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Story
April 10, 1958
Greenbelt News Review
Greenbelt, Prince George's County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Elizabeth B. Hage reports on the Prince George's County Memorial Library's budget support, highlighting growth in circulation (62% increase since 1954-55), book collection (43%), and staff (34%) despite inadequate facilities and personnel shortages. Notes rising costs but progress toward goals.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Librarian's Notebook
By Elizabeth B. Hage
Prince George's County Memorial Library has been receiving excellent support for its budget this year - both the operating and the proposed 10-year capital outlay budget. In this support, and in the Library's budget presentations, emphasis has been centered on the inadequate physical facilities now available: the limitations of service imposed by shortages in personnel making longer hours of service at the branches impossible; and the absolute paucity of the book collection.
In spite of these limitations, a comparison of accomplishments over the past few years shows tremendous increase of business - and with no difference in physical facilities except headquarters, and two branches, and very little increase in staff. The total circulation for the system at the end of February (March figures have not yet been compiled) is 2,500 greater than total circulation for the entire year, 1954-55. Percentage-wise the picture looks like this: Amount of money from the County has increased, 66%: size of the book collection, 43%: size of the staff 34%: and the amount of circulation, 62%. These figures do not show the increase in the amount of business done within the branches that can not be counted in circulation - amount of reference work done, both in the library and over the telephone - clipping and filing materials to supplement the book collection for reference work, to mention only two of the important items carried on, but impossible to count in circulation figures.
At first glance those percentages show the increase in funds to be pretty good. But let us consider increased costs of operation, too, before feeling too good. Salaries in 1954-1955 were abysmally low; and while the situation is much better today, the Library still has difficulty in attracting professional people at the base pay and keeping them long after they get here.
Cost of supplies and materials have increased over the years, too.
The presently proposed library budget is still below minimum needs, but if granted it will go far toward our goals.
By Elizabeth B. Hage
Prince George's County Memorial Library has been receiving excellent support for its budget this year - both the operating and the proposed 10-year capital outlay budget. In this support, and in the Library's budget presentations, emphasis has been centered on the inadequate physical facilities now available: the limitations of service imposed by shortages in personnel making longer hours of service at the branches impossible; and the absolute paucity of the book collection.
In spite of these limitations, a comparison of accomplishments over the past few years shows tremendous increase of business - and with no difference in physical facilities except headquarters, and two branches, and very little increase in staff. The total circulation for the system at the end of February (March figures have not yet been compiled) is 2,500 greater than total circulation for the entire year, 1954-55. Percentage-wise the picture looks like this: Amount of money from the County has increased, 66%: size of the book collection, 43%: size of the staff 34%: and the amount of circulation, 62%. These figures do not show the increase in the amount of business done within the branches that can not be counted in circulation - amount of reference work done, both in the library and over the telephone - clipping and filing materials to supplement the book collection for reference work, to mention only two of the important items carried on, but impossible to count in circulation figures.
At first glance those percentages show the increase in funds to be pretty good. But let us consider increased costs of operation, too, before feeling too good. Salaries in 1954-1955 were abysmally low; and while the situation is much better today, the Library still has difficulty in attracting professional people at the base pay and keeping them long after they get here.
Cost of supplies and materials have increased over the years, too.
The presently proposed library budget is still below minimum needs, but if granted it will go far toward our goals.
What sub-type of article is it?
Institutional Report
Budget Analysis
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Library Budget
Circulation Increase
Staff Shortages
Book Collection
Operational Costs
What entities or persons were involved?
Elizabeth B. Hage
Where did it happen?
Prince George's County
Story Details
Key Persons
Elizabeth B. Hage
Location
Prince George's County
Event Date
1954 1955 To End Of February (Year Unspecified)
Story Details
Report on library budget support, growth in circulation and resources despite facility and staff limitations, and challenges with costs and retention.