Top 10 counties mapped
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Related post:
Municipal libraries. (2/2/2013)
Percentage of libraries by type of legal basis. (2/2/2013)
Number of public libraries by legal service area population. (2/2/2013)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
IMLS Public Libraries in the United States Survey 2010 Column Graph: County/Parish Libraries by Percentage of Total
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Related post:
Municipal libraries. (2/2/2013)
Percentage of libraries by type of legal basis. (2/2/2013)
Number of public libraries by legal service area population. (2/2/2013)
IMLS Public Libraries in the United States Survey 2010 Pie Graph: Percentage of Libraries by Type of Legal Basis
Bonus round: LIS 712 PowerPoint slides from Session 3: "Public Library Organization and Governance"
Number of public libraries by legal service area population. (2/2/2013)
IMLS Public Libraries in the United States Survey 2010 Pie Graph: Number of Libraries by Legal Service Area Population
Administrative entity refers to the governance and funding structure, e.g., a library with a single service point or one with a central library and branches
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Friday, February 1, 2013
Point/Counterpoint: Shushing in the Library
"I have a whole bag of shhh with your name on it."
Bring Back Shushing Librarians. (Salon, 1/30/2013)
Point
From March 1990, when the Middleton Public Library moved into a new facility, until March 2004, upon the completion of a remodeling and expansion project, I regularly dealt with noise complaints. In fact, I wish I had made copies of the stack of anonymous comments written, sometimes in obvious anger, on forms that the library provided to gain feedback about its services.
Did we get feedback!!
At Middleton, an open design -- all public services on one level -- didn't work very well at times.
Which is why a designated quiet area on the library's lower level became a high priority for the 2003-2004 building project.
Laura's essay brings the words of Dick Waters to mind.
Wisconsin CALLS and Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association Echo TW Telecom's 2011 Request for Audit of Universal Service Fund
A letter from Wisconsin CALLS and the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association (see Exhibit B below) asks Governor Walker to (1) require annual audits and (2) replace the source of revenue for non-Public Service Commission (PSC) Universal Service Fund (USF) programs.
This is obviously a matter of concern to the library community, one which we will continue to follow closely, as these statewide library programs are funded through the USF, a segregated revenue fund.
- Public library systems
- BadgerLink
- Resource contracts: Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library, Cooperative Children's Book Center, WiLS (Wisconsin Interlibrary Services), Milwaukee Public Library interloan.
- Newsline for the Blind
SIDEBAR: Where does the money come from?
The Wisconsin Budget Project provides this general overview of revenue sources, using the 2009-11 state budget as an example.
Our position on the Universal Service Fund and Statewide Library Service is as follows. (Issue paper, which will be included in Tuesday Library Legislative Day packet, is found here.)
The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) and the Wisconsin Education Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) support providing a Universal Service Fund appropriation to fund specific library services, as set forth in chapter 196 of the Wisconsin State Statutes.
In addition, WLA and WEMTA believe that the Universal Service Fund is an equitable and sustainable source of funding that supports a critical network of statewide library services.
SIDEBAR: Here are the 6 general steps in legislative audit process in Wisconsin
1. Request to Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
2. Committee directs the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct an audit. (Decided on a case-by-case basis.)
3. Legislative Audit Bureau conducts audit.
4. Report submitted to committee.
5. Committee conducts public hearings.
6. Committee introduces legislation, if it chooses to do so.
You'll note that the Wisconsin CALLS/WSTA letter omits step 1 and directly asks the Governor to require a Legislative Audit Bureau review of USF.
In the event of an audit, it will be critical for us to provide the framework for a positive discussion e.g., emphasizing the larger issue of the multiple benefits that accrue to Wisconsin residents through these programs rather than focusing on the smaller issue of how these programs are funded.
As indicated by the steps listed above, there will be sufficient time to work the Legislative Audit Bureau staff and members of the Joint Legislature Audit Committee during the period of time when the USF is under review.
This is not the first time the issue of USF funding has been raised.
On November 30, 2011, Pamela H. Sherwood, TW Telecom's Vice President of Regulatory, sent a letter to State Senator Robert Cowles and Assembly Representative Samantha Kerkman [see Exhibit A found below] to urge the Joint Committee on Audit exercise oversight over the programs funded through the Wisconsin Universal Service Fund. (USF)
Ms. Sherwood listed the following as non-Public Service Commission (PSC) programs:
- Department of Administration Teach program
- BadgerLink
- Aid to public library systems
- UW System BadgerNet Access Program
Then, as now, Cowles and Kerkman serve as co-chairs of this committee. At that time, the committee chose not to direct the Legislature Audit Bureau to conduct a review of any of these 4 specific programs
On January 30, 2013, using some of the same language in the Sherwood letter, Wisconsin CALLS and the Wisconsin State Telecommunication Association (WSTA) sent a letter to Governor Walker [see Exhibit B below] requesting that two items be included in the 2013-15 biennial budget.
