User:Kerrytusc/Tuscaloosa Public Library

Introduction
The Tuscaloosa Public Library is a city/county agency located in the city of Tuscaloosa, serving a population of over 167,104 in Tuscaloosa County in the state of Alabama, USA. The Library has 46,857 registered patrons that use the library on a regular basis--roughly 28 % of the population of the county. There are currently over 198,832 items (books, videos, audios, and etc.) cataloged in the system. The library currently has three service outlets: The Main Library, the Brown Branch and the Weaver-Bolden Branch.

Main Library
An 1879 article in The Tuscaloosa Times marks the foundation of a library for Tuscaloosa. J.H. Fitts, Esq., endowed it with a subscription of $50.00 in cash and 100 valuable books. A large number of books belonging to the Young Men's Christian Association were turned over to the library and about 500 books were given by citizens. A "commodious room" housed the library, located over the store formerly occupied by Dr. John Little (Tuscaloosa Times).

By the early 1900s the library had been relocated to a small one-room affair in the basement of the County Court House. The library soon outgrew the Court House rooms and moved to what is known as "The Old Searcy Home" (at 9th Street and 24th Avenue) in 1926. The library shared space with the County Board of Education. Five of the downstatirs rooms were dedicated to the library: two of the rooms were used for office space and library files with the remaining three devoted to book stacks. The monthly appropriation for the library in 1946 was the "pitifully low sum" of 185.00. This stipend was only a slight increase from the 1921 figure of $100.00 per month (A History...).

The 1952-53 report showed the phenomenal use of the library by Tuscaloosa citizens by witinessing the increased growth in circulation to 47,335 for adults. The report also notes 29,749 books in the collection with an additional 4,373 items to be added in that year. Some 2,100 books were noted to be worn beyond repair (A History...)

The main library soon outgrew the five room space in the Searcy House and was relocated to the historic Jemison House in 1958. The house, a beautiful Italianate villa was built in 1860-1862 and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was donated by the Friedman family and the library then became known as the Friedman Library. By 1966, the book stock numbered some 59,853 volumes.

Still the library would outgrow even the ornate Friedman building. Mrs. Bessie Sasser, then librarian, launched a massive effort for a new public library building. Located on River Road (now Jack Warner Parkway) the Tuscaloosa Public Library was realized in 1979 after lengthy construction problems and delays. The library underwent an extensive renovation in 1999-2001, increasing space and modernizing the structure.

The Tuscaloosa Public library on Jack Warner Parkway has continued to serve as the main library until the present.

The Weaver-Bolden Branch Library
The first branch library, Weaver-Bolden, was established in 1948 under the leadership of Ruth Eaton Cummings Bolden who served as librarian there from its beginnings to her retirement in 1975. In 1946, a library opened in three rooms of the community Center, located at 18th Street and 30th Avenue in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Community Center, site of recreational activities and a radio school, was funded through what was then known as the Community Chest (precursor to the United Way) and the Tuscaloosa Religious Association.

Twice a month, the library carried books to county schools in Holly Springs, Coaling, Romulus, Taylorville, Dry Creek and Holt. There was no other library service to African Americans in Tuscaloosa County except at the Northport Technical School.

Tuscaloosa County assumed financial responsibility for operating all recreational programs and the Community Center building was torn down. The library was moved first to the Lutheran Church School, then to a store owned by Mr. Frank Williams. The County appropriated no funds to the library until 1953, when the Tuscaloosa Public Library assumed responsibility for the Library on 18th Street.

Ruth Bolden, the first librarian at the branch, requested that the Library Board name the library in honor of George Weaver, a former civic leader who opened his personal library to area students. In 1960, the present building at 2937 19th Street was constructed and dedicated on February 12, 1961. A Community Block Grant funded renovations in 1991 and 2003 (Bailey, History of the...)

The Brown Branch Library
The Brown Branch is Tuscaloosa Public Library's latest branch, officially opening its doors on Sunday, September 10, 2006. It is located in the Taylorville area, within the Bobby Miller Activity Center at 300 Bobby Miller Parkway. The 4,000 square feet branch will offers services as those at the Main library and at the Weaver-Bolden branch.

The library is named after James M. Brown and his sister Marine Brown. James and Marine Brown were the children of Judge James Clinton Brown and Mary Grace Maxwell of Tuscaloosa. James Brown was self-employed as a real estate and property appraiser for most of his career. He was best known for chronicling local news and events as editor of the Exchange Club's newsletter, the Unitor for 55 years. Marine Brown is best remembered by the students she taught at Stafford and Verner Elementary Schools in Tuscaloosa. After retirement, she taught international students at the Baptist Student Center at the University of Alabama.

