to determine if its walls are able to provide their share of support for the whole and make sure that Bookhaven remains a viable place to live and work. - Robert H. Marshall INSTANT LIBRARIES Mr. Frederic Glazer, Director of the West Virginia State Library, was the featured speaker at the recent DLA Spring meeting held on April 27, 1974 at Brandywine College. Mr. Glazer inspired the audience with his program, "Library Image and Instant Libraries." He cited geographic isolation, poverty, and the traditionally stodgy library atmosphere as chief deterrents to getting library service to the ten million Americans currently unserved. Instant carousel libraries are answering these problems in the small communities of West Virginia. They are attractive, low in cost, quick to build and maintenance - free. The standard single library unit is an eight sided figure, large enough for six thousand volumes with completely movable furnishings. A professional librarian is sent to each location before opening to determine the character and needs of the community. A telephone network links each of these small libraries to the other facilities in the state. Slides of the building procedure and some very well chosen tunes enhanced Mr. Glazer's lively presentation and delighted DLA members. PLD PLANS FOR BICENTENNIAL The Public Library Division of DLA will formulate a committee of librarians to work with other state organizations on Bicentennial plans for Delaware. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to contact Jerry Greene at the Wilmington Institute Library (656-3131). COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON LIBRARIES The principal concerns of the committee have been maintenance of services relating to library functions at the state level and the action proposed by members of the General Assembly to reorganize the public library system in Delaware. As of this writing, legislation (H. B. 644) to establish county library systems and reduce the state agency to an administrative office is pending. The committee takes the position that Delaware should have a Division of Libraries directed by a librarian professionally qualified and experienced regardless of the type of system to emerge from the legislation. The 'committee will continue to work to re-establish a State Agency administered by a professional staff. The state crisis has overshadowed far-reaching national concerns. However, all library related programs excepting public library construction (LSCA II) were funded for Fiscal Year 1974 and funds impounded in Fiscal 1973 were released. Both House and Senate appropriation bills for Fiscal 1975 provide for consolidation of certain programs and the Administration has announced support for a "Library Partnership Act" but has not released details of the proposal. The Senate has passed a resolution calling for a White House Conference on Library and Information Services for 1976. Support for this legislation, which is now under consideration, is needed. - Helen H. Bennett, Chairman DIVISION OF LIBRARIES The Division of Libraries is presently in the process of moving. The Division will take up new residence in the ETV Building, Delaware State College Campus and will reopen on Monday, May 13, 1974. All librarians have been invited to visit the new quarters after this date. CONCEPTS OF DELAWARE Concepts of Delaware by Dr. Randall L. Broyles (Universal Publishing Associates, c. 1974) is in the process of publication. This new resource is a conceptual approach to the political, economic, social, educational and historical heritage of the state. Wide coverage of all aspects of the state make it a particularly valuable addition to available materials on Delaware. Book Specifications Typeface--------12 point century school book Page Size-------5 ~ x 8~" 350 pages Paper' Stock-----70 pound Ivory Text Cover-----------#76 Basic Binders Board covered with #1 blue linen Binding---------Case Teacher Guide (Optional) Reinforcement for the teacher suggest how to use transparencies and, in general, is written to help the teacher make the subject interesting and meaningful. Prepublication Price: $ 8.25 Prepublication Price: $3.25 8 Overhead Transparencies (Optional) (Size: 8 1/2" x 10 1/4", .003 polyester film) These transpanencies are especially designed Prepublication Price: to supplement this text. They are in full $49.50 color and enable the teacher to hold class interest and to stimulate student participation.* * A minimum order of, 250 sets State-wide will be needed to produce this option. Because of the special nature of this work, orders must be placed before publication. Interested libraries should place their orders by June 1, 1974. There will be only one printing with any additional copies reserved for those who have placed an original order. Orders should be directed to: Universal Publishing Associates 308 South Dixie Highway West Palm Beach, Florida 33405 Telephone: (305) 655-4025
Delaware Library Association