- Require the Legislative Audit Bureau to annually conduct a financial and performance evaluation of at least one non-PSC USF-funded program.
- Reduce state aid to libraries funded by the Universal Service Fund by 20% per year for the next five years. (With a "glidepath" to shift funding to General Purpose Revenue -- GPR. As you might well imagine, this suggestion is easier said than done.)
Wisconsin Calls and WSTA list the following as non-Public Service Commission (PSC) programs:
- Department of Administration Teach program
- BadgerLink
- Aid to public library systems
- UW System BadgerNet Access Program
Highlights indicate identical sections of letters.
EXHIBIT A
The Legislative Audit Process in Wisconsin: USF Case Study in the Making? (12/1/2011)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
2012 Youth Free Expression Film Contest Semifinalists
View the other videos at the National Coalition Against Censorship website and vote for your favorite.
"...promoting freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression and opposing censorship in all its forms."
Does Your Library Have Enough Room for its "People Collection"?
Round Rock Public Library Timeline (from Wikipedia)
1962. The Round Rock Ladies Home Demonstration Club decide that the city needs a library. They organize a group of private citizens into the first Round Rock Public Library Board. Two years later, a new library opens in a remodeled automobile showroom.
1977. The City of Round Rock assumes ownership of the library.
1978. Structural damage forces the library to close.
1979. The library is relocated to a temporary building.
1980. A $0.5 million two story structure is dedicated on the original site. (Library on the first floor, city council chamber on the second.)
1986 The need for more space requires that the building be renovated.
1996. Round Rock citizens approve a $3.5 million bond issue to expand the library from 11,000 to 43,000 square feet.
1998. Construction on the addition begins in March.
1999. Construction is finished in July.
And the community's growth continues apace.
Hypocrisy Inaction
Photo credit: Wikipedia
No Pay? Little Sacrifice for Many in Congress. (The New York Times, 1/29/2013)
Median net worth of American households:
$66,740
Median net worth of 535 member of Congress:
$966,000
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Between my Recipes, Soiled Pages Speak Volumes
The worst offending page contains my all-time favorite banana bread recipe.
From "Samples from S.A.M.P.L. (Staff Association of the Middleton Public Library)
Between the Recipes, Scribbles Speak Volumes. (The New York Times, 1/28/2013)
Excerpt: People who wouldn’t dream of writing in other books don’t hesitate to edit (“add ½ t. cayenne”), write reviews (“never again”) and even note special occasions (“anniversary party ’84”) next to recipes. Whether practical, historical, sentimental or smudged with chocolate ganache, marginalia in cookbooks can tell the story of a life and be a lasting memorial to the scribbler.
Occasionally -- and I'm very inconsistent about it -- I'll note the date when I first tried a recipe.
From "The Fix-It and Forget-It (TM) Cookbook"
The Bookmobile in the United States
Excerpt from "The Library Services and Construction Act" by John C. Frantz, Published in the ALA Bulletin Vol. 60, No. 2, Federal Librrary Legislation, Programs, and Services. (February 1966), pp. 149-152
From 1957 to 1964 the rural Library Services Act had conspicuous success in extending and improving public library services to more than 40 million persons living in places with less than 10,000 population.
Excerpt from "LSA and LSCA, 1956-1973: A Legislative History" by James W. Fry. Library Trends, July 1975.
A U. S. Office of Education study conducted in 1956 revealed that 26 million rural residents were without any public library service and that more than 300 rural counties had no public library within their borders. The study also reported that an additional 50 million rural residents had only inadequate service. The Library Services Act of 1956 was a significant step forward in providing improved library services for these neglected areas.
U.S. population in 1956: 168,903,031, which means that 15% of U.S. residents were without library services and another 30% had access to inadequate service.
As this column graph demonstrates, bookmobile service is slowly on the wane. There were 874 bookmobiles in operation in 2001, 734 in 2010. And the news isn't getting any better. [And here.]
According to the Public Library Service Data, there were 8 bookmobiles in operation in Wisconsin in 2011.
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Library Survey for the years 2001 to 2010.
In my first public library job as Head of Extension Services at the Oshkosh Public Library, I supervised the operation of two bookmobiles, one that operated within the city, the other in Winnebago County. This era of the library's history ended in 2007.
