CONTENTS VOLUME I ADMINISTRATION CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES TECHNICAL SERVICES ATHENAEUM 1992 Director of the Library . • . • . • . • . • . • . • . 1 Director's Office . • . • . • . • • • . • . • • . • . • . • . 9 Associate Director • . • . • . • . • • . • • • . • . • . • . • . • 1 5 Accounting Office . • . • . • . • . • . • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • • • . • • • . • • . • • • . • . • • 22 Building Staff • . • . • . • . • • . • • • • . • • . • . • • . • . • . • • . • . • 2 7 INFORM . • . • . • . • . • • . • . • . • . • . • • . • • . • . • • . • . • • . • . 32 Interlibrary Loan . • . • . • . • . 39 Personnel Office . • . • 44 Public Relations Office . • . • . • . • • . • • . 50 Chief of Central Library Services . • • . • . • . • . • • . • . • . • • • . • • . • • . • . 5 7 Subject Departments Art/Music/Films . • • • . • . • . • . • . • . • . 63 Business/Economics . • • . • • . • . • . • . • • • • . • . • . • . 77 Children's Services . • . • . • . • • • . • . • . • . • . • . • . 84 Government Documents . • . • . • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • • . • . • 1 01 Municipal Information Library . • . • • . • . • . • . • . • • . 115 Humanities Division . • . • . • . 1 22 Sociology • . • . • . • . • . • . • . • . • . 1 38 Special Collections . • • . • . 1 45 Technology/Science • . • • . • . • • • . 152 Shelving • . • • . • • • • • • . • . 159 Chief of Technical Services ................................................... 163 Acquisitions . • • . • . • . • • . • . • . • . • . • • . • . • 1 68 Catalog . • • . • . • • . • . • • • • 1 81 Circulation .•.•..••••••••••.•••.••...•.•.•••...••••••.•.••••.....•., • . • • 1 88 Electronic Data Processing . • . • . • . • • . • . • • . • • . • . • . • 193 Preparations . • • . • • • • • . • . • . • • . • • • . • • • • . • . • • . • • • . • • . • . • . • • • • . • • • 199 Minneapolis Athenaeum • . • . • • . • • . • . • . • • • . • . • • . • . • . • . • . 203 Preservation Committee • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • . • . • . • • . • • • . • . • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • 207 DIRECTOR'S OFFICE Annual Report 1992 Reinventing Government was the buzzword of 1992 as the Library, and all levels of government, was faced with the reality of a continually declining revenue base. The year was full of study and examination of services in an effort to meet increasing demands with continual declines in the tax base. The year also held many challenges and produced some changes. The primary concern throughout most of 1992 was the budget. In response to Governor Carlson's proposed cut in Local Government Aid (LGA), the Library's administrative staff and union representatives worked together to draft a series of proposed budget reduction plans to reach a 2, 4, or 6% cut, depending upon the level of the Library's LGA reduction. The loss of LGA was not the only threat in 1992. The Library Board also reached its maximum levy limit which, as a consequence of the declining tax base, resulted in a lower budget. This will be a continuing issue in the coming years. The most significant change of the year was in the Library's logo. Duffy Design Group unveiled the new Library graphic image at the January 8 Board meeting. Their goal was to create a symbol that would be unique to MPL and which would represent Minneapolis and its residents. First of all, the graphic image is simply a representation of the name, Minneapolis Public Library. It represents three things: the people; the place; and things. It was important that the name and the initials be part of the logo. The "M" became a representation of Minneapolis - the place. The "P" represents the people and, in an abstract way, represents a figure or person's head looking down. The "L" represents the Library but also represents a book. The words "Minneapolis Public Library" were used to create a frame around the symbol and to also represent the path people take when they are looking for something in the Library - the path they start at and the path they end at to find information. The process to implement the new logo was completed in mid-December with the new stationery, business cards, and notecards ready to go to print for use in early 1993. As a result of the Community Library building study and planning process which began in 1991, the Board held a series of meetings in March and April with residents from the Hosmer and Roosevelt Community Library service areas. These meetings were an opportunity for citizens to discuss Library services with the Board of Trustees and Library staff. The planning process continued throughout the year and a variety of architectural firms were hired to conduct feasibility studies for select community libraries in order to prepare a plan for the City Capital Long Range