25 Years Ago

Selections from the Staff Newsletter November 1984:
(as always, names of current staff and branches have been disguised)

September 1985 Board Meeting

"Financially, the...Library System is in good shape with all figures in the black. In the new 1985 budget, personal services is up $700,000.00 dur to six new positions in the library system and also several additional benefits for retirees. Mr. Patterson said that funds may need to be transferred to the education fund which is used heavily by the staff. He reported that the majority of courses (70-80%) are taken at the...Community College and most others are completed at the University of [our State]."

"Ms. Pinder mentioned a number of changes that will take place at the West Street Branch to accommodate an automated syst4em. The circulation desk will be raised and a new information counter installed. Following this introduction, John McGarty, Chief of Technical Services, conducted a tour of the information area at West Street and demonstrated the computer for trustees. West Street is wcheduled to be on-line by December 31, 1984."

"In the Administrator's Report, Ms. Pinder stated that circulation statistics were down with West Street and McKinsey figures being most notable. All agreed that the opening of the new Cape St. C Branch probably had affected the statistics of these two branches. Video circulations were also down, but a borrowing rule to allow one video check-out per card rather than one per family may help, it was reported."

"Ms. Pinder also reported on the many varied activities that took place in the branches for the summer reading program. The program drew 1,667 children countywide."

"For this year, Mr. Hall suggested that the Board consider closing the branches all day Christmas Eve, as the 24th falls on a Monday and only four branches are open to the public Monday mornings. This proposal was unanimously approved."

"Mr. Hall informed the Board of the all-day General Staff Meeting on October 31 at the Ft. Meade Officer's Club. The staff has become too large to fit comfortably into a branch, especially for an all-day meeting."

"Building projects and problems were discussed briefly. The Fort M Branch site will be proposed and defended before the County Council on October 1, plans for the West Street addition are moving ahead, and money is available for the Mayo Branch site. Land adjoining the Odenton Branch will be graded for better visibility exiting the parking area."

Nancy Rea
Staff Association Representative

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The four-page Newsletter from November 1984 is available in pdf format here. It's in the AACPL folder.