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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 139 406 IR 004 777 AUTOR Vaughn, Robert V. TITLE Library References from Selected Virjin Islanis Annual Reports tos the Secretary of the Interior, Arranged Chronologically from 1937 tarough 1970. INSTITUTION Saint Croix Library Association, Christianste2d, Virgin Islands. PUB DATE Jun 71 NOTE 9p.; Studies in Virgin Islands Librarianship No. FDRS PRICE MP-$0.83 HC-$1.67 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Administrative Organization; *Annual Reports; *Historical Reviews; *Libraries TDENTIFIERS *Virgin Islands ABSTRACT To make available infocmation on the development and present status of Virgin Islands libraries to citiz2ns ani librarians, selected refsrences from Virgin Islands Annual R2ports to the Secretary of the Interior from 1937 through 1970 are compilei. Sel=ctions are grouped by fiscal year and include information on expeniitures, government actions, services, and organization. (KP) KRKREKREKEAREKE ERE K KERR ROK REE OOO ROR OR ko RR Ro kk RK KK K * Documents acquired by ERIC inclujie many informal unpublish2d * * materials not available from other sources. ERIC makes every effort * * to obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, items of narginal * * reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality * * of the microfiche and hardcopy reproiuctions ERIZ nakes available * * via the ERIC Document Reproduction S2rvice (EDRS). EDRS is not r * r2sponsible for the quality of the ociginal document. Reproductions * * * * « supplied by EDRS are the best that can b2 made from th2 original. EKER RAE RE RAE EE RRR RRR EKER RRR REE ER RR RRR RRR REE K US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN- ATING !T POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- SENT OF FICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY LIBRARY REFERENCES ED139406— FROM SELECTED VIRGIN ISLANDS ANNUAL REPORTS TO aE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR Arranged Chronologically from 1937 through 1970 Selected and Abridged by Robert V. Vaughn Studies in Virgin Islands Librarianship No. June 197] St. Croix Library Association Christiansted, St. Croix. V. TKI04 777 LIBRARY REFERENCES > Foreword Because of the paucity of available published official information concerning all types of libraries in the Virgin Islands, the general public, and many librarians, are ill- informed. In the interest of making such information more readily available and more convenient, references have been selected from Virgin Islands Annual Reports to the Secretary of the Interior, for the period from 1937 through 1970, thereby, at least placing this much information in the hands of most librarians in the Virgin Islands. One reason for issuing this study is because the changes in organizational responsibility for libraries from one depart- ment to another, sometimes makes it difficult to trace the history from year to year. Hopefully, this small list of references will shed some light on the existing status of libraries and the background of present library developments in the Virgin Islands. Robert V. Vaughn Jrnne 1971 LIBRARY REFERENCES FROM SELECTED VIRGIN ISLANDS ANNUAL REPORTS Years indicated are fiscal years, ending on June 30th of the year indicated. Signi- ficant reference to libraries in St. Croix are marked with an asterisk (*) in the left hand margin. 1937 Annual Report The normal activities of the libraries in each of the three towns of the Islands were continued. Statistical analyses indicate that there was some falling off of attendance and interest in the libraries. 1941 Annual Report The St. Thomas Public Library was moved from its former quarters to the new muni- cipal building. An accident resulted in the total loss of the juvenile library. The St. Thomas Virgin Islands lottery promptly contributed $1,650 to purchase a new juvenile library. At present the library has commodious quarters with a separate children's room. Steel shelves and wooden chairs have been obtained without charge from furplus stores in Washington. Owing to dislocation incident to removal from old quarters to the new, circulation was less than in recent years. Special atten- tion continues to be given to cataloging and to the Virgin Islands collection contain- ing rare books, manuscripts, maps, and newspaper clippings. The libraries:of St. Croix function as well as they possibly can under the handicap of insufficient budget- ary allotments. 