Photo credits: Retiring Guy (1979)
Library History Buff Blog: Gerstenschlager Bookmobile Postcard Ads
Library History Buff Blog: A Tribute to the Bookmobile
1953-1954 Gerstenslager Trail Blazer Bookmobile Dodge Truck Sales Brochure
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Conservatives Speak Out on Pridemore's Campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
James Wigderson is award-winning local columnist for the Waukesha Freeman, online columnist for the MacIver Institute, political blogger in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
PLENTY OF HORNE. Evers Vs. Pridemore. (Urban Milwaukee, 1/28/2013)
Pridemore: Opportunity for Kids.
Wisconsin Library Legislative Day: Our Path to Success
Hello to library advocates throughout Wisconsin
What I'm sharing with you today is, in essence, a summary/transcript of my portion of the legislative briefing that takes place at Library Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 5th at the Inn on the Park in Madison.
The Library Development & Legislation Committee (LD&L) and the Library Legislative Day Planning Subcommittee (LLD) has a lot of information to share with you, and this email gives you the opportunity to get a headstart on familiariizing yourself with it. The 2013 issue papers will soon appear on the WLA state legilslative webpages.
So here we go. (But before we do, a special thanks to Kris Adams Wendt and Tony Driessen for their input on this briefing.)
Preparing for Wisconsin Library Legislative Day 2013
Our Path to Success: A Conversation, Not an Oration.
What follows is the road map for the 2013 Wisconsin Library Legislative Day, with specific points marked along the way – and opportunities for a few side trips.
The plan contains 4 elements
- The Shared Objectives
- The Pitch
- The Story
- The Tools
But first some general background information.
Try not to feel overwhelmed! (Easier said than done, I suppose.) Although the LD&L and LLD are presenting you with a lot of information, we want to emphasize that you shouldn’t feel obligated to touch on every single point of our legislative agenda during your meetings with legislators on February 5th. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the items on our legislative agenda and with the approach we plan to take with legislators so that you can prepare a number of effective library stories to tell.
Governor Walker to submit his budget to the legislature on February 20th. Step 2 of the budget process -- Budget proposed by Governor and sent to Legislature (chart 14) – is scheduled to take place on February 20th. Walker will deliver his budget address in the Assembly Chambers at 7:00 p.m. In other words, we won’t know what’s specifically in the budget until later that week, which give us an opportunity to follow up with our legislators before the end of February with, depending upon the outcome, a reinforced or recalibrated message.
As for the library programs in the 2013-15 biennial budget, we're hoping that they will be funded at the same level as the 2011-13 budget. Personally, I think that's the best we can expect.
A conversation, not an oration. Most importantly, though, we want to be sure that we have conversations with our legislators and/or legislative aides. Don’t feel you need to fill up all the “air time”. (Advice offered by a retired legislator.)
Sidebar: On Tuesday, February 5th, Tony Driessen and Michael Blumenfeld will provide the following
- Update on the current legislature based on the 2012 November elections
- Leadership in the Senate and Assembly
- The legislative calendar (when legislators are in session)
- Tips and etiquette about meeting with your legislators (REMEMBER, the appointment has already been made for you.)
- The importance of follow-up and building relationships.
Now let’s take a closer look at the 4 elements of “Our Path to Success”
1. The Shared Objectives: We know these are the three priorities of our governor.
- Creating jobs
- Transforming education
- Developing our workforce
In October 2013, Governor Walker made clear what his priorities are for the 2013-15 biennial budget.
Our message: Wisconsin libraries are partners in this endeavor.
These are examples that align us with Governor Walker's stated budget priorities, but we also know, as a result of the work of his Read to Lead Commission last year, that family literacy and reading readiness should also match up well with his agenda.
We’re not saying that you need to limit your stories to the four bullet points listed above, but the Governor and his staff have made it very clear that any increased funding to specific agencies/programs needs to be directly tied to job creation, education, and workforce development.
4. The Tools: These are the programs we are paying attention to in the 2013-15 state budget and during the 2013 state biennium.
Explanatory note: The first bullet point under each of the following headings is how the programs are briefly described in a letter sent to each legislator’s office this week. These letters also include a list of names of the Wisconsin Library Legislative Day attendees with whom legislators will be meeting.
Public library system funding
Sidebar: State law requires that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction funding for public library systems at a level equal to 13% of local and county library operating expenditures. Unfortunately, there is no accompanying requirement that the Governor and Legislature honor this request, which is why we are at an estimated 6.9% for 2013.. Advocating for the 13% -- a 93% increase over the current base -- is not likely to strike legislators as a reasonable request. We think asking for a restoration of the 10% cut better fits the definition of "reasonable".
