Biennial report of the North Carolina State Library (reorganized July 1, 1956) [serial] (Volume 1956/58) online

THE LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF

NORTH CAROLINA




THE COLLECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINIANA



C027.5
N871
1956/58-
'66




UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL




00034021718

This book must not
be taken from the
Library building.




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FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT

OF THE

SOUTH CAROLINA
STATE LIBRARY

(Reorganized July 1, 1956)




July 1, 1956— June 30, 1958



Raleigh
North Carolina



A



FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT



OF THE



NORTH CAROLINA

STATE LIBRARY



(Reorganized July 1, 1956)




July 1, 1956— June 30, 1958



Raleigh
North Carolina



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL



Raleigh, North Carolina

To His Excellency Luther H. Hodges

Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh

My dear Sir:

We have the honor to submit to you the first biennial report
of the North Carolina State Library covering 1 the biennium end-
ing June 30, 1958. This is in compliance with the General
Statutes of North Carolina, Chapter 125.

Respectfully submitted,

John Harden

Chairman, North Carolina

State Library Board



3n ^fHemortam

Miss Carrie L. Broughton

State Librarian, 1917-1956

Miss Carrie L. Broughton, former State Librar-
ian, died on January 29, 1957, following a brief
illness. After 54 years of service in the State
Library (39 years as State Librarian), Miss
Broughton had retired from this position on July
1, 1956.

There are many wounderful things that could
be said about "Miss Carrie" — her exemplary life
and her devotion to her work for so many years.
This is not a eulogy, however, but an attempt to
share one observation from among her many
admirable qualities. Her willingness to serve with
a genuine smile, a soft voice, and calm manner
could well be the envy of every librarian. Her
quiet, unassuming demeanor won for her the ad-
miration and respect of all who came her way.

What greater tribute is there, than to love and
to be loved by your fellow man?



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Service and Organizational Chart 6

Board Members 7

Staff Members _ 7

Appropriations and Expenditures _ 9

The Change -10

Organization and Functions 10

Resources —11

Documents 12

Serials —13

Interlibrary Resources —14

Films 14

Services at the State Library 16

Genealogy 17

Services Beyond the Library Walls 18

New Public Libraries 19

Buildings 19

Workshops and Institutes _ 20

State Aid 20

Federal Aid 21

Institutional Service 24

Concurrent Activities _25

National Library Week 26

Library Recruitment Conference 26

Reading Program __27

Visitors „_28

Professional Organizations 28

Library Service to the Blind 29

Toward Tomorrow 29



NORTH CAROLINA STATE LIBRARY

Service and Organizational Chart



GOVERNOR



| 6 members appointed by Governor
Governing Board -s Supt. of Public Instruction, ex officio
iLibrarian, UNC Library, ex officio



Appoints



N. C. Certification
Board Member, G.S
125-9



N. C. Interlibrary Re.
search Facility, ex
officio



N. C. Library Associa-
tion Headquarters



State Librarian



GENERAL
SERVICES

Functions:

Reference and
research

Genealogy
Interlibrary loan
General circulation
Traveling collections
Materials selection
Shelf work
Exhibits



ADMINISTRATION
Functions:

Organization

Personnel

Budget

Policies

Public Relations

Publications

Janitorial services

Communications

Legislation



EXTENSION
SERVICES

Functions:
Consultant service to
Public libraries
Institutional

libraries
Interested groups,
organizations,
individuals
Adult education
Film Program
Workshops, institutes

etc.
Book suggestion list
for public libraries
Statistics

Federal Aid program
Trustee program



TECHNICAL
SERVICES

Functions :
Acquisitions
Bibliographic services
Main catalog
Union catalog
Materials selection
Coordination of re-
search materials
within State
Binding
Periodicals
Newspapers
Microfilm

Gifts, exchanges, etc.
Documents



NORTH CAROLINA STATE LIBRARY

Office: Library Building, Raleigh



BOARD

APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR:

