Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

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Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Location Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio
Established 1853
Number of branches 41
Collection size 9,148,846
Population served 845,303
Budget $48,307,419
Director Kimber L. Fender
Website The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCH) is among the largest and busiest public library systems in the world, with its main location in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, and 41 regional and branch locations throughout Hamilton County. As of 2006, it is the ninth largest library in the United States, holding 9,148,846 volumes.[1] The library ranked eighth in Hennen's American Public Library Ratings 2006.

Contents

[edit] Services

Among PLCH's collections are books, audiobooks, downloadable digital audio and e-books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, videos, DVDs, CD-ROMs, sheet music, slides, microfilm, microfiche, and Braille. It also offers free Internet and fee-based Wi-Fi, in addition to over 15,500 free programs each year for patrons of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. In 2005, its staff answered 1.7 million reference questions by phone, fax, e-mail, post, and in person.

The library's website provides access to the library catalog, HomeworkNow, the KnowItNow online chat reference service, nearly 150 commercial research databases, bestseller lists, staff reading recommendations, and other information resources.

Special needs services provided by PLCH include "talking books" and Braille to the visually impaired, blind, and physically handicapped in 33 Ohio counties; its outreach services include books-by-mail, foreign language materials and bilingual programs, and passport application; its literacy services include GED classes and GED practice testing.

[edit] History

PLCH traces its roots to a subscription library that began in 1802. On March 14, 1853, it became the Cincinnati Public Library.[2] Since its founding, the library has occupied several locations, including its current location at Eighth Street and Vine Street.[3]

For many years, the library used the Computerized Information Network for Cincinnati and Hamilton County (CINCH) as a system-wide library catalog, which connected each branch through a large number of computer terminals. Users at home were permitted to access the database via TELNET. In 2005, this system was replaced with an integrated library system (ILS) purchased from library automation vendor Sirsi, now SirsiDynix.

Beginning in 2001, budget cuts from the State of Ohio drastically reduced funding for PLCH. In July 2002, the Board of Trustees voted to close branch locations in Deer Park, Elmwood Place, Greenhills and Mount Healthy. The board later backed off on the branch closing plan after a strong negative response from citizens in the affected neighborhoods.[4]

In 2005, the library received the American Library Association's John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award.

In 2005, a state budget plan that cut spending on libraries a further five percent was passed in the Ohio House of Representatives, after being proposed by Ohio governor Bob Taft. The budget prompted the library to distribute flyers and hold rallies in Downtown Cincinnati, calling on the state to repeal the proposed cuts.[5] The cuts resulted in a periodic hiring freeze, reductions in hours, branch and department closings, and the layoff of approximately forty librarians. Librarians responded by voting to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199 in 2006.[6]

After nine months of contentious negotiations over a union contract, the parties (SEIU and the library administration) resorted to a hearing in front of a third-party neutral negotiator, who drew up a labor contract. Librarians voted 45–1 to approve the contract. The library's Board of Trustees subsequently voted the contract down by a 7–0 vote, citing concerns over 'fair share' proposals built into the contract. After further negotiations between SEIU and attorneys for the library, the Board approved a union contract that did not include fair share. See the Agency shop article for clarification.

In 2007, the library began implementing a dramatic reorganization plan, known as ML/21 (Main Library for the 21st Century), that will lead to the creation of a Technology Center, Teen Center, a Popular Library, and a Local History and Genealogy Department. The plan also calls for the disbanding of subject departments in Art & Music, Literature & Languages, History and Genealogy, Rare Books and Special Collections, Science & Technology, Government and Business, Education & Religion, Fiction & Young Adults, and Films and Recordings. The latter two departments will comprise the new Popular Library. The History and Genealogy Department will be merged with Rare Books and Special Collections to create the aforementioned Local History and Genealogy department. The other subject departments will comprise the Information and Reference department. Approximately 24 professional positions (those holding a master's degree in Library and Information Science) are slated for elimination through attrition and reassignment. [7][8]

In July 2007, the library agreed to join with Kirtas Technologies, Inc. to digitize rare books and make them available via Amazon.com. The plan costs the library nothing and allows it to retain full control what is digitized. Profits from sales of the digitized books are to be shared with the library. Other institutions involved in the plan include the University of Maine, Emory University in Atlanta, and the Toronto Public Library in Ontario.[9]

[edit] Directors

Fourteen individuals have served as Directors of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County:[2]

  1. John D. Caldwell (1855–1857)
  2. N. Peabody Poor (1857–1866)
  3. Lewis Freeman (1866–1869)
  4. William Frederick Poole (1869–1873)
  5. Thomas Vickers (1874–1879)
  6. Chester W. Merrill (1880–1886)
  7. Albert W. Whelpley (1886–1900)
  8. Nathaniel D.C. Hodges (1900–1924)
  9. Chalmers Hadley (1924–1945)
  10. Carl Vitz (1946–1955)
  11. Ernest I. Miller (1955–1971)
  12. James R. Hunt (1971–1991)
  13. Robert D. Stonestreet (1991–1998)
  14. Kimber L. Fender (1999–present)

[edit] List of branches

PLCH currently has 40 branch locations, in addition to the Main Library downtown:

The Avondale Branch, a Carnegie library, opened in 1913 on the corner of Reading Road (south of Dana Avenue) and Mann Place. It is designed in Spanish Colonial style.
The Avondale Branch, a Carnegie library, opened in 1913 on the corner of Reading Road (south of Dana Avenue) and Mann Place. It is designed in Spanish Colonial style.
An interior shot of the Avondale Branch.
An interior shot of the Avondale Branch.
Sign for the Hyde Park, Ohio branch.
Sign for the Hyde Park, Ohio branch.

Locations marked with asterisks were originally built as Carnegie libraries.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ American Library Association (2006-12-28). The Nation's Largest Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  2. ^ a b Fleischman, John (November 2002). Free & Public: One Hundred and Fifty Years at the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County 1853–2003. Cincinnati, Ohio: Orange Frazer Press. ISBN 1882203917. 
  3. ^ Seavey, Charles (2001). "Cincinnati Public Library." Images From The 1876 Report. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri. Accessed July 8, 2005.
  4. ^ Korte, Gregory. "Library Didn't See Squeeze Coming", The Cincinnati Enquirer, 2002-08-10, p. A1. Retrieved on 2007-02-21. 
  5. ^ "Cincinnatians Speak Out against State Budget Cuts", American Libraries Online, American Library Association, 2005-04-22. Retrieved on 2005-06-28. 
  6. ^ "Librarians Vote in Favor of Forming Labor Union", The Cincinnati Enquirer, 2006-01-31, p. 2B. Retrieved on 2007-02-21. 
  7. ^ “Board Approves Moving Forward on Main Library for the 21st Century Plan” 2006-11-30 Accessed March 16, 2007.
  8. ^ Kurtzman, Lori. "Main Library Ready for New Chapter with Service Overhaul", The Cincinnati Enquirer, 2006-12-05, p. C3. Retrieved on 2007-03-30. 
  9. ^ Doloff, Aimee. "UM Reaches Deal to Make Digital Copies of Rare Books", Bangor Daily News, 2007-07-07. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. 
  10. ^ Andry, Al. "New life for historic libraries", The Cincinnati Post, E. W. Scripps Company, 1999-10-11. Retrieved on [[2007-11-12]]. 

[edit] External links