Newberry Library. Reader Services Dept.
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Newberry Library. Reader Services Dept.
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Newberry Library. Reader Services Dept.
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Biographical History
In 1916 the Public Services (Reference) Division was created consisting of the Main Reading Room, Department of History and Genealogy, Edward E. Ayer Collection, and Exhibition Room.
Between 1916 and 1961 five librarians administered the Division: Gerald M. W. Teyen (1916-1919), William S. Merrill (1919-1928), Edwin E. Willoughby (1929-1930), John T. Windle (1931-1948), and Ben C. Bowman (1949-1962). In 1962 the Division of Public Services was disbanded and the head of each reading room reported directly to the Librarian (later to the Associate Librarian). In 1987 the Office of the Reader Services Librarian was formed under Cynthia H. Peters (1987-1989) and Hjordis Halvorson (1989-).
As a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Newberry Library was chosen as one of six institutions to participate in a 1983-1984 study of its public services.
The Association of Research Libraries Office of Management Studies received a grant from the General Electric Foundation to conduct the Public Services in Research Libraries Project. One component of this Project supported assisted self-studies. The Newberry received a modest subsidy and free consultation services from the Office of Management Studies to pursue its study. The Library's study, chaired by Cynthia H. Peters, concentrated on providing service guidelines for the new Reference and Bibliographical Center and the renovated reading rooms.
Over the past one hundred years, the Library's reading rooms have functioned both as independent entities as well as a single administrative unit.
Between 1892 and 1915, the public service functions of the Library were part of the Classification and Reference Department. In 1916 the Public Service (Reference) Division was established, uniting the Main Reading Room (MRR), Department of History and Genealogy, E. E. Ayer Collection, and Exhibition Room. By 1920 the Ayer Collection and Wing Foundation were removed from the division and operated independently. From 1920 to 1962 the division's departments included the Rare Book Room, Genealogy, and Reference. A major Library reorganization in 1962 abolished the Division of Public Services, having the reading rooms report directly to the Librarian, later (1965) the Associate Librarian. The Reader Services Department (MRR, Local and Family History, Special Collections, Maps) again formed in 1976, with each section reporting independently to the Director of Library Services. In 1987, the Office of the Reader Services Librarian was created, with the sections reporting to that office.
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Librarians
Reference services (Libraries)
Research libraries