Summary Information
Madison Area Library Council Records
1970-1981
- Madison Area Library Council (Wis.)
Mss 975
1.8 c.f. (1 record center carton and 2 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of the Madison Area Library Council (MALC) formed in 1970 by Louis Kaplan, Bernard Schwab, and other Madison, Wisconsin librarians in response to a study of cooperation among libraries by Charles A. Bunge. Sauk and Green counties later joined the organization. In 1986 MALC merged with the South Central Library System (SCLS). The collection includes reports on user needs, minutes, and committee files reflecting activities such as continuing education, promotion of cable television, and development of interlibrary services. MALC newsletters, directories, and union lists provide detailed comparative information on library holdings. Also in the collection are a few papers about other regional library organizations in Wisconsin.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00975 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Madison Area Library Council (MALC) was established to support cooperation among the various types of libraries and information centers located in Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin. MALC was formed on February 24, 1970, following an extensive study conducted by Dr. Charles Bunge of the University of Wisconsin Library School during 1968 and 1969, with funding from a Title III federal grant of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA). Prior to its actual organization, an advisory committee representing library administrators from selected libraries and information centers in the Madison area assisted with Bunge's research. The results of his study were published in 1969 in a report entitled “Library Cooperation for the Madison Area: A Survey with Recommendations.”
The council's first officers were President: Bernard Schwab of the Madison Public Library; Vice President: Louis Kaplan of the UW Memorial Library; Secretary: Kenneth Taylor, representing Madison Public Schools; and Treasurer: Donald Lamb of the Dane County Library System. In addition, MALC's executive board consisted of ten elected members representing public, school, academic, and special libraries and information centers in Madison and Dane County. Frances Wood was appointed as the first coordinator, and she was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the council. Other MALC presidents during the 1970s were Virginia Holtz, Richard Sorensen, Sue Center, John Kopischke, and John Peters. Coordinators included Ann Clark, Maurine Smalley, Barbara Hanaway, and Judith Royster.
MALC was incorporated under Wisconsin statutes as a non-stock, non-profit corporation “to promote and implement programs of cooperation and communication among all libraries and other information sources in Dane County.” In addition the council pledged (1) To assure the most effective use of the resources and services of the area; (2)To facilitate the improvement of existing library service activities; and (3) To provide a basis for initiating new resources and services as needed. The Madison Public Library located at 201 West Mifflin Street was the MALC mailing address, office headquarters, and clearinghouse. In 1979 the organization relocated to the Beltline Office Center at 6414 Copps Avenue in Madison; in 1980 it moved to 1922 University Avenue.
Initially, a federal grant under the same Title III program that funded the Bunge study underwrote many MALC operations. Council membership was open to “any library, information source or cooperative agency coordinating or representing such institutions” and membership dues also provided some funds. By 1973, however, MALC no longer received LSCA funding and, as a result, from 1973 to 1975 it operated without a coordinator. In 1975 the South Central Library System (SCLS) was established. This alliance allowed MALC to again fund the position of coordinator. In 1976 MALC voted to become coterminous with SCLS, with the result that libraries and information centers in Sauk County and Green County became eligible for MALC membership.
One of the first goals for MALC was creation of a directory of library resources in the Madison and Dane County areas. Such a directory would “establish a central clearinghouse for collection and dissemination of data about information resources in greater detail.” These publications were intended to include information about newspaper and journal holdings, abstracting and indexing services, as well as directories, reference materials, and specialized services. Some of the publications MALC produced as a result were the Directory of Dane County Libraries and Information Centers - 1970; 1971 Campus Collections at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Directory of Library and Information Sources in Dane and Sauk Counties, 2nd ed., 1973; Directory of Libraries and Information Sources in Dane, Green and Sauk Counties, 3rd ed., 1978-81; Union List of Periodicals in Dane and Sauk County Libraries, 2nd ed., 1976; and Newspapers Currently Received in Major Madison Area Collections, 1972, 1976. The Publication Committee oversaw production of these titles, as well as the monthly newsletter, the MALC Informer.
Other committees were formed either on an ad hoc or more permanent basis. Of particular note was the Cable Communications Committee, which worked to establish the library's role in facilitating the use of cable television. Two members of the committee, Bernard Schwab and Maurice Leon, presented the MALC statement on cable communications at a hearing before the Governor's Commission on Cable Television in 1972.
MALC was one of a few regional cooperative library councils located in Wisconsin. The Library Council of Metropolitan Milwaukee (LCOMM), North East Wisconsin Intertype Libraries (NEWIL), and the Tri-County Library Council (TLC) shared similar objectives, and conducted comparable activities. In fact, these groups were modeled after MALC. Locally, MALC also cooperated with the UW-Extension and SCLS to provide additional programs and services to its members and to others interested in cooperative activities.
