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Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Bureau of Archives and History
Pennsylvania State Archives


MG-466

RECORDS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CITIZENS FOR BETTER LIBRARIES

Series Descriptions



Annual Meetings,
1979-1994.
(1 box)

{series #466m.1} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically and thereunder alphabetically.

Annual meetings typically consist of two topical presentations or panels, a keynote address, a business meeting, and an awards luncheon. The series contains the programs from these meetings, materials related to the relevant presentations, as well as pre- and post- communications surrounding the meetings..

Ampex Videos,
1996.
(1 box)


{series #466m.2} [Holdings]

The Ampex videocassettes are 3/4" film covering the awards program of the 15th Annual Library 1st Amendment Essay Competition on June 4, 1996. Two of the cassettes are master copies and the other two are duplicates.There is a VHS copy of the recording available for viewing.

Board of Directors,
1978-1994.
(1 carton)

{series #466m.3} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically and thereunder alphabetically.

The series contains minutes from Board of Directors meetings, minutes from Annual Meetings, agendas, financial statements, board correspondence, member listings, and president's reports. Minutes generally consist of a treasurer's report, committee reports, updates on any upcoming workshops or events (i.e. Legislative Day, Essay Contest), and reports on pending legislation.

Booklets/Directories/Manuals and Handbooks,
1972-1990.
(1 box)

{series #427m.4} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by type of book.

Booklets within the series include The Library Code, 1972, 1987 Pennsylvania Public Library Statistics, PDE Interim Directory, the 1986-87 Pennsylvania Public Library Statistics, The Pew Charitable Trusts Annual Report from 1987, and the Pennsylvania Public Libraries Film Center 1989/90 Film/Video Catalog. Directories within the series include the 1975 Directory of State Regional and Commericial Organizations, the 1978 Inventory of Pennsylvania Library Cooperative Organizations, and Pennsylvania Public Libraries Directory 1980. The Handbooks and Manuals are composed of Friends of the Library Information Kit 1978, Let's Be Friends: Handbook for Organizing Local "Friends of the Library" in Oklahoma, and Find Out Who Your Friends Are: A Practical Manual for the Formation of Library Support Groups.

Committees,
1979-1994.
(1 box)

{series #466m.5} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically by committee and thereunder chronologically.

The following committees are represented within this series: Awards, Development, Executive, Funding, Legislative, Membership, Nominating, and Public Relations. Each committee contains meeting minutes, agendas, and correspondence.

Correspondence,
1978-1993.
(1 box)

{series #466m.6} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically.

Correspondence exists in the form of exchange of ideas between PCBL and friends groups across Pennsylvania, letters between members of PCBL, interchanges between PCBL and legislators, and exchanges between other statewide and national library organizations such as Pennsylvania Library Association (PLA) and Friends of Libraries U.S.A (FOLUSA).

Essay Contest,
1982-1994.
(1 box)

{series #466m.7} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically.

An essay contest was held yearly for elementary and secondary students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which culminated in an awards day at the Capitol. Winners were given a financial award, lunch, tours, and a personal letter of congratulations from their state representative. The contest increased the visibility of libraries statewide and helped make legislators aware of the importance of libraries by involving them in the process. The series contains awards day programs, winning essays, financial records surrounding the event, correspondence, and letters of appreciation.

Finances,
1978-1994.
(1 carton, 2 boxes)

{series #466m.8} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.

Finances within this series can be defined as anything regarding financial matters within PCBL. This series includes miscellaneous auditors reports, bills, vouchers, bulk mailing permits, designation as a charitable organization, check stubs, corporate funding, employer ID number, financial records, reports and statements, taxes, general fund, highway sign account, invoices, poster account, 1975 Pennsylvania Public Library Accounting Manual, Sales Exempt Status, and Signature Cards.

General File,
1979-1994.
(1 carton)

{series #466m.9} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.

The general file is a multifarious group of materials which did not "fit" within any particular series. An example of the types of materials housed under this series are newletters, pamphlets, booklets, letters, and initiatives from other state and national organizations (i.e. 1975 Toward a National Program for Library and Information Services, 1977 A Plan for Library Cooperation in Pennsylvania, National Citizens for Public Libraries, Governor's Advisory Council for Library Development). Unique activities PCBL conducted are also part of this series with such items as the 1993 Survey, a 1994 Workshop, and a Fundability Seminar held in 1993.

Legislation,
1979-1993.
(1 box)

{series #466m.10} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.

One of PCBL's primary goals was advocating for Pennsylvania libraries to increase awareness of their services and improve library resources and services. To this end, PCBL was very active voicing concerns over bills with the Pennsylvania legislature. Some issues PCBL were involved in were reforming state aid to public libraries, revising Pennsylvania's Library Code, establishing confidentiality of circulation records, establishing a statewide card program, sending delegates to several of the White House Conferences of Library and Information Services, and supporting the legislation allowing the State Library to promote and support interlibrary cooperation throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The series contains bill pamphlets and correspondence between members, groups, and legislators.