BadgerLink
Statewide resource contracts
Newsline for the Blind
Common School Fund
Broadband access
University of Wisconsin System libraries
Bottom line: Explain to your legislators who your library makes a positive difference I the lives of their constituents. It’s a service that is much loved and highly valued.
And, at a minimum, try to get a sense of where you can place your legislators along the library continuum: supportive, on the fence (could be persuaded), indifferent, not supportive.
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of Wisconsin’s libraries!
Paul Nelson WLA Library Legislation & Development Chaiar
Which leads us to …….
2. The Pitch: A modest investment from the state budget supports local libraries’ ability to deliver.
At this time, you might want to provide 1 or 2 preliminary examples/stories of how such state-funded collaborative programs – public library systems, BadgerLink, statewide service contracts, UW System libraries, Common School Fund – make a positive difference at the local level in the lives of your legislators’ constituents.
Then pause for feedback from the legislator or aide.
3. The Story: At this point in your conversation, use specific example of how libraries are already helping to achieve the Governor’s budget priorities.
Stories are more effective than statistics.
And we need to be prepared to share some effective ones if we wish to make any headway in our goals for increased funding.
On Tuesday, February 5, 2013, describe to your legislators, using specific examples, how their constituents have made the transition from Point A (your library) to Points B (education and career goals).
More specifically……
Point A represents the physical and virtual materials, services, and programs provided by your library: public, academic, school, special.
Points B represent specific education and career goals, including but not limited to
- The next step in a person’s educational progress, or
- A first job, or
- A better-paying job with greater responsibilities, or
- A job obtained after a period of unemployment
These are examples that align us with Governor Walker's stated budget priorities, but we also know, as a result of the work of his Read to Lead Commission last year, that family literacy and reading readiness should also match up well with his agenda.
We’re not saying that you need to limit your stories to the four bullet points listed above, but the Governor and his staff have made it very clear that any increased funding to specific agencies/programs needs to be directly tied to job creation, education, and workforce development.
4. The Tools: These are the programs we are paying attention to in the 2013-15 state budget and during the 2013 state biennium.
Explanatory note: The first bullet point under each of the following headings is how the programs are briefly described in a letter sent to each legislator’s office this week. These letters also include a list of names of the Wisconsin Library Legislative Day attendees with whom legislators will be meeting.
Public library system funding
- They “run in the background” like underlying operating dogtestr telling the parts of a computer how to work together and what to do -- organizing shared catalogs, inter-library loan, delivery and other efficiencies for Wisconsin’s 385 local public libraries that appear “on the screen” as the customized public face of community service.
- Amount requested: $1,668,100 in each year of the biennium to restore the 10% cut applied in both years of the 2011-13 budget.
Sidebar: State law requires that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction funding for public library systems at a level equal to 13% of local and county library operating expenditures. Unfortunately, there is no accompanying requirement that the Governor and Legislature honor this request, which is why we are at an estimated 6.9% for 2013.. Advocating for the 13% -- a 93% increase over the current base -- is not likely to strike legislators as a reasonable request. We think asking for a restoration of the 10% cut better fits the definition of "reasonable".
BadgerLink
- This efficient, cost-effective project offers Wisconsinites free online, full-text access to more than 20,000 specialized information sources, including magazines, newspapers, books, auto repair manuals, company business profiles, and industrial reports and yearbooks.
- Amount requested: $29,000 in FY 2013-14, $36,100 in FY 2014-15 to replace funding no longer covered by the State Historical Society
Statewide resource contracts
- Grant access to specialized library materials and information not available in public libraries. These include unique services to the blind and visually impaired, to Wisconsin librarians and teachers selecting children’s literature, and to state residents who require inter-loaned material from large research collections.
- Amount requested: $22,700 in each year of the biennium. to continue to provide same level of service
Newsline for the Blind
- Provides access to 15 state newspapers and more than 365 national newspapers and magazines via touchtone phone to people who cannot read print.
- Amount requested: No increase in 1st year, $400 increase in send year of biennium to continue full funding.
Common School Fund
- Constitutionally protected fund managed by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands providing annual statewide support to all school libraries
- Appears in the DPI budget as School Library Aids Re-estimate (see page 158)
- How the program works. The Fund is invested in state bonds, the State Investment Fund and in loans to municipalities and school districts through the State Trust Fund Loan Program. In April of each year, the Board forwards the available earnings of the Fund to DPI which then re-distributes the earnings as library aid to all K-12 public school districts in the state
- Amount requested: It varies from year to year based on the earnings. Our primary concern: To be on the lookout for proposals that do not support the appropriate use of this fund for strong school library programs.
