MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTER ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY LIBRARIES ATHENAEUM 1981 Volume I CONTENTS VOLUME I ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL SERVICES CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES ATHENAEUM 1981 Director of the Library • . • . • • • • . • . • . • • • . • • • • . • . 1 Associate Director • • • . • • • • . • . • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • 7 Accounting Office . • • . • . • • • . • • • . • . • . • • 11 Building Maintenance . • . • • • • . • . • • . • • • • • . • • • • • . • . • • . • • 12 Personnel . 17 Special Services . • • . • • . • . • • . • • . • . • • • • • • . • . • • • . • • • 22 Community Outreach . • • . • . • . • . • • • . • . • . • • . • . • • 25 Environmental Conservation Library.................. 30 INF'OPJ1 . • . • • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • . 3 4 Interlibrary Loan . • . • . • • . • . • . • . • . • . 35 Minneapolis: Portrait of a Lifestyle............... 39 Municipal Information Library . • . • . • . 41 Publicity Off ice . • . • . 45 Chief of Central Library Services •..•..•..•..•............ 48 Machine Assisted Reference Service Advisory Committee •. 54 Central Library Book Selection Librarian............... 59 Subject Departments Art, Music, Films . • . • . • . • . 64 Business and Science . • . • • . • • • • . • . • • • • • 75 Children's Room • . • • . • • . • . • • • . • . • . • • • . • . 86 Government Documents ....•...•...•. , • • • • . • . • . • 93 History and Travel • . • • . • . • . • . 98 Minneapolis History Collection . • • • • . • . • . • 106 Literature . • • • . • . • . • . • . • . • 109 Sociolor;y • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • . • • . • • . 116 Shelving • . • . • • • • • • . • . • • . • . • . • . • . 123 Chief of Technical Services •.....••..•..•.••••..•..•..•••. 125 Acquisitions/Electronic Data Processing Department ..... 133 Catalog Department • . • • . • . • . • • . • • • • • • . • • . • • . • . 144 Circulation Department ..•..•..•..•.....•..•...•..•..... 158 Preparations Department ..••••.•••••..•..•..•....•.•.... 163 Athenaeum . • . • . • . • . • • • . • • • • . • . • . • . • . • . • . • . 1 71 ANNUAL REPORT ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 1981 Library use in 1981 traced the traditional pattern of increased activity during periods of economic uncertainty and unemployment bringing clearly into focus the disturbing paradox of the Information Age. While the vast­ ness of information increases along with advanced technological capabilities of delivery, the needed dissemination of that knowledge is thwarted by re­ duced public funding. It is a dilemna not soon to be resolved. Issues involving the old and the new Walker Conmunity Library highlighted the first half of 1981 with labor union negotiations and budget cutbacks the dominant areas of concern from July through the end of the year. A request by Mr. Laurence s. Zipkin to assign a portion of his interest in the Purchase Agreement for the old Walker building presented a potential setback to the sale of the property. However, the request was approved by the Library Board in January followinJ investigation of the proposed assign­ ment by the City Attorney's Office and the assurance by that Office that no impropriety nor conflict was found. Final closing of the sale was on March 2. The long awaited openinJ and dedication of the new Walker Library was held on Sunday, February 22 culminating a branch buildinJ program begun in 1967. With the excitement of the opening and the overwhelming acceptance of the new underground facility as de:nonstrated by community use, maddening delays and construction frustrations became a dim memory except for leakage problems. The cause of this trouble is difficult to determine and hence not easily corrected. On June 18, a worrisome problem was resolved when the Library Board approved the method of repayment of the temporary loan of $350,000. from the City Council for the construction of the new Walker building by the transfer of monies from the following sources to the King Field Account (42-76): $250,000. from the Library 1981 Operating Budget (Fund 18); $40,000. from Midland National Bank Account #5042003.03 (Walker property sale deposit); and $60,000. from balances in three Library Permanent Improvement Funds (44-13, 44-17, and 44-20). New leadership and reorganization not only in AFSCME but in the City Coordi­ nator's Office significantly influenced Library labor negotiations in 1981. Labor negotiations with Union Local 99 began on April 15 with intensified union demands, an expanded right to work law, and a labor consultant hired by the Library Board to assist in the deliberations. Lengthy negotiations dragged into state mediation sessions in July ultimately concluding in a tentative