Publication Date

1972

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Librarianship

Abstract

When the new Carnegie library building was built in Redwood City in 1905, the children's division consisted of a small section of the adult reading room, with about 600 old books and no programs for the children. Over the years, the division has grown into the present-day John Gill Room, with over 35,000 volumes and sev􀂘ral active programs to interest children in the work of the library.

Statement of the problem. This report will cover the history of the John Gill Room of the Redwood City Public Library; this division of the library has had a separate history all its own, as well as -being part of the whole library program. There are many facets to the present-day children's program, and the purpose of this study is to trace the various current programs from their beginnings, showing how they hava been expanded and changed over the years. It will also show why some of the earlier programs had to be eliminated. The roles of the various children's librarians will be explored briefly.

Need for the study. The John Gill Room has many programs that are rather unique either in their presence or in their execution. By showing how these programs began and grew, perhaps other children' s librarians can gain insight into how their own programs may be modified or enlarged. Any program that encourages children to use the library is useful, and new ideas are always welcome. If this paper can help one libi􀁸arian gain one useful new idea, it will have served its purpose. Other studies of the Redwood City Public Library have included the John Gill Room as a side issue; by concentrating only on the children's work of the library, new knowledge will be gained as to the actual operation of the various programs, and not just the end results.

Scope of the study. Information on the early history of the John Gill Room is sketchy, and much of it was obtained through personal interviews with the librarians who began the earliest children's work. The bulk of the inforination came from monthly reports kept by the staff of the John Gill Room. An unpublished study of the Redwood City Public Library was used for some informa­tion, along with various other sources of local history. Details were checked as thoroughly as possible, to assure that statements would be accurate.

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