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History of the Towson LibraryHistory of the Towson Library
Drawn especially for The Friends
of the Towson Library by Delores Andrew -
1974
The Towson Library began lending books on May 1, 1936. The library was conceived of, and
first operated by, the Woman's Club of Towson. It was located in Oddfellow's Hall. The
books, many donated gifts, were shelved in orange crates. Most of the equipment was
donated as well.
The first Branch Librarian for the Towson Library was Mary Odell. She served from 1938 to
1954.
In 1938, the County Commissioners gave its first funding and its first official
recognition to the library. By this time, the small collection of donated books had grown
to 4000 volumes and circulation was just over 15,350. The library had moved to the
top floor, three rooms and a bath, of 420 York Road - what was then Jackson's Bakery.
However, it soon became apparent that the library needed more space. In fact, when a
prominent Baltimore county family donated 1200 volumes in 1940, the processing and
cataloging was done at Mrs. Odell's home.
It was in 1940 that noted columnist, R. P. Harriss, from the Baltimore Sun visited the
"Shoestring Library" as he called it and wrote an eloquent appeal for more space
for the library. It was Mr. Harriss who reported that the title of the first book borrowed
from the library was Hornaday's Taxidermy. He wrote, "That's a private little joke
among the ladies who run this place. They won't mention the borrower's name, but the fact
is that he liked the book so well he just couldn't bring it back. He did send them,
however, his first handiwork -- a stuffed sparrowhawk -- as an example of the practical
influence of the library upon the community, but they're glad that no other borrowers
have kept the books they borrowed."
The article, or Mrs. Odell's perseverance, or both, did the trick. In 1940, the library
moved into the seemingly spacious first floor, 6 rooms and a bath, of an apartment house
located at 25 West Pennsylvania Avenue. However, by 1946, just a short six years, the
collection had grown from 8,500 volumes to 14,325 volumes, and the library was once again
looking for room to expand. Mrs. Odell struggled with the overcrowded location until her
retirement in 1953.
The Towson Library's next Branch Librarian was Sarah Cockey, who served from 1954 to 1956.
Miss Cockey saw the Towson Library grow to be the busiest branch in the Baltimore County
Library System. The system was formed in 1949. In 1955, the library's limited collection
of 16,576 volumes circulated a remarkable 102,203 times. Miss Cockey had entered the
position with hopes of a new facility, since plans had been in the works to purchase
property for a new library. However, those plans fell through and it was not until she was
preparing to move into a position in the Administrative Offices of the Baltimore County
Public Library that a leased facility at 28 West Susquehanna Avenue became available.
The new facility was handed over to Geneva Robinson, who served as Branch Librarian from
1956 to 1970. This 14-year stretch saw the Towson Library grow from a collection of 17,399
volumes to almost 90,000 volumes. Circulation kept pace, growing from 113,172 to 464,541.
This period also saw the addition of a variety of technologies. A photographic charging
system was introduced in 1959 and 1963 saw the installation of a photocopier and microfilm
machines.
As always, the issue of inadequate space soon became a problem again. In 1964, a Bond
Issue was approved allowing for the selection of a site and the beginning of architectural
planning for a new facility. It would take eleven years for the plans to become a reality.
In 1970, Miss Robinson joined the administration of the library system and turned the
Towson Library over to Robert Greenfield, who served as Branch Librarian from 1970 to
1976. Construction of the new building was just beginning at the location of 320 York
Road. Interestingly, this site had once been Mary Odell's residence.
Mr. Greenfield, ever the champion of the recreational reader, embraced wholeheartedly the
idea of demand buying in multiple copies. This philosophy had just begun to develop within
the Baltimore County system. Always responsive to his public, Mr. Greenfield opened the
branch at nine o'clock in order to reflect the hours of the business district outside the
doors.
And so, at last, in 1974 came moving day into the long awaited new building. The building
was dedicated on May 12, 1974 and officially opened for service on May 13, 1974. Finally,
a real library building with space - at least for a little while.