Adult Services
Adult Services is a reader's advisory service for the adult fiction area. Patrons can either be directed to explore particular genres or to locate the next book in a series. The librarians there can draw upon various reference works (print and online) to help patrons with their fiction needs.

Book Discussion Group
In addition, patrons may sign up at the Adult Services for monthly book discussion meetings. Members select from a variety of titles suggested by themselves or by the library. The library purchases extra selected books in order to ensure sufficient copies. The Book Discussion Group is a morning group meeting at 10 am, on the last Tuesday of the month. A librarian leads the discussion, guided by a brochure prepared for the occasion. The group may either choose fiction or non-fiction and has covered a great variety of subjects in the past.

Children's Materials

 * Over 60,000 books, 1500 videos and 500 books-on-cassette
 * Various types of children's books:
 * Beginning readers
 * Picture books
 * Chapter books
 * Caldecott, Newbery and other award-winning books
 * Young adult fiction
 * Popular children's magazines
 * Accelerated Reading lists from public and private schools in Tuscaloosa County

Kid Connections
Kid Connections is a program slated for children from kindergarten to the sixth grade. Like other programs, this is filled with stories and craft-making and takes place every second Tuesday from 3:30 4:30 pm.

Pre-School Storytime
A fun-filled program in which children can listen to stories, sing songs and make simple crafts. This program is for children ages 4-6 who are able to sit and listen independently.

Toddler Time
A program for parents and their children (ages 1-3) to sing songs, dance, and listen to stories. It is held at the Main Library and takes place in the Fall and Spring of each year.

Accelerated Reader Lists
Also known as the AR lists, the Accelerated Reader Lists are composed of lists of books for accelerated school readers. Local schools provide the lists to the library for their specific programs. Participating schools quiz their students on what they read and award points based on their understanding of the book. Not all county schools are represented and each school is responsible for the content of its list.

Summer Library Program
A series of programs held during the summer months for children ages three and up. The Summer Library Program is designed to encourage reading during the summer break. Children pledge to read at least five books over the course of the program, which usually lasts five weeks. When children register, they each are given reading log to keep track of the books they read during their participation in the program. At the end of the summer children are asked to hand in their reading logs and they are awarded a personalized certificate and a special prize. In addition, past programs have included special performances by magicians, storytellers, and singers/musicians.

Computer Lab
The computer lab features new equipment and software for children up to age 14. The computers feature learning games from many popular titles. These are available at the Main and Weaver-Bolden libraries.

Homework Alabama
Homeworkalabama.orgis a free homework help site online daily from 3pm to midnight, provided by the Alabama Public Library Service. Students interact on a one-to-one connection with a live tutor. Homeworkalabama.org covers grades 4 through 12 and introductory college courses. The subject areas covered are: math, science, social studies and English.

Alabama Virtual Library
The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is a collection of databases providing free access to magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, and other periodical and reference sources of information. The AVL contains a wide range of resources, meeting the information needs of patrons from the primary grades to adulthood. Any Alabama resident may apply for an AVL card through an Alabama public library. The card lists a unique password that allows the patron access to the databases from any internet connection.

Tours
Tours of the Children's Area are available for local schools, daycares, camps, and church groups. In addition, children's staff go to the above locations for various programs.

Bookmobile
The first bookmobile service began in 1924 and was eventually discontinued in 1958. Bookmobile service resumed again in 1965 only to be discontinued again in 1982. In general, this service waxed and waned with the fortunes of the library. With the arrival of the latest director, the bookmobile has seen continual service.

The bookmobile travels throughout Tuscaloosa County. It provides best sellers, mysteries, science fiction, romance, thrillers, westerns, and more. The bookmobile is handicapped accessible and ADA compliant. It travels to over thirty stops in Tuscaloosa County and is equipped with the latest satellite receiving technology and is fully internet accessible (History and Development...,1).

Books by Mail
Books by Mail is a free personalized delivery service of library materials to persons confined to their homes due to physical disability, extended illness, or unusual transportation problems. Each quarter a catalog is mailed to each Books by Mail patron. The books requested are sent by mail along with return postage. Patrons can also request any other circulating library materials.

Deposit Collections
Deposit collections are small reading collections maintained in various institutions and facilities throughout Tuscaloosa County. The library delivers a selection of books to a facility and exchanges them every quarter. Each collection can be tailored to the preferences and needs of the readers. This service is available to nursing homes, retirement homes, and senior citizen day program sites. Any long or short term residential facility, etc. may apply for a deposit collection.