Broadband access
- Sufficient affordable, sustainable high-capacity telecommunications is critical to libraries as their communities’ public gateway to effective Internet use, employment opportunities and government services.
- Although it’s highly likely we’ll need to address WiscNet more specifically between now and the end of June, it’s best to take the high road at this point, as summarized in a quote from Sen. Kathleen Vinehout: “The system is clearly working for our schools and local governments. Low-cost Internet for public entities is clearly in the public’s interest.” (Yeah, I, too, wish the word "library" was in this quote.)
- Then there’s this headline from the 1/22/2013 New York Times: Survey Finds Rising Reliance on Libraries as a Gateway to the Web. (Story topic.)
- And this quote: In the past generation, public libraries have reinvented themselves to become technology hubs in order to help their communities access information in all its new forms.
University of Wisconsin System libraries
- ...are engaged in a variety of activities that support Wisconsin’s grown agenda with an overriding goal to establish large-scale collaborations for resource sharing.
- Note: Unlike public library system funding, for example, the state budget does not include a separate line item for UW System libraries. In this case, the advocacy message is directed at the Board of Regents.
Bottom line: Explain to your legislators who your library makes a positive difference I the lives of their constituents. It’s a service that is much loved and highly valued.
And, at a minimum, try to get a sense of where you can place your legislators along the library continuum: supportive, on the fence (could be persuaded), indifferent, not supportive.
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of Wisconsin’s libraries!
Paul Nelson WLA Library Legislation & Development Chaiar
Ron Johnson's Fantasy Life
This Ron Johnson fella is our U.S. Senator for 4 more year, folks.
And he doesn't even measure up to this Hank.
Monday, January 28, 2013
How to Make a Young Child Smarter. Evidence From the Database of Raising Intelligence. (Perspectives on Psychological Science, January 2013)
Excerpt: With one exception, interventions that begin after the child is 42 months old do not raise the IQ; however, in the random effects model, age is not a significant moderator. In each of these interventions, children and their parents engage with storybook reading in an interactive way. The child is an active participant in the reading, with the adult encouraging the child to be as elaborate as possible. With one exception, these interventions do not appear to raise the IQ if the child is more than 4 years old (see Table 3). Why might this be the case? It is possible that interactive reading does not raise a young child’s intelligence but instead merely accelerates language development, which boosts IQ. If this is the case, once the child’s level of language development is more advanced, added demands may no longer act as accelerants.
Pima County Public Library
"Pride and Prejudice" Published 200 Years Ago Today
And there are still holds on the dang thing. (One of numerous catalog records.)
Step aside, please, Mr Darcy. It’s girls who are the eligible ones now. (The Telegraph, 1/28/2013)
Excerpt: In Austen’s classic novel, published on January 28, 1813 the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet’s entire future is predicated on her being married off to a successful man.
It describes a time when there was little reason to educate daughters for a career as they were expected to marry and be supported by someone else’s son.
Jane Austen's 'Pride And Prejudice' At 200. (NPR, 1/24/2013)
Hollywood "high-concept" synopsis:
FIVE LOVE-HUNGRY SISTERS ----
AND HOW THEY GOT THEIR HUSBANDS!
Step aside, please, Mr Darcy. It’s girls who are the eligible ones now. (The Telegraph, 1/28/2013)
Excerpt: In Austen’s classic novel, published on January 28, 1813 the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet’s entire future is predicated on her being married off to a successful man.
It describes a time when there was little reason to educate daughters for a career as they were expected to marry and be supported by someone else’s son.
Jane Austen's 'Pride And Prejudice' At 200. (NPR, 1/24/2013)
Hollywood "high-concept" synopsis:
FIVE LOVE-HUNGRY SISTERS ----
AND HOW THEY GOT THEIR HUSBANDS!
Rhinelander District Library Moves Forward with Expansion Project
Building committee forming to pursue library expansion, renovation project. (Rhinelander Daily News, 1/24/2013)
On the agenda for the January 24th library board meeting:
- Tmetable for future meetings
- Interviewing of architect candidates
- Official appointments to the building committee
- Subcommittees to be formed.
1985. 10,000-square-foot addition.
2013. Larger service area, increased use, a growing emphasis on technology requires more physical space.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Determined Women in Wisconsin's Public Library History (Part 2)
The story continues.