1949 Annual Report Last year, through the process of administrative reorganization, the public library in St. Thomas was placed under the administrative jurisdiction of the department of education. The public library in St. Thomas has developed during the years into an essential public service in the field of education. It has been evaluated among the best public libraries in the entire Caribbean area. Its book collection includes 22,228 volumes. In all, 604 volumes were added during the year, and 315 discarded. There were 82 new adult and 439 new juvenile registrants. About 300 adults and 1,500 juveniles are now actively engaged in borrowing books from the public library. They rep@resent approximately 16 percent of the total population of the island of St. Thomas. Many valuable items were added to the Virgin Islands collection, which is fast growing into an important local source of information on the islands’ history and development. For the celebration of a century of freedom from human slavary last year, photostatic copies of historical documents were obtained from Denmark, 1959 Annual Report Continued growth has characterized the libraries and museums during the year. The principal items which must be noted is the further improvement of library services in rural area. Under the national rural library extension program a bookmobile was put into opera- tion in St. Croix visiting the villages in the rural areas on a regular biweekly schedule. With the assistance of some of the vocational students, the courtroom in Cruz Bay, St. John was fitted for additional use as a library. A librarian has been employed on a half-day schedule to serve the reading public of St. John. LIBRARY REFERENCES 1°64 Annual Report The Department of Education administers three public libraries and bookmobile services on St. Thomas and St. Croix, plus a small branch library on St. John. This is done through the Bureau of Libraries and Museums. In addition to the existing facilities, plans were formulated during the 1964 fiscal year to start a branch library in a part of the French Town School. This branch will be opened sometime during the next fiscal year. With the aid of Federal funds provided by the Library Services Act, bookmobile services to rural areas were continued during fiscal 1964. Auxillary services of the library system have been well patronized by the community. The St. Thomas record collection has been expanded and is seeing steadily increasing use. The work of the photoduplication laboratory has continued to keep the libraries’ film records of newspapers up to date. Also, general works stored in the special collection of the Von Scholten Room in St. Thomas are being added to the collections of the St. Croix libraries. 1965 Annual Report The Department of Education administers three public libraries and bookmobile services on St. Thomas and St. Croix plus a small branch library on St. John. In fiscal 1965, a number of improvements were made in the physical appearance of all libraries. The general book collection continued to increase. Over 4,500 volumes were added to the adult, children's and Von Schoulten collection. All types of recordings, classical, popular, narrated, children's and choral have been added and catalogued and listings made available to the public. Magazines on microfilm are also provided as well as Caribbean area material for that special section. Bookmobile services continued for all parts of the islands and the colleftion again increased. 1966 Annual Report Library facilities on St. Thomas and St. John underwent considerable expansion and plans are being prepared for the reconstruction of the Christiansted Public Library on St. Croix. A complete inventory was made in September on equipment and furniture in the islands' public libraries. The St. Thomas Public Library was closed for a 2-month period for renovations to the stack area. The library reopened in February 1966, and the hours of service were lengthened to include 3 hours on Saturdays. The photoduplication laboratory on the third floor of the St. Thomas Library under- went complete refurbishing. The library now has a fully equipped darkroom, housing a contact printer, two microfilm cameras, and other graphic equipment. A microfilm reading foom has been added. A total of $38,050 is available for reconstruction of the Christiansted Public Library. This 2-year project is now close to the bidding stage. A branch library was opened in French Town, St. Thomas, during the year and the branch on St. John was moved to the Jullus E. Sprauve School. 7 LIBRARY REFERENCES 1967 Annual Report The bureau, under the Department of Education, includes a main library in St. Thomas with a part-time branch in Frenchtown, and full-time branches in Cruz Bay, St. John, Christiensted, St. Croix, and Frederiksfed, St. Croix. Recently the libraries in St. Croix extended their hours of services from 9 r.m. to 9 p.m., a schedule equal to that of the main library in St. Thomas. During fiscal 1966-67 library service expenditues totaled $172,004, approximately 2-1/2 percent of the budget of the Department of Education. The Virgin Islands has received Federal grants since 1956, to which local matching funds were contributed as requested by each legislature. This source provided services for bookmobile units in St. Croix, St. John Public Library, Frenchtown Public Library, books and materials, and personal services. Funds earmarked for the restoration of the present Christiansted Public Library Build- ing have been allocated. A State plan for construction under title 11 was submitted and approved and funds have been received, matched, cumulated, and reserved for this purpose, totalling $77,362. Major achievement of the bureau was its participation in the establishment in March of an instructional materials center, made possible by Federal funds. The center was used by subject supervisors to develop materials needed for workshops and in their general supervisory duties. Six-week instructional media