Newspaper clippings · April 21, 1966

Daily Breeze — Hermosa Friends tour L.A. Library

Article describes County Library tour, book selection policy, processing and catalog machinery.

Text

Transcribed from the scans and checked against them by Claude. Typed text comes first; handwritten notes follow it. [illegible] marks words that cannot be read and [?] an uncertain reading.

Daily Breeze Thursday, April 21, 1966 Hermosa Friends Tour L.A. Library Members of Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library have returned from a tour of the Los Angeles County Library in downtown Los Angeles. William S. Geller, chief county librarian, presented his staff of assistants and told the group of the history and functions of the library. Many Books "We have over 2.4 million books here at the present time," he said. "Although not open for public service, we supply all of the branch libraries in the L.A. County system with these books where they may be loaned to borrowers in the usual way. We buy approximately 5,000 new books each year. "Our book selection policy assures the public of reading materials that are of maximum usefulness and value, whether the individual reads for self-education, specific information, inspiration, or recreation. "National and world events have had a profound effect on the circulation of books and the amount of reading by the public. The excellence of depth and scope of our book collection brings in more patrons all the time. Librarians work in close cooperation with teachers to insure that all children are fully aware of the facilities of the libraries." Book Processing The tour began by way of the book processing department, where the title stamping by machine on the spines of the books was being done, and title cards and envelopes were being affixed. "The L.A. County Public Library buys the basic books in all fields of knowledge," Geller continued. "Book selection standards that are kept in mind in so far as they apply to each title are the authority and responsibility of the author and publisher; the timeliness and permanence of the book; the extent in which the material covered by the new title is already represented in the collection; and the readability of the book and its literary style. Serious Work "Light reading is supplied as well as more serious work. The library buys approximately one-third of all fiction published during the year. The number of copies we buy is determined by three things: timely or permanent value of the material, current interest and—budget!" Highlighting the tour was the demonstration of the huge rotary files which contain a card for every book, wherever it may be in Los Angeles County. These machines cost $3,000 each. Many of the ladies lingered lovingly in the new book department where a committee of library personnel reads all the incoming new books in order to determine which ones to recommend that the library purchase.

Show the original machine reading

Source scan page 16

Daily Breeze Thursday, April 21, 1966
Hermosa Friends
Tour L.A. Library
Members of Hermosa Beach L.A. County system with these
Friends of theLibrary have books where they may be loan-
returned from a tour of the Los ed to borrowers in the usual
Angeles County Library in way. We buy approximately
downtiam Los Angeles. 5,000 new books each year.
William Geller, chief "Our book selection policy as-
county librarian, presented his sures the public of reading ma-
staff of assistants and told the terials that are of maximum
group of the history and func- usefulnessand value, whether
tions of the library. the individual readsfor self-
Many Books education, specific information,
"We have over 24 millioninspiration, or recreation
books here at the present time, "National and world events
he said."Although not open forhave had a profound effect on
public service, we supply all ofthe circulation of books and the
the branch libraries in theamount of reading by the public. The excellence of depth and
scope of our book collection
brings in more patrons all the
time. Librarians work in close
cooperation with teachers to in-
sure that all children are fully
aware of the facilities ofthe
libraries."
Book Processing
The tour began by way of
the book processing department,
where the titlestamping by machine on the spines of the
books was being done, and title
cards and envelopes were be- ing affixed.
*The L.A. County Public Li-
brary buys the basic books in
all fields of knowledge," Geller
continued. - Book selection
standards that are kept in
mind in so far as they apply
to each title are the authority and responsibility of the author
and publisher;the timeliness
and permanence of the book;
the extent in which the mater-
ial covered by the new title is
already represented in the col-
lection; and the readability of
the book and its literary style
Serious Work
"Light reading is supplied as
well as more serious work. The
library buys approximately one third ofallliction published
during the year. The number
of copies we buy is determined
by three things: timely or per- manent value of the material
current interest and-budget!" Highlighting the tour was the demonstration of the huge ro
tary files which contain a card
for every book,wherever it
may be in Los Angeles County.
These machines cost
$3,000
each.
Many of the ladies lingered
lovingly in thenew book de
partment where a committee of
library personnel reads all the
incoming new books in order to
determine whichones to rec-
ommend that the library pur- chase