Libraries covered in this post
Appleton Public Library
My first visit to the Appleton Public Library took place at this location, though not at the time this photo was taken. Really! It occurred in 1979, when I was Head of Extension Services at the Oshkosh Public Library, two years before the present facility on North Oneida Street opened.
My initial reaction, "Wow, they definitely need more room here."
From the "History of the Appleton Public Library, 1887-1997", which includes the following sections:
Nearly a decade before Appleton had a publicly-funded library, Elizabeth Jones spearheaded the first successful attempt at a community reading room in the fall of 1887. At her own expense, Jones rented rooms over Pardee's Store (near the corner of College Ave. & Morrison St.), provided some materials, and solicited donations of books, magazines, and newspapers. The room was an immediate success. Within months, the Young Men's Free Reading Room Association formed to continue the effort. The Jones family remained a driving force behind the library;
Manitowoc Public Library
From MPL's "Library History" webpage.
During 1898 and 1899, a committee comprised of five members of the Clio Club, a women’s literacy group, raised $4,700 to establish a public library supported by public taxation. In November of 1899, the Manitowoc City Council adopted the gift from the Clio Club, provided a tax to support the library, and appointed the first Library Board of Trustees comprised of C. F. Canright, John Nagle and Norman Torrison.
Middleton Public Library
Now home to the best pizza in town, if not in all of Dane County. (Try the Calabrese, Misto, or Shrimp and Goat Cheese.)
From "Historical Overview of the Middleton Public Library"
On February 27, 1927, the members of the Middleton Progressive Women’s Club start a library by donating a shelf’s worth of books, which are made available at the Burmeister-Kruse Department Store, located at the northwest corner of Hubbard and Parmenter.
Rhinelander District Library (A recent Flickr view)
From a speech that Kris Adams Wendt delivered to the Rhinelander Woman's Club in 2007.
The public library movement was quickly embraced by Women’s Clubs across the United States. The history of the Rhinelander Woman’s Club and the Rhinelander Public Library have become so intertwined that, 109 years later, Woman’s Club members are still fondly referenced as the library’s “founding mothers.” It is most fortunate that cord of communion and sustenance has never been cut. The Club’s first and greatest project has truly set its course through the decades. [Emphasis added.]
I stand here this morning to give testimony to the tireless work of the amazing Rhinelander women who created, equipped and opened a public library in just three months time.
The twenty women who founded the Rhinelander Woman’s Club on Tuesday, January 11, 1898 were interested in study, fellowship and the public library. The chapter was launched a scant three weeks following the inaugural meeting of the Rhinelander Free City Library Board on December 20, 1897.
At least three of the five women on the first library board were listed among the first Woman’s Club members. In the manner of our social convention, these ladies most often appeared in print behind their husband’s name and initials, in the manner of “Mrs. W.E. Brown” but I knew these charter members as Clara Brown, her sister-in-law Juliet Brown, Julia Barnes, Anna Hinman and….my mother…Bessie Van Tassel Wixson.
Stoughton Public Library
From "History of the Stoughton Public Library"
The Library Board asked Carnegie for $15,000, but he was reluctant to increase his standard grant from $10,000. After much correspondence about specific details, Carnegie reached a compromise of $13,000.
Ladies’ groups in town became avidly involved and the social scene boomed with one fundraising benefit after another, such as sponsoring 15 cent baked bean suppers, home talent plays, concerts by local musicians and whatever else might raise a few more dollars for the proposed library and its furnishings.
Sun Prairie Public Library
From "Origins 1901-1924"
The 20th Century Club, founded in 1901, was the follow-up to the Ladies Home Social Club that had already been operating a private library for over 20 years. Sarah Haner, born in the neighboring township of Bristol, founded the 20 th Century Club in order to promote causes such as temperance, equality, and literacy. 5 One of the first acts of the club was to promote the creation of a free public library in Sun Prairie. A committee was created to pursue this goal and their ideas for a library were sent to the WFLC. In reply, the WFLC suggested that the village council and president had to appoint the library board and provide separate funds for the library. The village council appointed a library board in April of 1901, but did not supply any funds for maintenance purposes, proposing instead that voluntary subscriptions would fund the library. However, the village council soon changed its mind later in 1901 and supplied a total of $50.00 dollars that same year.
History of the Sun Prairie Public Library (in 4 chapters)
Taylor Memorial Library
Karyn Schmidt reports that Taylor Memorial Library in Taylor had a lot of books that were labeled “Taylor Legion Aux. Library”, so I thought we might fit this category. A 1938 newspaper article gives the “First annual report of the library at Taylor sponsored by the Auxiliary unit of the Carl Hanson Post of the American Legion."
