News Letter: Los Angeles County Public Library April 1951

              NEWS LETTER
Los Angeles County Public library
Issued Monthly by the County Librarian
322 South Broadway Post Office Box 111 Los Angeles 53, California
VoL 4 No. 1'0 April 1951
The month of April was.an exceptionally busy one, with the concentration of administrative time on the library budget, professi('lnal meetings, branch visits, and a number of conferences.
The Librarian's month was not an unusual one for this time of year, and is summarized as follows: On the 2nd there was a luncheon meeting at the County General Hospital of the Library Committee which is composed of the three doctors, the Hospital Director, and the Hospital Librarian. The rules for the General Hospital Branch were reviewed and policy questions discussed. In the afterno<>n of the same day an inspection trip was made to Inglewood, Lennox, Manhattan Beach, Monet&, Norwalk, and Pico, with Business Manager Bill Geller and Budget Analyst Mike Solo. The branch visits were extended into the evening with the day ending at 9 p.m. On the 5th, . County Librarian served on an oral interview board for the City of Long Beach.eXamining candidates for the position of Assistant Librarian. Roberta Bowler, Los Angeles Public Library, and Doris Hoit, Librarian, Pasadena Public Library served with Mr. Henderson. In this 1ia.y-'.s mail an invitation was received from the Chairman of the American Library Association Library Architecture Committee to discuss the Lancaster building, with slides and floor plan, at the Committee's open meeting in July at the '75th Annual Conference of A.L.A. at Chicago. On April 6, a luncheon was held by Dr. Lewis Steig, Librarian, University or Southern California, in honor of Dr. R. B. Downs, Director, Library School and Illinois University Library. At 2 o'clock your Librarian was on the air with· Donald Fai~ebild, of the Central Staff, discussing the A.L.a. essay contest. ­On April 7, a trip was made to San Diego to attend the Southern District meeting of the California Library Association. Other highlight-a o?':the month include . visits to Bellflower on the 9th and 16th to meet with the local committee concerned with establishing a music record library at the. b!&n~h. Budget problems regarding the Teachers' Library were discussed with Dr. Trilllngham and his division chiefs on the 10th. A conference was held with Architect Bob Smith regarding plans for the Montrose building. On the 13th was another radio program with Mr. Fairchild, featuring library resources in the Les angeles area. An inspection was made of the vacant property in East Pasadena on the 16th with the aim of obtaining a site tor leased quarters there. A surprise visit from Howard Rowe, Librarian~. Tacoma Public Library, on the 18th, gave us an opportunity to learn about the progress being made with their new building, and to discuss administrative problems and to commiserate on budget limitations. Another radic1 :program on the 20th with Mr. Fairchild. Attended a breakfast meeting of the Medical Library .Association at the General Hospital on the morning of the 23rd; more about this later. Briefly inspected the new mobilibrary on the 24th pending checking of specifications by the County Mechanical Department. Met with the Nominating Committee or the County Committee on Human Relations on the afternoon of the 25th •
.-1 ­RADIO PROGRAM KRKD The County Library radio program is on the air regularly 1150 ON THE DIAL Friday afternoons for 15 minutes beginning at 2 p.m. For the FRIDAYS, 2-2:15 month of May the broadcasts will feature a brief sketch of
the development of public library service in this State by Messrs. Fairchild and Henderson. The schedule will be:
May 4 Earliest libraries -Mission period to statehood May 11 Subscription and association libraries May 18 First public libraries -Northern California May 25 Public libraries in Les Angeles area
Division chiefs and branch librarians will participate in .future broadcasts.
ANTELOPE A series of broadcasts ereanating .from Lancaster, Station KAVL,
VALLEY Monday evenings .from 7:45-8:00 is sponsored by the local radio station.
KAVL 1340 Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Lindsey and others discuss new books and library
events each week.
FAN MAIL It is with great pleasure that we publicize th~ nice things that are said abo.ut the Library. A recent postcard complimenting us for the service at our Stephenson Branch was ··reoei11ed.
"Dear Sir:
Here are just a few words to express my sincere thanks of the wonderful service offered to me by the Gage County Library, especially the wonderful and kind attention given to me by Mrs. Cook, the librarian. Many have been the times when she has gone out of her way to get the books I needed, and also some specific information pertaining to my studies.
