Anchorage Public Library to The Cornerstone of a Great Community

Transcription

1 Anchorage Public Library 1917 to 2017 The Cornerstone of a Great Community

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3 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN ANCHORAGE Greetings, What comes across in the history of the Anchorage Public Library is a story of intrepid activists who felt strongly that the community needed what a library could offer: a cultural center for the city, providing not only educational resources, but an alternative to other wild and crazy downtown entertainment establishments of the time. Our history involves an Episcopalian minister, the Anchorage Women s Club, the Rotary Club and finally city leaders, especially Zachariah J. Loussac and Elmer Rasmuson all believing that a public library can have a lasting impact on creating a civilized community. While many things have changed in Anchorage over the last 100 years, what has not changed is the incredible dedication of staff to serve the public. People that work in libraries continue to believe that the library plays a huge role in educating youth and developing lifelong learners; creating experiences that take people away from their daily lives; helping people to become better citizens by explaining what it is to live in a democratic society; and being welcoming to everyone that walks through the doors. Libraries embrace the diversity of our community as well as the diversity of opinions. Our Library system owes the biggest thanks to 100 years of volunteers, the people that pushed for a permanent library, citizens that wanted branch libraries, and finally, the many volunteers that helped to create the present central library. The evolution of steadfast volunteers continues today, with the Friends of the Library supporting all of our programs and contributions to numerous projects. The Foundation that Z. J. Loussac founded years ago continues today, following his vision of supporting a community institution and helping to develop a strong Library. The Anchorage Public Library has come a long way, from being in a Cow Palace to the expansion of buildings and virtual expansion through the web. It is a 100 years of true growth, raising generations of readers. Imagine where the next 100 years will take us! Mary JoTorgeson Library Director 3

4 THE CORNERSTONE OF A GREAT COMMUNITY Introduction The history of libraries in America is a fascinating study of societies struggling to balance the needs of its people between economic drive, and a need for education and culture. In many ways the two forces worked hand in hand as the printed word became more and more valuable in obtaining the knowledge needed to drive the industrial revolution and to grow expanding communities economically. In 1900, towns and cities east of the Mississippi River were well established and Libraries growing up in the surrounding areas had well established models in which to follow. Anchorage Alaska at this time was very far removed from these long in-place resources and needed very much to rely on the tenacity and hard work of a small group of citizens. The history of Anchorage s well respected and much cherished institution of culture and knowledge is best understood as an evolution of three time periods; the beginning in 1917, characterized by the efforts of the All Saints Episcopal Church and a mostly all volunteer un-funded library; a period of growth and government involvement starting in 1937; and the total modernization and development of what would become our present first class library system The Building of a Railroad Town and the Need for a Library Much like many towns that emerged during the expansion of the American West, Anchorage was not the result of a small band of people looking for a new start, but was the intentional development of a carefully planned resource. Not particularly known for its creeks full of gold deposits, what would become the city of Anchorage was in fact originally intended to be a temporary work camp for the construction of the Alaska railroad. But as the tent city grew, workers began to settle more permanently here and at some point wives, children and other family members joined them. It was not long before it was recognized that there was a need for cultural diversion that did not involve alcohol and gambling, that perhaps there were more meaningful ways to engage the burgeoning youth of the small town. Libraries were well known and established in America at this time and in 1917 the first library in the new railroad town was established by the All Saints Episcopal Church then situated on the corner of Third Avenue and K Streets. The small library of donated books is monitored by the Rev. Hughes and is mostly composed of liturgical materials with the occasional Huck Finn thrown in for good measure. By November of 1917 a group of like-minded women formed the Anchorage Women s Club and began a major letter writing campaign to fill the mostly empty shelves with books. The idea was to get as many people as possible to encourage friends and family in the states to mail books to the growing library. The books came by the box full and moved from place to place. From the parish house they were relocated to an upstairs room in the old fire hall located on what was then known as City Hall Block, from there to the court house at Fourth and E Streets, and for period of time they resided at the home of Women s Club member Mary Wever. It must have become a familiar routine with a set drill; Everyone fall out, time to move the library again! Money to support the library was always short and the Women s Club was integral in keeping it aliveclearly it was with their continued dedication that it was able to grow and expand. One strategy they employed were dances and card parties, a sort of precursor to our contemporary Saturday Night in the Stacks. An important turning point in the library s history was the formation of the Anchorage Public Library Association in This group of citizens formed to supervise the library and was instrumental in convincing the Chamber of Commerce to partially fund the Librarian s salary. Many people, some politically motivated, recognized the 4