Tomahawk Public Library
Shared by Library Director Mary Dunn.
The Tomahawk Public Library has been an integral part of the City of Tomahawk for over 100 years. In 1909 the Women's Literary Club and Tuesday Club sponsored the establishment of a library in the assembly room of the Tomahawk City Hall. In 1967 Mr. and Mrs. George Karam gifted funds to add a 2, 400 square foot library addition on to the City Hall. Children's services were provided separately on the second floor of the City Hall. In 1995 the Tomahawk Public Library moved into a beautiful 11, 600 square foot building along the shores of the Wisconsin River. The library continues to expand services to the Community of Tomahawk.
Wild Rose
From a brief history of the library written in 1970 by Pearl S. Dopp, shared by Library Director Kent Barnard.
It was forty years ago that the Wild Rose Women’s Club and P.T.A. joined hands to establish a library in the village hall. It was in the winter of 1930, the depth of the depression, when no one had money to buy books or periodicals or amusement. The Village Board built book shelves and Mrs. Katherine Patterson, Rev. W.T. Williams and Mrs. George Dopp went from house to house collecting books to fill them.
Mrs. Anna Hoaglin was the first librarian and gave of herself and her time until her death in 1954. Rev. W.T. Williams was the first president, and on his death, Mrs. George Dopp became president.
Other trustees were Mrs. Frank Dopp and William Godson, who was superintendent of schools. Mr. Godson is retired and living in Marinette. He and Mrs. George Dopp are the only living members of the charter board of trustees. She has served forty years.
For several years, the PTA gave it’s lunch money to the library. The community gave plays, recitals, bake sales, donation suppers, movies for its support. The Woman’s Club always supported it regularly and generously, always hoping to have a separate, adequate building to house its collection of books.
Related post
Part 1 (1/25/2013)
Libraries covered in this post
- Appleton Public Library
- Manitowoc Public Library
- Middleton Public Library
- Rhinelander District Library
- Stoughton Public Library
- Sun Prairie Public Library
- Tomahawk Public Library
- Wild Rose, Patterson Memorial Library
Appleton Public Library
My first visit to the Appleton Public Library took place at this location, though not at the time this photo was taken. Really! It occurred in 1979, when I was Head of Extension Services at the Oshkosh Public Library, two years before the present facility on North Oneida Street opened.
My initial reaction, "Wow, they definitely need more room here."
Photo source: Appleton Public Library website
From the "History of the Appleton Public Library, 1887-1997", which includes the following sections:
- APL's Private Origins
- The City Takes Over
- Growth and Building Projects
- Innovative Service
- Cooperation and Technology
- Community Support
- Celebrate the Past, Look to the Future
Nearly a decade before Appleton had a publicly-funded library, Elizabeth Jones spearheaded the first successful attempt at a community reading room in the fall of 1887. At her own expense, Jones rented rooms over Pardee's Store (near the corner of College Ave. & Morrison St.), provided some materials, and solicited donations of books, magazines, and newspapers. The room was an immediate success. Within months, the Young Men's Free Reading Room Association formed to continue the effort. The Jones family remained a driving force behind the library;
Manitowoc Public Library
Manitowoc's Carnegie Library (opened 1904)
Photo source: Manitowoc Public Library "Library History" webpage
From MPL's "Library History" webpage.
During 1898 and 1899, a committee comprised of five members of the Clio Club, a women’s literacy group, raised $4,700 to establish a public library supported by public taxation. In November of 1899, the Manitowoc City Council adopted the gift from the Clio Club, provided a tax to support the library, and appointed the first Library Board of Trustees comprised of C. F. Canright, John Nagle and Norman Torrison.
Middleton Public Library
Burmeistser-Kruse Department Store
From "Historical Overview of the Middleton Public Library"
On February 27, 1927, the members of the Middleton Progressive Women’s Club start a library by donating a shelf’s worth of books, which are made available at the Burmeister-Kruse Department Store, located at the northwest corner of Hubbard and Parmenter.
Rhinelander District Library (A recent Flickr view)
From a speech that Kris Adams Wendt delivered to the Rhinelander Woman's Club in 2007.
The public library movement was quickly embraced by Women’s Clubs across the United States. The history of the Rhinelander Woman’s Club and the Rhinelander Public Library have become so intertwined that, 109 years later, Woman’s Club members are still fondly referenced as the library’s “founding mothers.” It is most fortunate that cord of communion and sustenance has never been cut. The Club’s first and greatest project has truly set its course through the decades. [Emphasis added.]
