All Accounts, 1980 Was a Dynamic Year for MPLIC

MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTER ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY LIBRARIES ATHENAEUM 1980 Volume I CONTENTS VOLUME I ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL SERVICES CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES ATHENAEUM 1980 Director of the Library . • . • . 1 Associate Director • . • . 7 Personnel . • . • . • . • . 10 Building Maintenance . 15 Special Services . 18 Community Outreach . • . • . 22 Environmental Conservation Library ..•.............. 25 INFORM • . • . • . 29 Minneapolis: Portrait of a Lifestyle •.....••....••• 31 Municipal Information Library .....•................ 33 Publicity Office . • . 36 Chief of Central Library Services ....................•... 39 Machine Assisted Reference Service Advisory Committee. 47 Book Selection . • . • . • . • • . 52 Subject Departments Art, Music, Films . 57 Business and Science . • . • 65 Children's Room . • . • . 72 Government Documents . 78 History and Travel . • . 81 Minneapolis History Collection .................. 88 Literature . • . • . • . • . 91 Sociology . 97 Shelving ......................•.......•............... 104 Chief of Technical Services .............................. 107 Acquisitions Department ............................... 119 Catalog Department .......•.........•.•....•.•...•...•. 134 Circulation Department . 145 Data Processing Department .•.••.••.................•.. 149 Preparations Department ............................... 151 Athenaeum . • . • . 160 ANNUAL REPORT ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 1980 By all accounts, 1980 was a dynamic year for MPLIC. From the encouraging increase in traditional library service to the fevered building construc tion activity there was evidence of vitality and growth. The operating budget amended by the Board in June reflected a carryover balance of $178,117. more than the previously reported balance of $906,391. Changes in CETA accounting procedures accounted for $175,665. of the excess and $2,452. was a balance from the Library Employee Health and Welfare Fund. The amended operating budget anticipated revenues of $9,145,702. (including $6,426. of CETA funds) with authorized appropriations of $6,242,082. for personal service and $2,307,825. for other than personal service with an expected carryover balance December 31, 1980 of $595,795. The 1980 budget required a levy of 2.343 mills for Fund 18 and .106 mills for Fund 06 at a collection rate of 98% for both levies. Due to a state budget deficit, state aid to municipal governments was reduced in the fall resulting in a decrease of $137,000. in Library funding. Preparation of budget documents, the issuance of the Monthly Financial Statement, processing of requisitions and invoices was unusually burdensome throughout the year. The retirement in January of Anita Berglund, Account Clerk Supervisor for more than 30 years coupled with the resignation of the Head of the Data Processing Department, Mike Mansfield in the fall, created special staffing problems. Adjustment in this period to new procedures for the City Purchasing Department and the City's Financial Information and Resource Management System aggravated the situation. Mrs. Josephine Carlson was detailed to Account Clerk Supervisor in January creating an Account Clerk II vacancy which was not filled until October 8. Then in November, the retirement of the Senior Clerk Typist in the Department, Ruth Angell, became effective. While the long experience and background of Mrs. Berglund is sorely missed, much credit is due Mrs. Carlson for her dedi cation in coping with an extremely heavy workload as well as staff turnover at this time. She not only learned a new job but trained subordinates and kept the accounting functions of the Library running as well. In January the new five year lease arrangement with the Science Museum of Minnesota became effective with SMM assuming all staffing responsibilities. On April 15, their Explore Store, located in the former Time and Space Gallery was opened. It is an inviting brightly lighted retail operation which stocks nature and science related books, equipment, optical and weather instruments, rocks, minerals, games, etc. The lower level museum was renamed the Children's Center. In midyear SMM attached their name and -7- logo to the exterior of the building on both the Hennepin and Nicollet Mall sides of the Library. Assessment of the leasing arrangement thus far is quite favorable in spite of occasional problems caused usually by gaps in communication. Three new vehicles were acquired this year. The long-awaited bookmobile arrived in the spring with the revised schedule of stops beginning on April 7. The one-ton delivery truck replacement arrived in May and in July the fuel efficient 4-cylinder Chevrolet Chevette was