5 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN ANCHORAGE importance and value of libraries, having come from small towns where their own childhood was positively impacted by such cultural and educational institutions as libraries and museums. Thus in 1929 the Territory of Alaska provided $ annually (approx. $2, today) to locally incorporated library associations thereby encouraging communities in Alaska to organize and maintain libraries. The Anchorage Library Association was immediately incorporated at this time by library board member and Librarian Mary Wever. Still, it is difficult to fund a library without volunteers as money is often too scarce for a full time librarian and hours are limited to only 4 hours a week. By the end of the 1930 s Anchorage s population was a somewhat stagnant 3,000 people with an air of uncertainty about its future. It would take the world-wide conflict of World War II to bring about drastic change as Anchorage played out it s surprising role as a strategic location, a significant increase in population would bring with it a demand for increased library services and in 1945 the local Rotary Club raised $2,500 to support the library until the city council could appropriate the needed funds to expand the library There was always a sense in the early days of the city s growth that not enough could be done to stave off the perceived debauchery of Anchorage s wild and rowdy ways. Bars and after hours gambling joints were a continual temptation and in response citizens doubled up on their efforts to maintain a growing and vibrant library presence. By the early 40 s the library, as would be the trend for a number of years, moved with other city departments into a main City Hall. With an increase in funding and usage, the library is now able to be open five days a week albeit only a few hours each day. The City Librarian, Mrs. Wever, is now earning a salary of $100 per month. By the close of the war the library was outgrowing the space in city hall, and was relocated once again to a tin building resembling a warehouse nicknamed the Cow Palace. This structure, set on cement blocks, was located across from the Kimball Building on Fifth and E Streets only one lot over from its location in the early days. At the time of the move; Fort Richardson donated with help from the American Legion 1,180 books including fiction, history, and biography. Willetta Matsen takes over as librarian in the wake of Mrs. Wever s death and becomes the first professional librarian to be hired in Anchorage. This new location provides an interesting architectural component of the tin building in that after a period of time, and most likely due to frost heaving the entire structure tilted to one direction. The stacks of books were apparently on the down-slope side of the Cow Palace which in winter with the floors slushy and wet had the effect of sending patrons flying towards the books! It was also during this period that the city formally accepted responsibility for the library, a move that would greatly assist in the future expansion and importance of the library. The Cow Palace was never meant to be a permanent building for the city s growing collection of books and the association tasked with the library s security was already beginning to think of ways to come up with a plan to give the city a library with a more solid, deserving home. 5

6 THE CORNERSTONE OF A GREAT COMMUNITY Mrs. Matsen s position was not a full time job and in 1946 the city council voted to fund Anchorage s first full time permanent librarian, Irene Griffith. Griffith was City Librarian for 25 years and her first order of business was managing to keep the library open for 54 hours a week. When you consider the population at the time and the small size of the library, a circulation rate of 400 books a day is really quite impressive. In 1946 in concert with Elmer Rasmuson, Zachariah J. Loussac established the Loussac Foundation dedicated to the support of local educational, cultural, and recreational activities. Loussac was at this time serving his first term as mayor and was a very popular civic leader known for his support of business endeavors as well as cultural pursuits. A well respected champion of libraries, Z. J. Loussac was an immigrant from Russia who, after traveling throughout Alaska settled in Anchorage and started a drug store in The foundation pledged to provide funds to secure bonds for a new library and visions of finally being rid of the tilting, tin-sided cow palace were beginning to look like reality. The City of Anchorage voters approved through a vote, $350,000 for the issuance of a bond to provide for a new library. ($3 million today) The new library was located on the corner of Fifth and F Streets, and was aptly named after its benefactor, Z. J. Loussac and was designed by local architects Manley and Mayer. Perhaps the most exciting chapter in history of Anchorage Public Library begins with this latest incarnation. Unlike past locations, the library which opened in 1955 featured much more than books. Patrons could now come in for an afternoon of reading in large spacious well-lit reading rooms with nice tables and comfortable chairs. A mezzanine featured stuffed animals reminiscent of a wildlife museum while library staff enjoyed for the first time their own lounge. A basement level room had facilities for meetings where the City Council, the Women s Club, and the World Affairs Club met monthly. The much needed new library had a grand 14,300 square feet and was now lending over 500 books a day. While the new Z. J. Loussac was busy with patrons downtown, the city was expanding in different directions supported by a growing population of military personal and their dependents. Muldoon, Spenard, and the lower hillside; once popular as moose hunting areas were now growing into Anchorage neighborhoods and a growing number of library supporters were clamoring for a library in their backyard. An attempt beginning in 1965 was made to provide service to outlying areas by converting a military surplus vehicle into a bookmobile with mixed results. Initial routes took in Government Hill, Wonder Park and the Sand Lake area several miles south of downtown. The following year another route was added that took the traveling books to furthest edges of town along the Seward Highway to the Edgewater Motel and on to O Malley Road stopping at the Hilltop Youth Club. As popular as it was, bookmobile service only lasted 6 years and was discontinued in 1971 the main issue being that due to winter road conditions and an aging vehicle the service was only available in summer months. 6