I stand here this morning to give testimony to the tireless work of the amazing Rhinelander women who created, equipped and opened a public library in just three months time.
The twenty women who founded the Rhinelander Woman’s Club on Tuesday, January 11, 1898 were interested in study, fellowship and the public library. The chapter was launched a scant three weeks following the inaugural meeting of the Rhinelander Free City Library Board on December 20, 1897.
At least three of the five women on the first library board were listed among the first Woman’s Club members. In the manner of our social convention, these ladies most often appeared in print behind their husband’s name and initials, in the manner of “Mrs. W.E. Brown” but I knew these charter members as Clara Brown, her sister-in-law Juliet Brown, Julia Barnes, Anna Hinman and….my mother…Bessie Van Tassel Wixson.
Stoughton Public Library
From "History of the Stoughton Public Library"
The Library Board asked Carnegie for $15,000, but he was reluctant to increase his standard grant from $10,000. After much correspondence about specific details, Carnegie reached a compromise of $13,000.
Ladies’ groups in town became avidly involved and the social scene boomed with one fundraising benefit after another, such as sponsoring 15 cent baked bean suppers, home talent plays, concerts by local musicians and whatever else might raise a few more dollars for the proposed library and its furnishings.
Sun Prairie Public Library
Sun Prairie Public Library: Modernization
Photo credit: Retiring Guy
From "Origins 1901-1924"
The 20th Century Club, founded in 1901, was the follow-up to the Ladies Home Social Club that had already been operating a private library for over 20 years. Sarah Haner, born in the neighboring township of Bristol, founded the 20 th Century Club in order to promote causes such as temperance, equality, and literacy. 5 One of the first acts of the club was to promote the creation of a free public library in Sun Prairie. A committee was created to pursue this goal and their ideas for a library were sent to the WFLC. In reply, the WFLC suggested that the village council and president had to appoint the library board and provide separate funds for the library. The village council appointed a library board in April of 1901, but did not supply any funds for maintenance purposes, proposing instead that voluntary subscriptions would fund the library. However, the village council soon changed its mind later in 1901 and supplied a total of $50.00 dollars that same year.
History of the Sun Prairie Public Library (in 4 chapters)
- Origins 1901-1924
- Coming of Age 1924-1967
- Growing Pains 1967-1999
- Modernization 1999-present
Taylor Memorial Library
Karyn Schmidt reports that Taylor Memorial Library in Taylor had a lot of books that were labeled “Taylor Legion Aux. Library”, so I thought we might fit this category. A 1938 newspaper article gives the “First annual report of the library at Taylor sponsored by the Auxiliary unit of the Carl Hanson Post of the American Legion."
Tomahawk Public Library
Shared by Library Director Mary Dunn.
The Tomahawk Public Library has been an integral part of the City of Tomahawk for over 100 years. In 1909 the Women's Literary Club and Tuesday Club sponsored the establishment of a library in the assembly room of the Tomahawk City Hall. In 1967 Mr. and Mrs. George Karam gifted funds to add a 2, 400 square foot library addition on to the City Hall. Children's services were provided separately on the second floor of the City Hall. In 1995 the Tomahawk Public Library moved into a beautiful 11, 600 square foot building along the shores of the Wisconsin River. The library continues to expand services to the Community of Tomahawk.
Wild Rose
From a brief history of the library written in 1970 by Pearl S. Dopp, shared by Library Director Kent Barnard.
It was forty years ago that the Wild Rose Women’s Club and P.T.A. joined hands to establish a library in the village hall. It was in the winter of 1930, the depth of the depression, when no one had money to buy books or periodicals or amusement. The Village Board built book shelves and Mrs. Katherine Patterson, Rev. W.T. Williams and Mrs. George Dopp went from house to house collecting books to fill them.
Mrs. Anna Hoaglin was the first librarian and gave of herself and her time until her death in 1954. Rev. W.T. Williams was the first president, and on his death, Mrs. George Dopp became president.
Other trustees were Mrs. Frank Dopp and William Godson, who was superintendent of schools. Mr. Godson is retired and living in Marinette. He and Mrs. George Dopp are the only living members of the charter board of trustees. She has served forty years.
For several years, the PTA gave it’s lunch money to the library. The community gave plays, recitals, bake sales, donation suppers, movies for its support. The Woman’s Club always supported it regularly and generously, always hoping to have a separate, adequate building to house its collection of books.
Related post
Part 1 (1/25/2013)
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