Tuscaloosa Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Also known as the Talking Books and Braille Library, the Tuscaloosa Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped was established on July 1, 1974 (Jordan, 1). It is part of a nation-wide network of cooperating libraries serving people for whom conventioal print is a barrier (Outreach, 3). This free library service is administered and funded by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress and the Tuscaloosa Public Library. Currently, the Subregional has 203 active patrons with an average monthly circulation of 600 (2).

Services offered by the Subregional:


 * Loan of Talking Books (15,000 in-house titles and over 50,000 other titles available through inter-library loan).
 * Loan of special playback equipment and accessories needed to use these special books.
 * Special receivers to access the WUAL Radio Reading Service that broadcasts daily readings of local newspapers and other publications of interest.
 * Audio and Braille magazine subscription service.
 * Interlibrary loan service for Braille patrons.
 * Assistance with applications and referrals to other agencies and services for the blind and physically handicapped.
 * Home visits for those unable to come to the library.
 * Educational programs for schools, civic, service and other organizations.
 * Program kits for use by activity directors who work with seniors in senior centers, residential centers and institutions.
 * The Helen Keller Collection. Comprehensive print book collection available for library research. Special packets given to students and teachers studying Helen Keller(Jordan, 2).

Reference
The Reference Department (also known as the Harrison Information Center)provides assistance to patrons in locating information. The reference collection consists of titles comprised of individual works as well as general and subject-specific encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories and other items.

Archives
The Archive room houses materials considered too fragile for general browsing. It includes:
 * Tuscaloosa city directories from the years 1929-prior current year.
 * Tuscaloosa phone directories from 1948-prior current year.
 * Tuscaloosa cross reference directories from 1966-prior current year.
 * American Funeral Record (local) from 1905-1925.
 * Casket sales (local) from November 1907-March 1926.
 * Records of Jones and Rogers Funeral Home April 1912--May 1919.
 * The Graphic (local newspaper) bound print materials from September 1958--February 1988.
 * The Tuscaloosa News (local newspaper) bound print materials from 50 years prior current year.

All of the above series will have missing items for several years.

Local History/Genealogy
The Local History and Genealogy section holds materials for researchers into history close to home. There are nearly 7000 books on the shelves, concentrating on the Southeast and Alabama, with a special focus on West Central Alabama, the location of Tuscaloosa County. Two genealogical databases, Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest Online provide numerous links to genealogical information, from census records to death and marriage indexes. Several cabinets contain hundreds of microfilm records on: Alabama census, local counties, Civil War units and African-American genealogy. One cabinet holds the surname files--information gathered on particular family lines. In addition, another verticle file contains hundreds of clippings and other materials on local and state history.

Newspapers on Microfilm
Various newspapers are listed on microfilm going back to the 19th century in Tuscaloosa County:
 * Brookwood Herald 1901--1902
 * Clarion 1881--1882
 * Crimson White September 1908--May 5, 1909
 * Daily Times Gazette January 1--November 5, 1904
 * Flag of the Union May 21, 1835--May 24, 1837 and Jan. 6, 1841--Dec.29, 1841
 * Independent Monitor July 24, 1840--Dec. 27, 1871
 * Northport Herald January 4--December 19 1912
 * Spectator 1872 and 1874
 * Sunday Sun 1901
 * Sunday Times 1897-1898
 * Tuscaloosa American August 25,1898
 * Tuscaloosa Chronicle (African American) 1898
 * Tuscaloosa Gazette Nov. 4, 1875--Jan. 8, 1903
 * Tuscaloosa Journal March--December 1894 and 1896
 * Tuscaloosa News 1910-present
 * Tuscaloosa Observer 1871
 * Tuscaloosa Times 1872--October 6, 1899
 * Tuscaloosa Times Gazette November 6, 1904--February 13, 1912
 * Tuscaloosa Times Gazette Weekly 1907
 * Tuskaloosa Vindicator October--December, 1892 and January--October 18, 1893.
 * Tuscaloosa Weekly Times 1900-January 7, 1903 and January 9--May 1, 1907.
 * The Weekly Record May 2--December 26, 1908
 * West Alabama Breeze 1889-1909

Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library is a local volunteer organization whose goal is supporting the Tuscaloosa Public Library in its public mission. On holidays and other special occasions the Friends prepare appreciation snacks and other meals for the staff. Two of its prominant contributions has been operating the Bookstore and Books Sandwiched In.

Books Sandwiched In
Books Sandwiched In is a program put on by the Friends of the Library where books are reviewed by authors or other knowledgable lecturers.

Bookstore
The Bookstore is where the Friends of the Library sells books and other donated items to the public. The proceeds go to the Tuscaloosa Public Library.