7 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN ANCHORAGE Branch Libraries In 1960 Spenard was a nebulous quasi off-shoot part of Anchorage known officially as the Spenard Utility District with a strong group of library fans weary of negotiating the Chester Creek drainage to check out books. Nola Andress was the part-time volunteer librarian who with other volunteers established a library on the corner of West 29 th and Spenard Roads. On opening day slightly over 1,000 books were available for circulation many of them donated by the Spenard Social and Civic Club as well as some outdated army books. A set of encyclopedias were made available as well as some children s books. Some permanence was established in August 1960 when funding was established for the volunteer librarian with non-tax monies donated by the utility district. The establishment of the Greater Anchorage Area Borough had the effect of bringing Spenard into the fold with the library now being operated from tax funds. Growing pains saw the library moving twice, and by 1968 was located in the B and J Center at Northern Lights and C Streets. At this location patrons could enjoy local art with an Artist of the Month program, and a donation of Sierra Club books by Peg Tileston rounded out the growing collection. Both Chugach and Eagle River had libraries of one sort or another dating from 1965 and possibly earlier. Billie Moore, Carol Jones, Katherine Cotton and Polly Kallenberg formed the backbone of library supporters and volunteers. The Eagle River library opened in 1965 in a simple cinder block building next the Lazy Mountain Trailer Court along the Glenn Highway with no restrooms and an old smoky oil stove to keep the frost from settling on the books in the winter. Billie Moore kept the Eagle River library going while Polly Kallenberg did her best to keep books on the shelf in the Swanny Slope building in Chugach. With steady growth in the Eagle River area a decision was made to combine the two libraries in an effort to offer more books and service with the limited funds. The two libraries combined opened up in a shopping center on Eagle River Road and managed four expansions from 1970 to 1980 eventually reaching 7,800 square feet, a far cry from the cinder block building with a smoky oil stove and no bathrooms! Picking up the slack at the other end of Turnagain Arm is the Girdwood Library which opened in 1965 with funding from the Federal Libraries Services Act. Occupying an original two-room school house the first library shared space with city hall and the council chambers. As the little community at the base of a popular ski resort grew, Librarian Bruce Houston lobbied for expansion and in 1979 the Anchorage School Board approved a request to provide space in the new Girdwood Elementary School amounting to approximately 1,600 square feet. This expansion greatly increased the number of books and services offered and was a great asset to the community. The library was relocated to a joint facility in 1981 and was renamed the Scott and Wesley Gerrish library with a gift of Alaskan fine art donated by Willard Nagley. In Anchorage the Z. J. Loussac in the downtown area was meeting the needs of the surrounding locale but outlying neighborhoods were growing rapidly in the post-war years. The Grandview Gardens library was dedicated in 1967 in memory of Chester A. Hostetler a long time city employee and councilman, and was located at 1325 Primrose Street. Housed in an old telephone utility building, the re-purposed building had a bit of a bomb-shelter look about it and when the Z.J. Loussac building was demolished 7

