Newspaper clippings · July 24, 1975
Hermosa librarian honored — Pat Gazin article
Easy Reader profile recounts Dittmar's career, 1938 fire and announced August 3 celebration.
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Hermosa librarian honored
Kathryn Dittman. Photo by Hanson's Studio.
by Pat Gazin
Hermosa librarian Kathryn Dittmar is retiring after more than 40 years of service to readers of this community.
She was the only staff member on hand when fire broke out in the old Pier library building on January 13, 1938. She evacuated the building and sent a high school lad dashing off for the fire department. The men's room, site of the origin of the flames was demolished, but the book collection suffered neither flame nor water damage.
Dittmar started work as a library page in Hermosa Beach in 1934, fresh out of Los Angeles high school.
She received her library training through an on the job program under the late Mrs. Fern Rhein and has served with every Hermosa librarian since: Eleanor Laphem, Dorothy Olney, Carlotta Hoye, Judy Troland, Lucille Chitwood, and Alice Lovelace, present chief librarian.
A native Californian, Dittmar was born "in the shadow of the Southwest Museum" in Los Angeles.
She has been married 20 years to Robert W. Dittmar, who is employed at Hughes Aircraft Co., Newport Beach.
Her hobbies, the products of which have been regularly donated to the library for special events and holidays, are decorative arts, needlework, crewel and embroidery. Her favorite reading are biographies and travel books.
When Mrs. Dittmar began work, the county system (of which Hermosa Beach
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ople's Easy Reader, July 24, 1975
library is a branch) served a little over half a million people, had a collection of 400,000 volumes and an annual circulation of about 3.5 million.
Today the Los Angeles County system boasts more than three million volumes and anticipates a circulation of 12.5 million in 1975-76.
The city council has proclaimed July 27 through August 3 Kathryn Dittmar Week. A party in her honor will be held Sunday, August 3 in Valley park sponsored by the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library.
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Page 12 Hermosa librarian honored by Pat Gazin Kathryn Dittman. Photo by Hanson's Studio. Hermosa librarian Kathryn Dittmar is retiring after more than 40 years of service to readers of this community She was the only staff member on hand when fire broke out in the old Pier library building on January 13, 1938. She evacuated the building and sent a high school lad dashing off for the fire department. The men's room, site of the origin of the flames was demolished, but the book ? collection suffered neither flame nor water damage. *Dittmar started work as a library page in Hermosa Beach in 1934, fresh out of Los Angeles high school. She received her library training through an on the job program under the late Mrs. Fern Rhein and has served with every Hermosa librarian since: Eleanor Laphem, Dorothy Olney, Carlotta Hoye, Judy Troland, Lucille Chitwood, and Alice Lovelace, present chief librarian. A native Californian, Dittmar was born "in the shadow of the Southwest Museum" in Los Angeles. She has been married 20 years to Robert W. Dittmar, who is employed at Hughes Aircraft Co., Newport Beach Her hobbies, the products of which have been regularly donated to the library for special events and holidays, are decorative arts, needlework, crewel and embroidery. Her favorite reading are biographies and travel books. When Mrs. Dittmar began work, the county system (of which Hermosa Beach
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ople's Easy Reader, July 24, 1975 library is a branch) served a little over half a million people, had a collection of 400,000 volumes and an * annual circulation of about 3.5 million. Today the Los Angeles County system boasts more than three million volumes and anticipates a circulation of 12.5 million in 1975-76. ? The city council has proclaimed July 27 through August 3 Kathryn Dittmar Week. A party in her honor will be held Sunday, August 3 in Valley park sponsored by the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library.