delivered. Other significant equipment changes include the installation in June of photo copiers at Central and most of the conununity libraries under a new vending agreement with Copy Duplicating Products, the purchase of our own Systems 3 IBM equipment and the upgrading of the 3M Book Detection system. An exciting development for researchers and librarians is the designation of MPLIC as the 34th u. s. Patent depository and the announcement of the Bush Foundation grant of $100,000. to begin purchase of a complete file of u. s. patents - i.e., 1790 to date. A particularly aesthetic acquisition was the purchase of "The Vatican Frescoes of Michelangelo" - a two-volume set of photographs of the Sistene Chapel frescoes. The building program gained momentum as the year progressed. The Hosmer and Nokomis Community Libraries were remodeled for handicapped accessibility with 5th year CDBG funding in the amount of $225,000. An additional $38,000. was transferred from the operating budget to this capital project for con tingencies. A $50,000. bond issue provided financing for building repair of the Linden Hills Community Library which was completed late in the year. On October 12, the delightful, compact, new all brick Webber Park Community Library was dedicated. Delayed construction of the new earth-sheltered Walker Community Library postponed dedication into 1981. Other real estate activity includes the sale of the old Walker building and land at 2901 Hennepin to Laurence s. Zipkin for $400,000. in October. The purchase agreement is a 10 year Contract for Deed with a down payment of $60,000. Interest of 8% on the balance is payable monthly. The announce ment of the terms of the sale brought the displeasure of the City Council upon the Library Board. The resolution of the Council passed in December 1979 provided a loan of $350,000. to the Walker Library Fund from the King Field Fund of the Public Works Department, payable at the time of the sale of old Walker. At year's end the repayment of this loan remains to be resolved. Dividing the branches into four districts with a District Librarian in charge of each district, who reports to the Chief of Community Libraries and elimination of the position of Assistant Chief appears to have been a wise decision. The new organization is already operating smoothly and there is every expectation that it will continue to improve. The transfer of the Service to the Homebound operation to the auspices of the Friends also seems to be working well. It has also freed up the talents and expertise of Mary Forman to assist community outreach service. -8- Two new members joined the Library Board this year. Lee Burress was elected to a six-year term, replacing David Doty and Mayor Donald Fraser appointed Gary Neil Sudduth, Deputy Director of the Minneapolis Urban League. The City Council reappointed Harold Kittleson as their appointee and Mrs. Grace Ennen was reelected for a fourth six-year term. Separate reports for Personnel, Building Maintenance, Special Services are submitted by those persons responsible for those activities. Once again it gives me pleasure to express my appreciation and gratitude not only to my colleagues whom I have the privilege to work with on a regular basis, but to all the other Library employees who contribute so significantly and effectively toward making this an outstanding institution. A special thank you must go to my secretary, Mrs. Rose Vielinski whose efficiency and competence is legend and without whom I could not manage. Respectfully submitted, ~C~ <-c~-,u'=-c/ Zella Shannon Associate Director ~9- ANNUAL REPORT PERSONNEL 1980 One of the major events for the personnel office in 1980 was the creation, for the first time, of an eligible list for Librarian II positions. The procedure was begun in January when advertisements were prepared and dis tributed nationally. The application period was February 1 to March 21. Letters were received from 268 eligible candidates as well as 60 who had not graduated and 9 who missed the deadline. 268 interviews were scheduled over a period of three weeks but because many were not able to come for interviews, only 133 applicants were interviewed. 19 administrative and supervisory staff members assisted with the interviewing with the greatest number of interviews done by the three Chiefs. This was a learning experi ence with some disappointments. One problem surfaced during hirings when we found we did not have all the information needed. Another problem was the failure to attract a reasonable number of minority applicants. 1980 began with a reorganization of Connnunity Relations. Special Services became a separate cost center under the administration of the Associate Director. Ruth Johnson became Chief of Connnunity Libraries and the branches were divided into four

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