8 THE CORNERSTONE OF A GREAT COMMUNITY in 1981 it provided space for technical services, providing system-wide processing of materials until the new Loussac opened on Denali and 36 th. Dedicated to Mary Wever, Anchorage Librarian from , Mountain View Branch Library on the corner of Bragaw and Mountain View Drives was opened in 1973 with Bev Weston as Librarian. The library was seeded with a transfer of 2,500 books from the local recreation center and with the addition of a meeting room totaled almost 7,000 square feet. Financing was secured from the library s operating budget to plant two new branch libraries; Samson-Dimond and Sand Lake. Margaret Bell, a noted children s book author was a featured speaker at the dedication of Sand Lake Library on Jewel Lake road, and the new Librarian was Barbara Mundall. A new, unique feature of Sand Lake was a circulating toy collection that proved very popular. Located in a small shopping center, Sand Lake Library opened in 1973 and with an expansion in 1981 totaled approximately 4000 square feet. Following the opening of Sand Lake, Samson-Dimond Branch, named in honor of Irene Griffith Samson began checking out books to an eager public in Samson-Dimond eventually relocated to the Dimond Center mall which provided considerably more space for books and staff. The Librarian for SD was Barbara McLean who would go on to head up Adult Services at the newly minted Z. J. Loussac on Denali and 36 th Streets The late 1970 s saw considerable financial growth for Anchorage and other Alaskan cities as oil wealth from the Alaska pipeline began to peak. A plan to rebuild some of Anchorage s crumbling infrastructure and create new building projects as an investment in the local economy began to take shape and was referred to euphemistically as Project 80 s. In 1979 local voters approved a 17.1 million dollar bond and combined with $36 million from the state a new, more centrally located library was to be built on the corner of 36 th and Denali to replace the aging and overcrowded Loussac on Fifth and F Streets now 26 years old. It is decided that the old Loussac would be torn down to make way for a convention center and the collection is moved to a temporary location on West Sixth Avenue while construction is completed on the new Library on 36 th and Denali. In 1986 the new library boasting 140,000 square feet of space is completed and has besides a library a new theater and Assembly Chambers. The Sixth Avenue location is retained for a period of time and is referred to as the Downtown Branch. The completion of the significantly larger and more artfully designed Loussac Library in mid-town signaled a number of changes in the history of the public library in Anchorage. Once funding for material caught up with the huge increase in shelf space, Loussac became by far the largest repository of popular reading materials in the state, and its Alaska collection would become a great source for researchers and general history enthusiast all over the state. Though the core of the Alaska collection was begun long before its most likely final resting place, the most significant components of the collection have been developed over the last 30 years. When plans for the new building were being discussed it was decided that a vault and space for a growing rare book collection would be included; the idea being that The Alaska Collection would serve researchers as an archival level collection and resource. The vision of maintaining an archivist came and went with the ebbing tide of budget cuts soon after the building was competed but Alaskan Bibliographer Bruce Merrell never lost his vision for a world class special collection and we have now is truly a gem in the crown that tops the Z. J. Loussac library. The vault contains a number of interesting and truly special rare items; beautiful hand colored prints depicting native life in the 19th century, wonderful hand engraved maps from several centuries, a pocket watch once belonging to the infamous con-man Soapy Smith, and perhaps the most treasured items the Journals of Captain Cook. The Cook Journals almost never found their permanent home when disaster struck on the July 4 th weekend in 1986 when, just two days before the entire Alaska collection was due to move to the new location, they wore stolen. They were returned somewhat 8

9 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN ANCHORAGE anonymously 18 months later to great relief; the culprit probably determining that they would be too difficult to sell for their known value and selling them cheaply to a good samaritan. The Alaska Collection is much more than rare books, here with the Ann Stevens reading room is a place of quiet solitude, a vestige of libraries before the age of electronics. An interesting component relating to the history of the current Anchorage Public Library lies in the evolution of libraries across America. When the current main library was completed patrons and library workers alike searched for books using a large mysterious wooden box full of small drawers filled with thousands of cards. Searching for a periodical article meant mastering any number of complex and bulky indices and heaven forbid should you be in a hurry and need materials from another library! Over time, sometimes slowly but often overnight; computers, electronic resources, and the World Wide Web caught up to Anchorage Public Libraries and modernization permitted library staff to deliver much greater resources to the customer than ever before. In no other time period in the history of Anchorage s libraries has so much changed in the atmosphere and character of the public library. Up until the demolition of the downtown Loussac, the delivery of library services to the public went nearly unchanged for 60 years. The goal of library supporters in Anchorage from the beginning was to keep pace with the growth and needs of Anchorage citizens and that goal has always been met despite roadblocks along the way. In 1995 for example, Anchorage Public Library was composed of the headquarters Z. J. Loussac Library and five branches, and in that year checked out over a million items to over 90,000 patrons. Meeting rooms were utilized over 3 thousand times and the libraries provided over 700 children s programs. Twenty-two years later the library is still meeting the needs of Anchorage by providing access to the most current and advanced resources available including digital books, a vast array of educational databases to support learning, hundreds of entertaining and interesting programs, modern meeting spaces, and of course fast reliable internet service. And of course Anchorage Public Library still provides the community with a broad and encompassing selection of materials circulating over 1.6 million items in 2016 alone. Branch libraries in the municipality have kept pace with the needs of the community as well with a modern new building built for Girdwood in 2008, and a new library serving the Mountain View community built in In 2009 the Chugach Eagle River Branch dedicated a very nice new home of 25,452 square feet, and providing for space for community activities and meetings. Interest in providing a library for the early settlers in 1917 provided rudimentary shelter for books and was most often promoted by the either the Women s Club or local clergy or both, but the real beginnings for Anchorage Public Library was the tin warehouse known as the Cow Palace built in 1946, as it was the first officially recognized and supported library institution of the City of Anchorage. The strong and broadly respected library system that we have today has a great deal of debt owed to Z.J. Loussac and the incredible foresight he demonstrated by starting a Library foundation that culminated in the original Z. J. Loussac Library in downtown Anchorage in It is with continued foundation support that affords Anchorage the opportunity to grow their library as evidenced by the recent expansion of Loussac in