Sincerely,
Louis Bascoy"
A letter has also been received regarding the service at Central:
"••• As a fellow county employee I had as yet to meet a real county spirit and that I met in the efficient and masterful work of that loyal and noble worker of the Reference Division of the downtown Central Library in the person of M±ss Castelfranco. I inquired for a little information on one called J. J. Jezreel which none of the other great libraries were able tc get me, and then along co~es Miss Castelfranco and gives me the complete and finished product. That is the kind of efficiency we want and only the County Employee can do it. Please see that she is completely and thoroughly rewarded and fully recognized for her devotion to duty ani attendance to the work ih hand. People like her are hard tc come by this weather.
I remain Yours very sincerely,
Frederi~k Morrison Maintenance Man of Repettc Park 4850 East First Street Los Angeles, Calif."
-2 ­Another complimentary statement was published in the March 8 edition of the Woodland Hills Advertiser in a column by-lined by Bertrand Richter:
"The Mobilibrary has given many of us so much pleasure that I took the opportunity to have Mrs. Light and Mr. Smith from our local bus, tc tea last week. They brought with them Mrs. Spain, who is the Assistant Director of the U.~.C. Graduate School of Library Science, and of course on her free day, she had to ridlarourxl with them on her version of a 'busman's holidayJ' The air was a little thick with southern acc&its 'cause Mrs. Spain and Mrs. Houser, another guest, discovered mutual relatives in Virginia, and you know what that means. I thought fer awhile we were all cousins! Under •his bus arrangement, more and newer books are circulated to a larger area than by the use of stationary units. If you can't get it there, send a note, and they will gladly suggest books for you, for a friend to take cut. They are most cooperative about getting books on request, too, sc don't cheat yourself of the fun of using the library. In fact, cne person expressed our feelings when she said 'It's the only tax I don't resent!'"
GENERAL HOSPITAL MEETING Representing the Central Library, Marian Hayes, MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Personnel Assistant, Violet Tapper, First APRIL 23 Assistant, Branches Division, and Mr. Herxlerson
attended a meeting cf the Medieal Librarians as guests of Mrs. Ella Crandall, Librarian of the County General Hospital Branch and Chairman of the Committee on Recruitment of that organization. Breakfast was served in the library reading room to 52 members cf the Northern and Southern Groups. Af'ull course breakfast was served by Mrs. Crandall and her staff, evoking expressions of admiration and compliments from all present. LeRoy Bruce, Director of the General Hospital, was the speaker; his informing address described the medical program and service of the hospital, bringing out the relaticn of the library tc it. Mr. Bruce is already well known to librarians fer his article in the July 1Q46 iseue cf Special Libraries titled "What, Why and When Is a Hospital Librarian."
TELEPHONE RULES An anncun<.'emcnt will be made shortly 0£ a special meeting of
branch librarians having telephones tc review rules and tele­phone etiquette. As a reminder the following branch library telephone rules are brought to ycur attention:
1) No requests are tc be taken over the telephone.
2) Renewals may be made if nc requests are on file for the bock
in question. Shculd there be several waiting at the desk for
service the person t el ephrning should be requested tc call
later because cf the pressiire cf desk duty.
3} Ready reference questirns may be answered over the telephone
under the same circums~an<.'es as renewals.
-3 ­4) Telephcnes are not tc be used for personal calls, or by the public.
5) L~ng distance calls may be ma.de to Central only.
~EXHIBITS A series of enlarged photographs prepared by the editors of AT BRANCHES LIFE MAGAZINE entitled "Theater: Frcm Ritual tc Broadway"
is being placed on view at three branches -Downey, Torrance and Lancaster -following an exhibit at Central. The display attracted ccnsiderable interest at Central and it is anticipated that our borrowers at the branches will enjoy it.
JOKE DEPARTMENT
The story quoted below appeared recently in the El Mente Herald:
"HAZARDS FACED
BY LIBRARIANS"
"Add
'suspicious wives'
to .the list cf occupational hazards
faced by librarians.
Mrs. Jcsephine McAdams, El Mente librarian,
answered the phone at the library the other day, and she says the conversation
went something like this:
Mrs. McAdams: 'Public Library.'
Unidentified woman: 'Who?'
Mrs. Mc: 'Public Library.'
The wC'man: 'To wh0m am I speaking? '
Mrs. Mc: 'Tc Josephine McAdams, the librarian.'