Library Legislation Day,
1983-1993.
(1 box)

{series #466m.11} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically.

Library Legislation Day was held annually at the Pennsylvania Capitol. The agenda included a briefing session with a keynote speaker, detailed discussions on specific issues, scheduled visits with legislators, a photo opportunity session, and reception. The event provided an opportunity for librarians all across the state to come together and learn more about the issues and bills impacting them, meet with their local legislators, and have the chance to speak with representatives about concerns or offer praise. The series contains correspondence, planning, publicity materials, budgets, and information on lobbying.

Mailings,
1979, 1993-1995.
(1 box)

{series #466m.12} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically.

The series contains mostly pre-meeting or post-meeting materials sent to members as well as the organization's mailing permit paperwork.

Newsletters,
1979-1996.
(1 box)

{series #466m.13} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically.

Newsletters were created quarterly since the inception of PCBL in 1979. The series is fairly complete with only a few issues missing. Overall, the newsletters cover PCBL events such as Library Legislation Day, the Annual Meeting, and Essay Contest, legislative information pertaining to libraries, a president's report, an idea exchange, and awards.

Newsletter Items,
1979-1989.
(1 box)

{series #466m.14} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.

The series contains miscellaneous materials that went into the production of the newsletters between 1979-1989. Drafts of stories, correspondence, mock-ups of photo pages, resource materials, and completed newletters are included.

Photographs,
1989-1992.
(1 box)

{series #466m.15} [Holdings]

Spanning from 1989 to 1992, this series contains photographs taken from various PCBL award ceremonies and events. Many of the subjects within the photographs are identified and were printed within newsletters.

Publications,
1986-1988.
(1 box)

{series #466m.16} [Holdings]

Publications and materials provided for the 1985-1988 Annual Meetings, The Public Library Development Project, Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) publications (history, advocacy tips, newsletters, trips, "Fact Sheet" flyers), and a few pamphlets from the Pennslyvania Library Association (PLA) comprise this series.

Robert Case Records,
1980-1991.
(1 carton, 1 box)

{series #466m.17} [Holdings]

Arranged chronologically and thereunder alphabetically.

Robert Case served as Vice President of PCBL in 1984-1985, was on the board of directors 1980-1988, was an alternate delegate for the White House Conference on Library and Information Services 1979, and was active with the PCBL Newsletter. His files contain newsletter materials (drafts of stories, photos, resources), annual meeting information, board of director meetings, essay contest information from the span of 1980-1988. White House Conference on Library and Information Services information is included from 1980-1991. A unique folder in the series contains two Governor's Proclamations designating School Library Media Week and Library Week.

Structure,
1979-1992.
(1 box)

{series #466m.18} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.

The series brings together core documents that define PCBL. The first folder contains the evolution of PCBL's by-laws. The second folder covers financial matters, application to be a charitable organization, and minutes of the organization meeting of the first board of directors. The rest of the series contains documents defining the status of the organization and the strategic plan created in 1992.



Presidents


Don Fadden,
1982-1983.
(2 boxes)

{series #466m.19} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically.

Don Fadden was president of PCBL from 1982-1983. His files span from 1981 to 1985 and most notably include advocacy for the School Library Code and proposed Block Grants. Other documents include the annual meetings from 1981 and 1984, board of directors meeting minutes, correspondence, comprehensive information on the essay contests for 1982 and 1983, and press photographs.

Dodson Dreisbach,
1984-1985.
(1 box)

{series #466m.20} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically.

Dodson Dreisbach was president of PCBL from 1984-1985. His files span from 1983 to 1985 and most notably include a working copy, evaluation, and an executive summary of the Statewide Library Card System, ACCESS Pennsylvania, and a working copy of the Interlibrary Loan Compensation Plan. Other documents include the annual meetings from 1983 to 1985, 1985 awards, 1983-1985 board of directors, 1984 committees, correspondence, essay contest for 1984 and 1985, financial reports, legislation for 1985, meetings, newletter, and public relations.

Carolyn Milligan,
1986-1987.
(1 box)

{series #466m.21} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically.

Carolyn Milligan was president of PCBL from 1986-1987. Her files span from 1985 to 1988 and of particular interest is PCBL's involvement in the Pennsylvania Libraries Poster Project. The poster created was done by Pennsylvania artist, Bruce Johnson and PCBL was the sole distributor of the posters. Other documents include the annual meetings of 1986 and 1987, board of directors meeting minutes, by-laws, committees, correspondence, the 1987 essay contest, friends development, legislation, and treasurer's report.

Sara Jane Cate,
1987-1988.
(1 box)

{series #466m.22} [Holdings]

Arranged alphabetically.

Sara Jane Cate was president of PCBL from 1987-1988. Her files span from 1987 to 1991 and include materials on the 1988 Annual Meeting, 1988 Essay Contest, legislation, membership, board of directors, correspondence, friends development, newsletters, the newsletter project, and miscellaneous documents.

 

PA State Archives Hours, Directions, & Fees Research Topics Online Catalog Land Records