workshops were held on St. Croix and St. Thomas for 60 participants. This year's "Books on Exhibit" with 4,000 new publications of K-12 books was a success, though many thought the time of the exibit was too short. Recommendations and general aides were extended to the ESEA title 1 program in the selecting, evaluating, and processing of $28,000 of elementary school library books for the public schools. Title 1 library aides were also given 2 weeks of in-service training in library procedures to improve their effectiveness. Two demonstration workshops were conducted in the selection and utilization of media in the classroom for 60 public and private school teachers at the College of the Virgin Islands. In addition to providing larger sums for title 1 in public library service and title 1l in public library construction, the 89th Congress established authorization for three new programs. Title IV-A is designed to encourage the States to establish or improve library services within State institutions, title IV-B seeks to improve library services to physically handicapped persons unable to read convenient printed materials and title 111 (interlibrary cooperation) seeks to promote the establishment and maintenance of local, regional, state, or interstate cooperation networks of libraries which would assure effective coordination of all types of library services. It is meant to coordinate all federally aided spending in all categories for library service in each State. This is designed to coordinate services in order to avoid duplication and ineffectual spending, with a view toward combining efforts and benefits through increased discounts resulting from cooperative buying on statewide level as well as on interstate scale. Details of the activities and programs to be established under title 111 are now being prepared and will be set forth in the State plan. The quality of library personnel has improved. Two library school graduates were employed, others who are also called librarians have at least the bachelor's degree and experience in some phases of library science. Professional standards and general upgrading of all personnel continue to be bureau objectives. 196@ Annual Report * Highlights of the year for the bureau of public libraries and museums included comple- tion of plans for remodeling the Christiansted Public Library and approval of plans 6 LIBRARY REFERENCES for remodeling the Frederiksted Public Library by the U.S. Office of Education. These projects are part of the program of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) which also covered services to the following institutions: Queen Louise and Cornelro Homes; hospitals; Richmond Penitentiary; insular training schools; youth care center and sheltered workshops. Under title IV-B; the St. Thomas Public Library was designated a regional library for service to the blind; and partially sighted and 70 talking book machines have been received. A collection of more than 170 titles on talking books is available, as well as 18 titles on magnetic tapes. Other major events of the year included a memorial gift of 120 current best sellers by the family of the late Henry " Chaffin " James and donations of books, filmstrips, films, and recordings valued at $8,860 by the firm of Weston Woods. The bureau completed work on a Catalog Microfilm 1967 which was published in January 1968. This catalog lists documents dating from 1665 to 1967 available on film in the St. Thomas Public Library. This year, too, the St. Thomas Public Library was designated an official depository for selected government documents and its photo-duplication laboratery added new equipment. This loboratory prepared a filmed copy of vital statistics to the Washington office, streamlining the old manual tran- script process. 1969 Annual Report Public libraries circulation increased by 5,221, totalling 85,270 volumes loaned for home use, or a per capital of 2-1/2 books. New readers, 975; showing a total registered borrowers of 5, 108 in three islands. Volumes New Volumes added 10,207 Replacements Pe. Si Discards & Withdrawals 867 Reference queries answered fron the Von Schoiten collection: in person, including students 784 By letter and telephone 110 Talking books for the blind borrowed 241 Special Caribbean booxs borrowed 420 Conference participation: The following conferences were held towards greater parti- cipation in Caribbean library developments: 1. Association of Caribbean Universitties and Research Institutes and Libraries (ACURIL). Initial conference at Heads of Caribbean Universities Confefence in Puerto Rico. Library section (Nov. 1968). 2. Inauguration of the College of the Virgin Islands Library St., Thomas (March 1969) 3. Co-Sponsor with Corporation for Economic Development of the Caribbean (CODECA) of Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands Library Conference, in Puerto Rico (June 1969). 4. Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes and Libraries, Puerto Rico (June 1969). 