The womanc 'Ohl' (Pause) 'Well, I found this phone number in·my
husband's pocket and I was just checking.'
The woman didn't even bother tc say goodbye as she slammed up the receiver."
FROM THE CATALOG DIVISION
NEW EDX1ION OF THE The lcng-awaited Standard (15th edition) of the Dewey DECIMAL·CLASSIFICATION Decimal Classification, which has been in preparation
since 1945, was published in February 1951, twenty-five years after the app~arance cf the first edition. The editor is Dr. Miltcn J. Ferguson, who was assisted by a corps cf librarians and subject specialists. There.arejlJerly changes, mcst cf them ccmprising mere lcgical and up~tc-date realignments or subdivisicns, ethers representing abridgment, telescoping and eliminaticn ~,! former numbers.
All in al~, t~e Catalog Divisicn is faced with quite a dilemma, which is net lessened by the ever increasing size cf the bock collectlcn (692,000) and its distribution thrcughout the Ccunty. In the past the Cata.log Division has always conceded that changes in be-th classificatic'n and subject terminclogy 'W9le necessary factors in cataloging, 1f the library was to keep abreast with expanding horizcns in the field cf kn0wledge. Another practical reason fer reclassification in a public library is the knowledge that with carefree abandcn of previous practices the makers cf printed catalogs, such as the Library of Congress Catalog of Printed Cards, the Standard Catalog, the Bccklist and the Bock Review Digest, will adopt the new numbers alm&st over-night. This wide use of current classification
-4­revisions in the printed catalogs serves tc prcmote familiarity with them and
thus insures that in a very short time, old D.C. schedules will beccme obsclete
and unfamiliar to the ycunger generation cf librarians.
As a case in point, Radio in this library has been classified in a local expansion cf Telegraphy (654.12) which was adopted many years ago when the corresponding subject was "wireless telegraphy." In the new Standard Edition cf the Decimal Classificaticn, 654 has been abandoned in favor cf 621.384, lcng a basic number, but one which we are fcrced tc adopt.
We regret the temporary dislccation cf material en this subject and suggest that
the branch librarians make references in their shelf list. We are enlisting the
services of the Technical Librarian in weeding all titles en radio engineering
before they are reclassified to prevent any wasted effort.
· Transportation is another majrr subject change currently being carried on. The class 656 has been discontinued fer Transportation and Railroading which will be found en the shelves in 385 (Transportation in general) and 385.1 (Railroads). Transpcrtaticn engineering will continue tc be classified in 625.1.
As ether major reclassification projects are undertaken, beth the Central staff
and the Branch Librarians will be kept informed. The new Standard Catalcg will
also be prcvided with a list cf important variations in classification before
being sent to the branches.
FROM THE CHILDREN'S DIVISION
EXAMPLES OF The Chief of the Children's Division was privileged tc attend twc COMMUNITY very happy functions in twC" different branch libraries recently, . SPIRIT beth of which were excellent examples ('f community spirit and civic ·
pride. At Ma.ywc-<'d Branch the Girl Sc('uts and Brcwnie Scf'uts had alDJ.C1st filled the juvenile side <"f the room when we arrived and were singing their ScC"ut scngs under the able dirE>cticn cf an adult leader. A brief but effective ceremrny follcwed in which an attractive illuminated world glcbe was prese~ted tc the Library by all cf the Girl and Brcwnie ScC'uts in the Maywood area. Mr•. Henderson, C0unty Librarian, accepted the gift fer the Branch. Each individual troop then presented a book t0 the library, Mrs. Olsen, Branch Librarian, receiving the books and placing them between the Girl Sc<'ut bcckends (also a gift) as they were handed tci her, each with a very appr<"priate little presentaticn speech.
At Wilmar Branch, where the C"ther ceremcny t00k place, Mrs. Arncld accepted. a beautiful California state flag f<'r the Library from the American Legicn AuxiLi~ry. Mrs. Arnold, being a native daughter, had C"ften expressed a wish fer a state flag tc stand beside the American flag in her library. To have that wish gratifieQ.,,, as it ~s, en her fortieth wedding anniversary, gave added significance tc tbe · occasicn.