Improvement Process in 1993. The Site Analysis Committee of the Blue Ribbon Task Force held several meetings throughout 1992, concluding its task late in the year. A final report, to be presented to the Board in January 1993, included several "desirable" sites for a new Central Library: the Nicollet Hotel block; the existing Central Library block; the Ritz block; the Powers block; the LaSalle/Davis block; the Physicians and Surgeons block; and the Carlson block. -9- The process to revise the Library Board Policy Manual seriously began in 1992 in an effort to streamline the Manual and remove outdated language and obsolete policies. In October the Board began a serious and lengthy review of the Manual. In accordance with policy, each proposed revision was presented for review twice and approval at a third meeting. The process will be completed in spring of 1993 and the Manual will be published and distributed to all agencies. A significant change in the office was the implementation of an automated index system. With the purchase of LOTUS MAGELLAN software, the Library Board minutes manually typed card file index was discontinued at the end of 1991. MAGELLAN served as the only index starting in 1992. The new automated feature allows for expanded searching capabilities and access to Committee minutes which had never been indexed. This new system is retroactive to January 1990 when the minutes were first keyboarded on the personal computer. The use of floppy disk storage will allow for continued growth of the index and easy access. The next challenge will be to network the personal computers in Administration - a challenge which is far in the future. There were several initiatives and changes for staff in 1992. More programs and opportunities were available for staff with the introduction of the "MPL Eyeopeners," bimonthly, informal sessions of the professional staff and the Director. The free-flowing, open system allowed for discussion of many of the issues facing the Library. The Library also began a "Spectrum" series for all staff covering varied but interesting topics with guest speakers throughout the year. The "Spectrum" series was open to all staff members and programs were well-attended. The year was also one of employee recognition. In January the Executive Committee selected three employees, nominated by their peers, to receive the Award of Excellence for 1991: Joanne Bondy, Webber Park Community Library; Mary Rathman, Preparations; and Terry Veth, Electronic Data Processing. Joanne was recognized for her contributions to the Library through her outstanding programs and workshops for children and staff and for her supportive, and extensive, community involvement. Mary spent much of the past year in developing a procedure for preserving the Government Documents Department's 19th Century maps through encapsulation. Her work helped the Library receive a grade of "excellent" in the area of collection maintenance in the Government Printing Office 1991 inspection. Terry spent numerous hours at the Library during the implementation of the automated Geac system and his commitment of time and energy resolved problems quickly and efficiently in order to implement the public access catalog. The MPL Employee Awards of Excellence for 1992 were announced in December. Grace Belton, Sumner Community Library; Jerry Blue, Sociology Department; and Lois Ringquist, Children's Services Department were the honored recipients. Grace, for her work in the field of literacy, helping to link the importance of reading to children and parents and for her ability to make Sumner Library a place in which all people - no matter what their ethnic heritage - feel at home. Jerry for being a "one man public relations person for MPL" and his involvement in numerous committees and community programs such as the MPL Suggestion Committee and Staff Association, the Black Storytellers Alliance, and his work with the United Way, the Work & Family Spectrum Board, among others. Lois for her knowledge of children's literature, her commitment to providing high quality professional service and demonstrating that high standard in creating the "Rainbow" booklist. Three other staff members were also recognized for their achievements with the presentation of the first annual Directo1·'s Certificate of App1-eciation. Maribeth Bacig, Erin Foley, and Nancy Kweik for their work with -10- the Superbowl Hotline and information booth for the Final Four Events in Minneapolis. Their work resulted in national recognition for the Library and they have already been contacted by other libraries faced with staffing a hotline for national sports events. In April, the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce contacted the Director's Office about its Minneapolis Youth Work Internship Program. Namsamay Vongsy ("Binky"), a junior