John Harden, Greensboro, Chairman

Dr. Mark M. Lindsey, Hamlet,
Vice-Chairman

Dr. Roy B. McKnight, Charlotte

Paul S. Ballance, Winston-Salem

*Mrs. James H. Semans, Durham

Clifford Peeler, Salisbury

EX OFFICIO:

Dr. Charles F. Carroll, Raleigh
**Dr. Jerrold Orne, Chapel Hill



Term Expires 1961

Term Expires 1959

Term Expires 1963

Term Expires 1963

Term Expires 1961

Term Expires 1959



STAFF

Mrs. Elizabeth H. Hughey, State Librarian

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION:

Mrs. Betsy L. Newsome, Secretary to State Librarian

Mrs. Ruby L. Holloway, Budget, Personnel, and Pur-
chasing Officer

Mrs. Pauline C. Hartofelis, Typist-Clerk

Charlie Jones, Janitor-Messenger

Jesse Moore, Janitor-Messenger

GENERAL SERVICES DIVISION:

Gladys Johnson, General Services Librarian

Mrs. Margaret Price, Genealogy Reference Librarian

Georgia H. Faison, Reference Librarian

Annie Lee Yates, Assistant Reference Librarian

Elizabeth D. Middleton, Library Assistant, Information
Desk



8 First Biennial Report

Mrs. Nancy Morgan, Library Assistant, Information
Desk (Resigned May 1958)

PEGGY Adkins, Stenographer-Clerk

EXTENSION SERVICES DIVISION:

Elaine von Oesen, Extension Services Librarian

Frances Gish, Field Librarian

Phyllis Snyder, Field Librarian

Madge Blalock, Institutional Consultant and Editorial
Librarian

Mrs. Doris Baldwin, Stenographer-Clerk

Margaruite Saieed, Stenographer-Clerk

TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION:

Ann D. Galusha, Technical Services Librarian
Mrs. Marjorie W. Lindsey, Assistant Technical Services
Librarian

Margaret Sangster Parrott, Serials and Documents
Librarian

Elizabeth England, Head Cataloger

Louise Bethea, Cataloger (Resigned May, 1958)

Mrs. Eleanor Sifford, Typist-Clerk (Resigned June

1958)
Mrs. Betty Smith, Typist-Clerk
Verna Wheeler, Stenographer Clerk
Carolyn Lee, Stenographer-Clerk (Resigned May, 1958)

*Appointetl September 1957 to fill unexpired term of Dr. Charles E. Jordan
**Succeeded Dr. Andrew Horn, AuKiist 1, 1957



North Carolina State Library
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES





North Carolina State Aid to
State Library Public Libraries




1956-57


1957-58


1956-57


1957-58


Salary — State Librarian

Salaries — Staff

Supplies and Materials

Postage, Telephone, Telegrams,
Express

Travel Expense

Printing and Binding

Repairs and Alterations

General Expense


$ 7,500

49,942

1,159

1,347

773

2,560

167

295

11,000

1,195

345


$ 8,000

57,823

1,198

1,349

494
2,600

159

312

16,000

1,095

235


$

22,358
464
125

2,699
69
36

297
390,000


$__ __
25,722
485
88

2,463
87

27


Books
Equipment


114


Attending Board Meetings

Payments to Counties
Workmen's Compensation


425,000
673


Estimated Receipts


712


860






Total Expenditures
Total Appropriations


$ 76,283
$ 79,864


$ 89,265
$ 90,111


$416,048
$416,989


$454,659
$454,993



10 First Biennial Report



THE CHANGE



The present North Carolina State Library was established on
July 1, 1956, by an act of the General Assembly of 1955. The
act, resulting from recommendations of the Governor's Study
Commission, added new responsibilities to those formerly car-
ried by the North Carolina Library Commission and the old
State Library and merged resources of the two agencies.

July 1, 1958, marked the second anniversary of the reorgan-
ized North Carolina State Library operating under the North
Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 125. It is the purpose of
this report to review the progress and to note the changes dur-
ing the past biennium and to point out some of the plans and
needs for the future of this organization.

It has been said that the price of progress is the risk of change.
During the past two years, changes have been made to accom-
modate the merger of two departments. Problems have evolved,
policies have been made, and much remains to be done to achieve
the program of service needed in North Carolina.

ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

Under policies adopted by the North Carolina State Library
Board of Trusteas and the direction of the State Librarian, the
North Carolina State Library provides library service directly to
state officials, employees and agencies in their line of work
and to the people of the whole State through a network of
public libraries. Its reference and research facilities are avail-
able to all who come to the State Library in person or apply
through their local libraries. It aids, promotes and encourages
library development throughout North Carolina. The staff works
with librarians and trustees in developing local service and with
committees and sections of the North Carolina Library Associa-
tion and other organizations in planning and sponsoring co-
operative activities, workshops and institutes to improve and
promote library services. It collects, compiles and issues sta-
tistics from North Carolina libraries: public, college and uni-
versity, and special. Among its regular publications are an an-
nual statistical report; a biennial narrative report; and, on a
monthly basis, a news letter; an acquisitions list; and a book
suggestions list. It serves as a clearing house for library in-
formation, including personnel needs among the libraries of the
State.



North Carolina State Library 11

The work of the North Carolina State Library is carried on
by an administrative staff and three service divisions: techni-
cal, extension and general. Together with the administrative
staff, these divisions function as a team with one goal — to pro-
vide good library service for North Carolinians. They agree
with Alex Dreier, news commentator, that a library should be
an "intellectual service station where you grease the gears of
knowledge and leave with a full tank of satisfaction and assur-
ance."

Providing an adequate "intellectual service station" is con-
tingent upon resources and services with personnel and physical
facilities for the same.

RESOURCES

The merging of the two library agencies brought together
two collections of library materials formerly maintained sepa-
rately, yet in the same building. This required the shifting and
inter-filing of books, periodicals, newspapers, documents and
vertical file materials. The inter-filing of the entire book collec-
tion of approximately 130,000 volumes was completed in the
summer of 1957.

At the beginning of the biennium it was necessary to consult
three card catalogs to locate materials in the library. The two
from the former State Library were inter-filed as the books were
merged. A new catalog is being made, using the former Library
Commission catalog as a beginning. The need for the new catalog
grew out of the differences in classification and in subject cata-
loging of the two book collections. These differences also neces-
sitate recataloging a major portion of the book collection. The
books on each subject are being brought together and the card
catalog is becoming a dependable tool.

This is a job requiring experienced catalogers and several
years to complete unless the staff is greatly enlarged or a crash
program is initiated. Another responsibility to be met is the
organization of library materials in the various state agencies
with a union listing in the State Library. Along with the re-
organization of the former resources every effort has been made
within the budget limitations to acquire and prepare for use
materials to further meet current needs of the library patrons.
A constant hardship is the lack of money to buy sufficient ma-



12 First Biennial Report

terials and inadequate space to house these materials and to
make them easily available for public use within the library.

To achieve maximum efficiency with limited space and person-
nel, all technical service procedures have been carefully studied
and analyzed and a manual developed for use of the personnel
within the Division.

During the two-year period, 18,883 books were cataloged. This
figure includes 8,652 which were recataloged. Of the 10,231 new
volumes added, 7,449 were purchased; 2,379 were gifts and
403 were uncataloged items located during the merger.

To advise the library's public of recent acquisitions, a monthly
listing was initiated in September 1956. This list gives biblio-
graphic information plus a brief annotation of each adult non-
fiction title added during the previous month. At. the end of 18
months a survey made among state agencies, libraries, and the
general public gave an overwhelming vote for continuation of
"Recent Acquisitions."

Documents

Among other important resources of the State Library are
state and federal documents. On July 1, 1956, the State Library
became an official depository for publications issued by the
various North Carolina state agencies and accepted the responsi-
bility for supplying two copies of their publications to the
Library of Congress.

Cooperation of the many state agencies in this project, while
not 100%, has been encouraging and the collection is growing
rapidly. With a documents librarian on the staff, the current
material is being organized and cataloged for easy availability.
The State Library cooperates with the Library of the University
of North Carolina in issuing a bi-monthly checklist of official
North Carolina publications.