5. Seminars on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials, conference (June 1969). Virgin Islands Library assistant trained in Puerto Rico at the Caribbean Regional Library for computerized bibliographical compilations and collaroration LIBRARY REFERENCES with Caribbean Regional Library for the "Current Carribean Bibliography." Photoduplication laboratory was improved by the addition of Diazo Jackets equip”ient, and other small pieces of equipment for total service. Microfilm oldings were increased from 970 to 1624 items. The filming of all the inactive files of the Division of Personnel were reduced to 30,000 feet, totaling 9,000 jackets corpleted; of these, 4,500 Diazo duplicate were sent to the Division of Personnel, with security negatives (4,500 mylar jackets) stored at the library. The Department of Health's reports of vital statistics for 1967 and 1968 were filmed on 16 rolls, or 1,600 feet of 16mm film in a 2-week period. Robertson vertical copy camera and vacauum frame for platemaking were purchased, and a 1250W model Multilith press was also acquired by the library. Interlibrary cooperation: Joint sponsoring of library conference for the Caribbean between Corporation for the Economic Development of the Caribbean (CODECA), Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Libraries, to the amount of $2,000 from title III of Library Services and Construction Act. The directors of libraries and museums also participated in the inauguration of the Ralph M. Palewonsky Library of the College of the Virgin Islands, and served as resource persons for the 3-day conference entitle "Sharing Caribbean Resources.'! All four nationalities of the Caribbean in England, Denmark, and the United States. It was a unique conference in the Virgin Islands. Exchange program distributed 49 Virgin Islands publications during the year to over 211 libraries and individuals in the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. 1970 Annual Report Department of Education - ESEA TITLE 11. This program provides school library resources and other instructional materials to children and teachers of public, private and parochial schools. It does not allow funds for equipment or employees but in addition to books, movies, filmstrips, records, tape recorders, and transparencies may be obtained. College of the Virgin Islands - The Ralph M Palewonsky Library, dedicated March 16, 1969, is the first of the academic buildings to be completed under the master plan of the College of the Virgin Islands. With an eventful capacity of 100,000 volumes, the library now contains more than 25900 volumes and is used not only by the students and faculty of the College but by members of the community as well. Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs - Virgin Islands Libraries and Museums Copenhagen---Virgin Islands Relations---Miss Eva Lawaetz, translator 111 at the Christiansted Public Library, was selected to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark for a period of 4 months to concentrate, under tutelage in the Royal Archives, on the trans- literation of ancient Gothic script in which archival material is recorded and to familiarize herself with the nature of archival materials preserved in that depository. In September/Ocv.ober, the director also traveled to Denmark and Holland for a 2-week period of familiarization with personnel and materials in this category. The result was: a) The immediate and unreserved collaboration of all Royal Danish archive and library personnel and materials. b) The gift of photocopies of requested documents. c) Future collaboration and exchange ensured. d) Arrangements completed for the translating, editing and publication, in 1970-71 fiscal year, of "Vore Gamie Tropekolonier" with its authors and publishers. 8 > LIBRARY REFERENCES Tage 6 These events have initiated a continuing series of historical publications which will be based on translations from archival records, and presented to the reading public in separate monographic studies, illustrated and published by the public library in its photographic laboratory. The publications will be reproductions of the authentic Danish documents with English translation augmented by commentaries and subsequent developments of research. These monographs will be distributed to all libraries outside of the Virgin islands. The library improved its microphototraphic laboratory with the addition of equipment for the production of both printed and photographic material. It is believed that the photographic laboratory is now the best equipped in the Caribbean with capability in multigraphing, from computer print-out forms, microfilming, photostating, and portrait photography. U.S. Government Documents Center---A new section of library cervices was established. Selected U.S. Government documents are received regularly and these are housed separately in a portion of the Property and Procurement Building on the street floor at Sub-Base. At first eport was submitted to the Superintendent of Documents and listed approximately 300 titles available for use by the public. A catalog of these titles is in preparation for free distribution to all Government agencies, schools, and libraries on the islands. Museum---On April 29, the keys of the Virgin Islands Museum, Inc., were turned over to the director signaling the transfer of this activity to the Department under the Division of Cultural Affairs. Inventory was completed as of May 30. All items were cleaned, wrapped in tissue, and stored in cartons.