In 1976, Mr. Greenfield turned the library over to Kenna Forsyth, who served as Branch
Manager from 1976 to 1980. Soon after her arrival, the library surpassed 1,000,000 in
circulation. In addition, plans were underway to install an automated circulation system
in Baltimore County and the Towson Branch was to be the first site to go online. After
hundreds of hours bar-coding and inputting material, the staff at Towson circulated the
first books in October, 1977. In 1978, Miss Forsyth and her staff took on the new challenge
of becoming generalists along with the rest of the Baltimore County system.
In 1980, Miss Forsyth turned over the branch to Cornelia Ives. In 1985, the Towson Library
was given the Best Library award by the City Paper. In 1986, it was recognized by the
County Executive for its outstanding contributions to its community.
By 1989, that old space problem was once again becoming evident. In June of that year,
committees began planning for an addition to the Towson Library and Administrative Offices
of the Baltimore County system. On November 20, 1989, groundbreaking ceremonies were held
and the first drilling began. Work continued on for almost two years before the addition
was complete. The library remained open for almost all of the time, with the only major
disruptions coming in the final stages of the expansion over the summer of 1991. Finally,
on August 12, 1991, the Towson Library reopened as a newly expanded full service facility.
The years since 1980 have been ones of great challenge due to new technologies. New
formats of material such as compact discs, and interactive computer
software have emerged. Online research databases, public computers and access to
the Internet are just a few of the services being offered in addition to traditional
library materials and services.
In May 2001, construction began on the
Kid's Kingdom. This special place came about not by magic but by hard work.
The Towson Library was given a grant from the Baltimore County Public Library
Foundation to create a children's area that would become a model for the
library system and be a favorite destination of parents and children. The
grand opening of the "Kid's
Kingdom" took place October 13, 2001 with crowns for all the children,
stories and a puppet show.
Drawn especially for The Friends of the Towson Library by Delores
Andrew - 1974
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Who We Are
The group known as the Friends of the Towson Library, Inc. has been an active
organization since 1939. Up until that point a Towson library had been sponsored by the
Women's Club of Towson, which had decided that it had become an operation of sufficient
size to warrant broader community interest and support. Mrs. H. Guy Campbell, the club's
Library Chairman, accordingly called an organization meeting in February. Here is a
quotation from the minutes of that meeting: "More than 200 persons gathered at the
Odd Fellows Hall, Towson, on February 6, 1939 to form a permanent library organization and
to suggest ways and means of improving the present library sponsored by the Women's Club
of Towson."
The Friends of the Towson Library, Inc. was instrumental in seeing the library move
into increasingly larger quarters until, in the spring of 1974, the library occupied its
handsome new building at the corner of York Road and Chesapeake Avenue.
At present,
The Friends of the Towson Library are directing their principal efforts toward the betterment of the library
through financial support and volunteer work.
A few of our
accomplishments:
- Contributed a Local Area Network of computers which provides financial, business and
health information to library users
- Purchased a microcomputer for public use, as well as an
Interactive CD station for the Children's Area
- Donated audio/visual equipment
- Paid for exterior landscaping
- Published History of Baltimore County by Neal A. Brooks and Eric G. Rockel, the
first history of the county in nearly 100 years
- Financed the provision of photographs for the book, Towson: A Pictorial History,
by H. George Hahn and Carl Behm III.
Ongoing activities:
- Sponsor, throughout the year, a wide range of activities for children and adults.
Included are lectures, musical programs, demonstrations, and special events. These programs
are free and are publicized in the library and in our newsletter.
- Create and continually maintain a cataloged file of newspaper clippings,
pamphlets, and photographs of historical value to Baltimore County residents.
- Make an annual contribution of funds to the library to acquire and preserve rare
prints, photographs, books, and documents of unusual local historical interest.
- Provide funds for the maintenance of the library's Local Area Network.
- Support the library's daily activities through a volunteer program.
History of Towson Library and Friends provided by Cornelia Ives,
Branch Manager, Towson Library, 1980 to 1998.
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Baltimore County
Public Library, Towson Maryland USA
Last Revised:
12 December 2008
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