Prior to the merger, many documents received in the State
Library were integrated into the book collection. With the organ-
ization of a special documents collection it is necessary to with-
draw such items and treat them as documents.

Federal documents are also important in state government
and of special significance in the State Library resources. For



North Carolina State Library 13

over fifty years the State Library has been a selective deposi-
tory for federal documents. Many of these, like the state docu-
ments, had been placed in the general book collection. As person-
nel, time, and space permit these are being withdrawn and
organized with other federal documents, including both current
acquisitions and a backlog of several thousand items not previ-
ously recorded.

Many federal documents are essential in the research of the
Department of Justice. The State Library cooperates with the
Supreme Court Library in securing these much needed items
and making them readily available.

Serials

Periodicals and newspapers strengthen the resources of the
State Library. Many of the magazines have been used so ex-
tensively that they must be mended and rebound before they can
be used further. Of the 503 periodical titles currently received
80 are being bound. As each annual accumulation is added the
shelf space problem becomes more acute. Only 172 periodicals
are paid subscriptions. The others are gifts, exchanges and
documents.

The State Library has an outstanding collection of newspapers
from the 18th century to date. A complete listing with a catalog
showing the holdings has been set up and is being maintained.
The holdings represent 610 North Carolina publications. Un-
fortunately, most of the older ones are in poor physical con-
dition and cannot be handled without great damage. With lack
of humidity and dust control the deterioration continues. Unless
the ones in poorest condition — for example, The Raleigh Regis-
ter, 1843-1867 — are put on film within the next two years, it
will be impossible to salvage them. The 149 North Carolina
papers with no bound volumes are now organized in boxes and
easily accessible. Currently 119 North Carolina papers are be-
ing received as donations to the library by the publishers. Seven
out-of-state papers are received by subscription. Among those
from North Carolina, seven are currently being bound and 15 are
purchased in microfilm editions. Preserving these papers on
film is less expensive, more permanent and a space saver.

Interesting collections of maps and charts in the State Library
have been listed and will be organized for better reference use
as soon as adequate space and personnel are available.



14 First Biennial Report

Interlibrary Resources

To provide more material and reference information than
currently available in the State Library collection, the State
Library participates in an active interlibrary loan service for
libraries and citizens of the State.

Fifteen public libraries are cooperating with the State Library
in developing special subject collections, with the use of State
Aid grants. These collections are available for use throughout
the State on an inter-library loan basis. A union catalog of these
materials is maintained in the State Library, and the initial
subject bibliographies which were issued are being kept up to
date with quarterly supplements.

The State Library supplements public library resources and
serves as a clearing house for interlibrary loans unless the lo-
cation of material is known by the library needing the material.
The establishment of the Interlibrary Center in the Wilson Li-
brary of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in Jan-
uary 1958, provided further help to the State Library in locating
requested books. The Center provides access to the catalog of
the Library of the University and its union catalog of the larger
library collections of the State. When requested materials are
not found in the State Library or the special subject collections,
requests for locations are sent to the Center. If the Center notes
that the most accessible source is the University Library, the
loan may be made from there; otherwise, it is referred to an-
other library — preferably the nearest one to the borrower. Since
the establishment of the Center, 229 referrals have been made
from the State Library. The Center likewise refers requests to
the State Library.

Films

Another resource made possible through cooperation is a col-
lection of informational films for adults which included over
600 titles at the end of the biennium. Approximately one third
of these films is distributed on a block booked basis to 33 li-
braries with regularly scheduled film programs. This leaves the
major portion of the collection in a film pool from which any
public library in the State may borrow, free of charge, films re-
quested by local individuals or groups. The State Library con-
tracts with the Bureau of Audio-Visual Education, Extension
Division, University of North Carolina, for consultant and tech-



16 First Biennial Report

nical services for this film program. Together with the two
state agencies involved, the public librarians have helped set up
a film selection program in which they have been most active
participants. They also helped develop a more useful film hand-
book which was completed at the end of the biennium and is
being used extensively throughout the State and serving as a
model for several other states. Film statistics for 1957-58 listed
6,793 organizations served and a total audience of 470,237.

