ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBRARIES

From Inside the DLP

By Dr. Katharine M. Stokes

College and University Library Specialist, Library Planning and Development Branch, Division of Library Programs, Bureau of Adult, Vocational, and Library Programs, U.S. Office of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Several small North Carolina college libraries are being assisted by grants under Title III of the Higher Education Act for Strengthening Developing Institutions. In 1968, Pembroke State College (originally devoted to the education of Indians, but integrated with the admission of white students in 1953) and Wilmington College applied for a grant to permit reclassification of their collections. Salaries were awarded to employ a library specialist to coordinate the project, and two library assistants for Pembroke and one for Wilmington. After a year’s operation the cooperative program was considered “an unqualified success.” In 1969, Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, Mount Olive Junior College, and Pembroke State College received a Title III Grant. The previous year’s experience resulted in Pembroke State College “providing many technical services” to Wayne and Mount Olive in the reclassification of their collections. Mrs. Mildred Councill, the librarian of Wayne, says that she saw how her neighbors at Pembroke and Wilmington were benefiting and decided to try for a grant for her library. The Title III benefits have thus been spread a little further, from two libraries to four.

In the Library Journal for May 1, 1969, the Piedmont Library Center, comprising twenty member libraries, was described by Herbert Poole. Three of these libraries are in Bennett, Greensboro, and Guilford Colleges, all situated in Greensboro, which are being assisted by a Title III Grant. Mr. Poole, director of libraries at Guilford, is also coordinator for the library phase of the Title III program of the three colleges, whose administrators expect to “temper the rising costs of instruction by sharing library resources.” Plans are underway to consolidate operations, both technically and in areas of collection strength, which will result in less overlap in the three libraries and release funds for further strengthening of the library holdings. Centralized processing, personnel exchanges, and open access to faculty and students, with a uniform ID card and circulation system, are parts of their plans.

If you think your college could qualify as a developing institution, you may want to discuss the Title III library possibilities with your campus administrators. Applications for awards have been processed in the late fall during the last two years and grants were announced in the early spring. James M. Holley, Division of College Support, is the administrator for the program. His address is 7th & D Streets, S.W., GSA Building, Room 4719, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Late information:Payments on Title II–A (Higher Education Act) awards will be made on a scheduled basis this year instead of on a lump sum basis as in previous years, but you can be sure you’ll get the whole amount before June 30, 1970.