MAY BREAKFAST Plans fer the annual breakfast party 0n the mcrning e>f May 9 PROGRESS REPORT are gcing forward apace. At the present time cf writing, nine authors have accepted <"ur invitaticn. Amcng them are ~ricn Garthwaite, authcr cf Tomas and the Red Headed Angel, whc is coming alt~~~~
-5 ­she lives as far away as Madara. ElC'ise Mc-Graw will .make the trip fr<'m San Dieg0 in C'rder tr be with us. She is the authcr of a teen-age ncvel: Sa,,,Cust
in His Shoes. Ancther out-cf-towner, Chuck Martin, writes frcm his ranch near Oceanside that he will be on hand. Ycu may reccgnize him as the author cf Mrnsters 0f Old Les Angeles and Orphans 0f the Range. We aren't gcing tc divulge the names of all 0f the guests because we want tc have scme surprises en the pr0gram too. Remember the place this year has been changed tc the Alexandria H0tel, Fifth and Spring Streets. The rocm assigned tr us there will seat 435 comfC'rtably s<' we can take care of extra guests. If there are persons in ycur communities whc are interested in meeting authors cf juvenile becks feel free tc ask them tr aceC"mparcy: y0u.. The more the merrier.,
FROM THE REFERENCE DIVISION
POPULAR -About 60 branches have been on the receiving end this mC'nth <"f many AND HOWJ cf the POPULAR MECHANICS magazine series, "The Little Library cf
Useful In:fcrmatirn." These titles which gc intc the pamphlet files cc·ver many prac>tical subjects and will provide up-t0-date infcrmaticn en many requests right at the branch en cccasi0ns when in the past it has been necessary tc f0rward the request tc the Reference Divisicn. The selecticn was made <"n the basis cf the requests that have been received reeently.Abcut 130 different subjects were ecvered by these valuable new prunphlets and we crdered sc many cf them -ever 900 -that Mrs. Huxtable and Mrs. Rames have been busy this mcnth getting them out as quickly as possible. Have you any further suggesticns cf subjects yru need represented in ycur pamphlet files?
NEW STAFF The Reference Divisicn welcomes Mr. Edward Reese, who will be handling MEMBERS all your requests in the fields of literature -drama, poetry, qu0taticr
etc. -and psychology. We're sure he wcn't be able tc make the becks on hypnC'tism gc 'round any mere than we have been able to do, but we de know that the requests in these fields are gring tc be in capable hands.
We are sorry to repcrt that Miss Katharine Smith is still ill but we were very glad indeed tc be able tc secure the temporary services of Mrs. Flora Budd Arnt to fill in while she is gone. Mrs. Arnt has lifted the lead of clerical wcrk attendant upcn the filling of subjee>t requests frcm the sh<'ulders of the regular staff who have been struggling tc• keep abreast of the requests thrcugh the heavy request month of March.
FROM THE BRANCHES DIVI§!illi
BRANCH LIBRARIANS' MEETING Wednesday, June 13, 1951
1.
Coffee Hour Get Together Staff Reem 9-10 a.m.
2.
Reviews cf new bocks en Lecture Reem 10-11 a.m.
current happenings There will be a display cf significant new b0cks and alsc a book list which is now in preparation. Please remember c bri filled cut Attendance Sli s
-6­ADMINIS'IRAT!VE NOTES
A mimec-graphed leaflet listing Central telephC'nes and tabulating branch circulaticn by rank is enclosed with this issue of the News Letter. Please insert it in ycur ccpy cf the 1949-50 Annual Repc-rt. The leaflet was prepared at the suggesticn cf the Branches Divisicn since it was felt that branch librarians would find it helpful to have a telephcne directory giving majcr duties fer perscnnel ycu are most likely tc call at Central; with the eliminaticn cf branch circulaticn in the Annual Repcrt it was decided tc include a tabulatirn of the circulaticn figures on the same sheet.
McMANUS BRANCH The Washington Station, which was located in the schcol cf that
CULVER CITY name at 3430 McManus Avenue, Culver City, has been mcved tc
McManus Park, one-half blr.ek sruth en the same street. The staticn's name has been changed tc McManus tc identify it with the Park. The new quarters were formally cpened to the public Friday, April 6th, with city cfficials and representatives frcm the local schocls serving as hosts.
The branch is housed in a rcom in the Recreatkn Building with a separate entrance and easy access from the street. The new Branch Librarian is Mrs. Gladys Clark; she succeeds Mrs. Alice Anderson who resigned tc give her full time tc her heme.