SERVICES AT THE STATE LIBRARY

Bringing inquiring patrons and information together is the
epitome of library service. All the library resources mean naught
unless they are used. State Library patrons are people who come
in person, people whose library needs are relayed through their
libraries, and those people who live in the few areas of North
Carolina without access to public library service. The latter
group may come, call or write directly to the State Library.

Again, experienced, professionally trained personnel with
capable clerical assistants are required to interpret the need of
the library patron and locate the necessary materials to fill the
need.

Statistical records can hardly reflect the skills and efforts
required to bring the reader and information together. They
show something, however, of volume, types, sources and dispo-
sition made of inquiries. Biennial statistics of the General Serv-
ices Division show use of State Library resources and point up
cooperative efforts to enrich the library resources in North
Carolina. A survey of mail requests reflects the State's growing
interest in agricultural and industrial development, especially
small business.

Frequently the technical and scientific knowledge of other
state personnel has been used in answering requests for special-
ized information. In turn the library has been asked to produce
background material, statistics, bibliographies, etc. for the de-
partments of Archives and History, Conservation and Develop-
ment, Revenue, and the Highway Commission, to name a few.
These requests constitute an urgent need to strengthen holdings
in documents, bibliography and directories.

A steady increase in use of the library resources was noted
throughout the biennium. The number of people using the read-



North Carolina State Library 17

ing and reference room increased from 8,712 during the first
year to 14,017 in the second year — an increase of 69%. In the
latter period the mail requests for reference assistance and
specific titles reached 6,869 for the year, averaging 27 requests
per day and representing a 70% increase. People coming in
person or telephoning for reference service reached 7,169 in the
second year, averaging 28 requests per day and representing a
60 ( t increase. Time involved in giving this service varies from a
few minutes required to verify a date to hours or even days re-
quired in locating some more elusive information needed by
patrons.

Further indication of use of materials is reflected in the 40%
increase during the second year in direct circulation to libraries
and individuals (State employees and residents of the six coun-
ties without countywide library service). The number of titles
requested which were referred to the public library interlibrary
loan subject collections also increased 407c during the second
year.

Genealogy

To help conquer a space and organization problem, genealogy
reference materials were pulled from the general reference and
book collections and reorganized in the room allocated to the
State Library on the second floor of the Library Building. This
room already housed census records and newspapers on film,
the microfilm readers and a section of the bound newspapers.
The arrangement of this room designated for genealogy research
released some space on the first floor for better location and
expansion of reference materials and more space for patrons
to use the materials.

Since the State Library does not do extensive genealogical
research for individual patrons, it is even more necessary to
provide adequate space for the people who do their own research
or employ specialists who do it for them.

As provided for in the Statutes, the State Library does certify
copies of materials from library holdings. When photostatic
copies are required, arrangements are made to have the work
done by commercial firms at the patron's expense. During the
past biennium, 99 photostats were secured from State Library
materials, chiefly in genealogical research.



18 First Biennial Report

Personnel and housing have not kept up with increased use of
library facilities and resources. Some of the services curtailed
prior to the merger have been partially reactivated. The index-
ing of the News and Observer and the Sunday editions of other
North Carolina newspapers has not been kept up to date. This
service is vital to the location of current information about
people, places and happenings, in North Carolina especially.
Organization and maintenance of printed nonbook material
have been neglected while personnel has been stretched to the
limit trying to fill the pressing requests and needs of the mom-
ent.

SERVICES BEYOND THE LIBRARY WALLS

Much of the State Library's service extends beyond the walls
of the building on the south side of Capitol Square. Mention has
already been made of the responsibility of supplementing public
library resources. The State Library also has a staff of exper-
ienced, professional librarians who serve as consultants to North
Carolina's public libraries and to communities which wish to
establish libraries. These people are catalytic agents in helping
to develop strong library service throughout the State. They
interpret the State Library and its services to the local libraries
while encouraging the development of better local public library
service. Visits are made to all areas, where assistance is given
on all phases of library service such as book selection ; book-