10 CREDITS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Outside Front Cover Credit: F.W. Sheelor, Anchorage, Alaska May 1, 1916; Anchorage Museum, B Description: Early Tent City, Anchorage, Alaska Inside Front Cover cropped for use Credit: Sydney Laurence, Pyatt-Laurence Collection; Anchorage Museum, B Description: Exchange Library Page 4 top right Credit: Alaska Railroad Collection; Anchorage Museum, B AEC.H26 Description: Alaska Engineering Commission Yard, 1917 Page 5 top left Credit: P.S. Hunt, Alaska Railroad Collection; Anchorage Museum, B AEC.G464 Description: City Hall, 1917 Page 5 middle right Credit: Walt Smith, Steve McCutcheon Prints; Anchorage Museum, B a Description: Cow Palace 11/5/1945 Page 5 bottom left Credit: Anchorage Public Library Archives Description: Willetta Matsen, Librarian Page 5 bottom right Credit: Ward Wells, Ward Wells Collection; Anchorage Museum, B C236.1 Description: Junior High Students at Cow Palace Page 6 top right Credit: Ward Wells, Ward Wells Collection; Anchorage Museum, B S Description: June 17, 1955 Exterior of old Z.J. Loussac Library Page 6 bottom left Credit: Anchorage Daily Times, City Sets Loussac Day To Honor Philanthropist, 10/10/1962 Description: June 1, 1955 old Loussac Library dedication, Ada and Zach Loussac Page 7 top right Credit: Ward Wells, Ward Wells Collection; Anchorage Museum, B S Description: June 1961 Interior view of old Loussac Library Page 7 bottom left Credit: Anchorage Public Information Office; Anchorage Museum, B Description: Old Z.J. Loussac library, Main reading room Page 8 Credit: Anchorage Public Library Archives Description: Exterior Z. J. Loussac Library, 1996 Page 9 top right Credit: Anchorage Public Library Archives Description: Z. J. Loussac Library, 2017 Page 9 bottom left Credit: Anchorage Public Library Archives Description: Two patrons at computer and card catalog, 1996

11 THANKS 2017 LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD The library advisory board acts as the planning body for library activities and special projects and makes recommendations to the administration and assembly. The board also reviews annual budgets and operations. It consists of nine members and meets on the third Wednesday of each month. About the Library Advisory Board The Library Advisory Board is established under Chapter of the Municipal Code: There is established a library advisory board consisting of nine members. The chief librarian of the municipality shall be the executive secretary of and technical advisor to the board. The board shall: Act as the planning body in charge of all library activities of the municipality, including but not limited to operation of principal and branch libraries now existing or hereafter established, mobile library services, special library projects such as radio and television projects, and any and all other library functions. Make recommendations to the administration and assembly for the adoption, change, repeal or alteration of rules, regulations, restrictions on library services, and all other matters directly or indirectly affecting the municipal library program. Perform such other powers and duties as the assembly may refer from time to time. Review annually the library budget and its operations. (CAC ; AO No , 1, expires ; AO No. 99-7, 1, , expires ; AO No , 2, expires ) Charter references: Boards and commissions, 5.07 Cross references: Misuse and abuse of library materials, Ch Library Advisory Board Members David Levy, Chair Term expires October 14, 2018 Lucy Flynn O'Quinn, Vice Chair Term expires October 14, 2017 Cristy A. Willer, Secretary Term expires October 14, 2017 Jonathon Bittner Term expires October 14, 2017 Nancy Hemsath Term expires October 14, 2019 Barbara Jacobs Term expires October 14, 2019 Lourdes Linato-Crawford Term expires October 14, 2019 Lupe Marroquin Term expires October 14, 2018 Kirk Rose Term expires October 14, 2018 Janet Quincy Taylor Teen Advisory Board Non-voting Member MAJOR LIBRARY CHAMPIONS Friends of the Library Board Mary Rasmussen President Brando Nakasato Vice President Carol Sturgulewski Secretary Brookes Chandler Treasurer Cathy Steen Sue Heinz Toni McPherson Anna Breuninger Kim Dunn Foundation Board Chris McGee President Kim Hays Vice President Sigrid Brudie Secretary Amanda Keates Treasurer Karl Kaufman Deborah Mole Brooke Pollock Clare Ross Roe Sturgulewski Chris Vaughan Shannon Kuhn

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