AUSTERITY For the past several weeks the Business Office under Mr. Geller's lash YEAR and drive has been compiling data needed for budget estimates for the 1951-52 fiscal year 1951-52. From present indications ve oan expect 12 months
cf fiscal austerity -we will su~vive and continue to move forward but at a slower pace cwing to minimum man hours and ether enforced economies.
PAPER Speaking of austerity the Purchasing Department repcrts a shortage of SHORTAGE paper, particularly clasped .envelopes, and requests that they be given maximum service before ycu dispose of them.
OUTSIDE PAINT The north, east, and scuth sides of the Central Building are being FOR CENTRAL repainted and a thorough job is in precess. All loose concrete
will be removed from the: steel and brickwork and when removed it will lie rebuilt tC" its criginal thickness. Waterprccf mortar v.rill be added and all surfaces will be painted with a sealer coat and cne .:('inish coat.
-·--­PERSONALS
CERTIFICATES FOR Seven staff members frcm Central successfully completed the MIMEOGRAPH second part of the Ccunty's Mimeograph Training Program and TRAINING fer this received apprcpriate certificates from the Civil
Service Commission. Those who completed the in-service training in mimeograph cperatkn are: Rcsalind Andersen, Na<'mi Blackburn, Virginia Cock, Margaret Ingraham, Ruth s. Krasncw, Dcrothy Shelton, and Toshiko Takai.
-7 ­BERNARD RICH.AllDSON Arrangements are being made with San Quentin's Warden Duffy TO SAN QUENTIN and the priscn librarian, Herman K. Spector, tc have Bernard
Richard.sen, Librarian, Wayside Hcncr Rancho, spend Wednesday, May 9th, cbserving the operation cf the state prison library. Mr. Richardson will make the trip north en the San Quentin line -a special train which delivers the Los Angeles Sheriff's charges tc the prison. During his day and evening en the groums Mr. Richard.sen will study San Quentin's library rules, rcutines and policies. ·
CHEF'S CAP FOR SUNSET MAGAZINE has awarded D<'nald Fairchild, cur special DONALD FAIRCHILD assistant at Central, a high white topper cf the Order cf
Chefs 0f the West for his recipe "Zucchini Saint Paul. 11 It appears in the Chefs cf the West cclumn cf Sunset's May issue, and it may 9e included in a future Sunset beck. Drnald will receive an aprcn tc match his new bonnet if he is successful in having a second recipe accepted. This is hew Y<'U prepare "Zucchini Saint Paul":
4 large onicns Salt Pepper Juice of small lemcn, or equivalent of very dry red wine Olive d:l
4 tc 6 large tomatoes
10 tc 12 small fresh zucchini
Small clcve garlic
6 tr 8 large ripe olives
Use a flat baking dish, aluminum, glass, er pcttery, with 3-inch sides. Slice enough cnicn tc ccver the pan bottom. Season with salt, pepper, a little lemon juice, and plenty cf olive oil.
New cover the cnicn with slices cf tomato. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice (nc oil).
Cut tips from each zucchini -de net peel. Quarter each lengthwise, and lay them skin side drwn, packing carefully tc cover tcmatces. If there is tc0 much zuochini fer a single layer, spread a seccnd layer of cnic'ns and tc-matces as befcre, seascning as befcre, and then add a. second layer c~ zucchini. (Scme prefer this dish in several layers, anyhcw.)
Seascn zucchini with cil, lemcn, pepper, salt, and the garlic clcve very finely chc-·pped. Add the Cllives pitted and quartered. Slice remaining cnicns and tcmatoes in alternate layers, ending with a tcmatc layer. Seascn each as befcre.
Over the final tcp tcmatc layer, pcur gently encugh olive oil tc ccver the surface genercusly withcut wasteful dripping through tc the bC'ttcm. Finish with a sprinkle cf lemcn juice, a dash cf salt, and considerable pepper. Bake uncovered at mcderate heat (350 degrees) fer about 1 hcur er until zucchint skins are tender. Serves 6 genercusly. Serve with chicken brciled in white wine, er scme equally light main dish. Wine: che.blis, champagne, er riesling. Salad: crisp romaine with fresh chcpped mushrooms, almonds, .and salty oil dressing.
-8 ­