Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 12-1977 A History of the Guam Public Library System 1947-1975 Mary Sue Caldwell Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Caldwell, Mary Sue, "A History of the Guam Public Library System 1947-1975" (1977). Dissertations. 2723. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2723 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A HISTORY OF THE GUAM PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM 1947-1975 by Mary Sue Caldwell A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Doctor of Education Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan December 1977 '· Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A HISTORY OF THE GUAM PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, 1947-1975 Mary Sue Caldwell, Ed. D. Western Michigan University, 1977 This historical study ascertained that, between the years of 1902 and 1941, there were libraries on Guam which served the local civilian population. Early library development on Guam (prior to 1947) did not seem to have followed the same pattern of development as libraries in the United States. This may have been due, in part, to the individuals responsible for the two library movements on Guam. The Guam Public Library System and its prede- cessors were established by individuals from the conti- nental United States, where libraries had already under­ gone a developmental process. Thus, the library on Guam seems to have been imposed rather than allowed to evolve. Since 1949, the Guam Public Library System has gradually grown and developed, which means there have been changes in library materials (books, records, microforms, etc.), facilities, personnel, hours of operation, and financial support. Growth and development were affected by the economical, geographical, political, and sociological factors. These factors were identified and analyzed in the study. The one major economic factor which most positively affected the growth and development of the Guam Public Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Library System was the fiscal appropriation represented by the annual budget. Geographic factors identified in the study as having affected the library growth and develop­ ment included geographical isolation from the United States mainland and the island's geographically isolated villages. The hot and humid climate of Guam also affected the growth and development of the library system. The library originally was established as a part of the Department of Education, and this political factor was identified as having negatively influenced the growth and development of the library. Five years later, when the library was established as a separate agency within the Government of Guam, the Guam Public Library System began to grow and develop. A second political factor affecting the growth and development of the li­ brary was identified in the fact that the system is governed by a board of directors, appointed by the Gov­ ernor of Guam with the consent of the Legislature. The name of the Guam Public Library System and its status as a depository for federal government and Guam government documents were also politically derived, as they are both attributed to the Guam Legislature. Sociological factors which positively influenced the growth and development of the Guam Public Library System included two indivi~uals, identified as Lucile Woelfl and Marion Brown, and three groups: the Los Angeles Times Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Charities, the Assistance League of Southern California, and the United States Navy. Another sociological factor affecting the growth and development of the library was that its services were expanded to meet the needs of the farmers of Guam, blind individuals, inmates of the peni­ tentiary, residents of the juvenile home, hospital patients, and children on Guam. A third sociological factor was identified in the promotional activities, such as social teas, an open house, and an art display, which were held in the library. Currently the Guam Public Library System operates its program from five permanent library facilities and a bookmobile. The library continues to meet present needs and is planning to meet future needs with an additional branch library in Yona and a new central library in Agana. ~~is historical study eventuated in some conclusions and recommeh~ations which may benefit those persons charged with plann;"g.the future of library services on Guam. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writer wishes to express her appreciation to her committee chairman, Dr. Harold Boles, and the other mem­ bers of the doctoral committee, Dr. Laurel Gretzinger and Dr. Uldis Smidchens, for their advice and assistance in the preparation of this study. The writer wishes to especially thank Magdalena Santos Taitano and Lucile Woelfl who provided their expertise on matters related to the Guam Public Library System. Sincere appreciation is extended to Bruce Karolle for providing the maps which were used in this study and to the Guam Public Library System and the Micronesian Area Research Center for providing the photographs used in this study. The writer wishes to especially thank Dr. John Kofel who edited several chapters of this study. Mary Sue Caldwell Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily' dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ,-·-·-~-- '- ---------- ,___ ~--..__ ... - ·---·--- "7 1 78-4237 'I CALDWELL, Mary Sue, 1943- I A HISTORY OF THE GUAM PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, 1947-1975. Western Michigan University, Ed.D., 1977 Library Science University Microfilms International, Aoo A<bor, Mlohloan •••o• Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF PLATES vii THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Statement of the Problem Subproblems Importance of the Study 4 The Hypotheses The Definitions of Terms Delimitations . Organization of the Study II REVIEW OF RELEVANT INFORMATION 11 Library Development in General 12 Geography and History of Guam 18 Economic History 19 Geographical Description 21 Political History 23 Social History 29 III DESIGN OF THE STUDY 38 The Historical Method 38 Procedures 38 Kinds of Data 39 Sources of Data 39 Instrumentation 40 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER PAGE Interview Techniques 40 Analysis 41 IV THE GUAM PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM 43 Origins of Library Services 43 Civilian Libraries 45 Military Libraries 55 Library Development 62 Economic Factors 70 Geographic Factors 114 Political Factors . 121 Sociological Factors 127 Present Status 155 v SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 167 References 175 APPENDICES A. Map of Guam 179 B. Map of Western Pacific and Micronesia ...•. 181 C. Guam Island