agreement approved by the Library Board in late October. In -7- accordance with state law, the new AFSCME Local Union 99 contract, still not fully executed by year's end, excludes the confidential and supervisory units formerly covered by these agreements. The confidential employees petitioned for certification from the State Bureau of Mediation and a con­ tract with them is pending. An agreement with the Professional Librarians Union of Minneapolis, which has no written contract, was reached after brief negotiations. Talks with Local 34 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, recessed pending City Council agreements, resumed in late fall and an agreement reached at that time. The new 2-year contracts provide for salary increases of 8.5% on July 1, 1981 and 8.89% on July 1, 1982. An amended 1981 operating budget was approved by the Board in March with anticipated current revenues of $8,593,433 plus an unaudited 1980 carryover balance of $914,970. and authorized expenditures of $6,615,818 for personnel service and $2,744,599 for other than personnel service with an expected carryover balance on December 31, 1981 of $147,986. A levy of 2.148 mills at a collection rate of 98% was required for this budget in addition to $2,723,377 in state aids. Funding of pension expenditures totalling approx­ imately $620,000. for the Municipal Employees Retirement Association (MERA) was provided for through transfer from City Fund 87 as in prior years, while pension costs for the state coordinated plan and social security are paid from the Library's operating budget. The 1982 operating budget suhnitted in June to the City Budget Office in the aITOunt of $9,657,651 ( inclu:ling the MERA pension transfer) was approximately 8% over the 1981 total operating budget. The Mayor's recorrmendation reduced this request by $100,452. in the fir st round of the City's bt.rlget cuts for 1982. In November as the City braced itself for the second round of fiscal decreases the Library was asked to prepare for reductions up to 15% due to the critical fiscal situation at the state level. The btrlget problem necessitated a vast anount of time and energy in planning a prioritized list of proposed cuts to accommodate anticipated budget reduc­ tions. The process was especially exasperating because the extent of the reductions was as indefinite as the timing. In an attempt to lessen the need for possible layoffs in 1982, 23 part-time and full-time positions remained unfilled at the close of the year. Supervisors throUJhout the Library are to be commended for their cooperation in coping with these unfilled vacancies. The Trust Fund investment showed earnings of $35,002.95, an increase of $943.91 over 1980. The Anne Fraser memorial fund name was changed to the Anne and Lois Fraser memorial fund following the untimely death of Ms. Lois Fraser in June. Contributions totalling almost $10,000. have been received in her memory. In AUJust, the Director received the welcome news of the gift of approxi­ mately $25,000. from the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library which is to be expended for a computerized preventative maintenance management system and an appraisal of a segment of the Art book collection. -8- An appropriation of $30,000. from the Walter A. Smith Segregated trust account was authorized by the Library Board in Ai.gust for expenditures incurred for the writing and production of a literary work covering the history of the Minneapolis Public Library. The work, scheduled for sale in September, 1984 is to cormnemorate the Library's Centennial in 1985. Proceeds fran the sale of the book are to be returned to the Smith account. Ms. Kristi Gibson, Publicity Assistant, chaired an Editorial Cornnittee, composed of staff with Mr. Harold Kittleson as the Board representative, which developed criteria for the work and conducted interviews for the writer. Upon Cormnittee recom­ mendation, Mr. Bruce Benidt, a journalism instructor at Mankato State University, was selected in early fall to begin the writing of the book. A contract between Mr. Benidt and the Library details terms of this agreement. Valuable input was provided by a staff cafeteria canmittee, appointed early in the year to assist the Associate Director in selecting a replacement for Mr. William Anderson, Cafeteria Operator, who requested termination of his contract. Best Food Services, Inc., a St. Paul firm owned by Mr. William Benzick took over management of the Cafeteria in May. While the service is not entirely satisfactory and no Saturday service is provided, there is general acceptance on the part of most of the staff. The firm is developing a creditable track record, however, in providing excellent catering service for the Staff Association, the Friends, and others. Last fall, for example, the·y catered the reception sponsored by the Association