Prompted by dwindling federal support and declining membership, MALC drafted a new statement of purpose as part of an attempt at revival in 1984. However, MALC continued to struggle, and at the May 1986 annual meeting, the members unanimously voted to merge with SCLS. MALC became the Multitype Advisory Library Committee of SCLS, which continues to promote library cooperation in the Madison, Dane County, and South Central Wisconsin area.
Scope and Content Note
The MALC records represent a useful and virtually unique archival source of information about library cooperation in Wisconsin during the 1970s. Although the records are not complete, they offer a glimpse of the issues that MALC addressed and its accomplishments. To some degree, the MALC records portray the library's relationships with federal and state agencies, particularly with regard to funding opportunities obtained through grant programs during the period. Additional records in this collection offer a brief look at other cooperative library organizations in Wisconsin. There are no records in this collection after 1981. Overall, the chronological coverage is inconsistent; and there are some gaps within the series. Regrettably, the collection provides little material about emerging computer technologies and library automation, although this became a topic of interest for libraries during the period.
The MALC records are arranged in five series: ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS, ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, COMMITTEE RECORDS, PROJECT RECORDS, and COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
With the exception of the General Information in the ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS, these records document the preparation and planning that took place during the two years prior to MALC's actual formation. Several folders document the extensive work conducted by University of Wisconsin Library School professor Charles Bunge to justify the need for interlibrary cooperation. “A Proposal to the Division for Library Services for a Research Grant in Support of A Study to Ascertain Appropriate Cooperative Programs Among Types of Libraries in the Madison Metropolitan Area,” and “Library Cooperation for the Madison Area: A Summary Report,” succinctly relate his findings based on area-wide user surveys. The outline for the 1969 user survey includes a progress report with statistical percentages of library users, resources, and staff from the libraries that participated in the Bunge study. The summary report presents MALC's statement of purpose for the first time, and it is a composite of all of Bunge's work during the two-year period of study. The user report forms and tabulation sheets provide information about the demographics of Madison library users, showing percentages, as well as listing user needs, interests, and library behavior. A smaller segment of this series alludes to the participation of local library administrators in MALC's formation.
The ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS consist of records relevant to daily operations. Included are by-laws, articles of incorporation, and guidelines, as well as meeting minutes and agenda, files about annual meetings, and annual reports. The Board of Directors records (nearly complete to 1976) include agendas and minutes. The treasurer's reports (fairly complete, 1970-1981) provide monthly breakdowns of expenditures. Membership applications from 1970-1972 show the variety and types of libraries and information centers requesting MALC membership, as well as the level at which each institution was assessed.
Several MALC committees, both ad hoc and permanent, are represented in the COMMITTEE RECORDS series. Although a few committees are unrepresented, the existing records provide a good picture of the activities in which MALC was involved. The Education and Programs Committee records comprise by far the largest amount of material. This committee planned several tours and continuing education workshops. The records of the 1975 Middle Management workshop are particularly extensive, with registration forms showing the libraries that attended, as well as their specific interests. Additionally, evaluations and comments in the follow-up questionnaires give an idea of the attendees' professional perspectives.
Although the records of the Cable Communications Committee are not as extensive, they provide documentation of the way in which MALC assumed responsibility on behalf of area libraries in supporting the introduction of cable television. The Interlibrary Relations Committee Survey reports on the need for courier and delivery services during the mid-1970s. Among other things, the survey includes detailed percentages, demographics, and information on delivery services. The Long Range Planning Committee report examines MALC's mission in 1976 and presents recommendations for its future direction.
The PROJECT RECORDS represent a few of the projects MALC undertook in the 1970s, most of which came to fruition under the direction of a specific committee and which were central to MALC's mission and purpose. The cable television records include draft statements prepared by the Cable Communications Committee that were presented to the Governor's Commission on Cable Television in 1972. In effect, these files document the librarian's view of the informational role of cable television. This series also includes documents relevant to LSCA grants covering the period 1970 to 1980. These proposals and applications for projects such as creating a union list, obtaining funds for a coordinator, and feasibility studies for interlibrary loans include reports to the Department of Public Instruction's Division of Library Services.
The manuscripts for two MALC publications are in this series as well. The List of Newspapers Currently Received in Major Dane County Collections supplies a list of holdings for newspapers found in the majority of libraries in Dane County in the early 1970s, including U.S., foreign, and specialized publications. The Union List of Periodicals provides similar holdings information for journals, magazines, serials, abstracts, and indexes found in Dane County libraries in 1973. The manuscripts contain detailed information that can be used to study the distribution of titles in Dane County libraries. Among the miscellaneous surveys is a summary of the continuing education survey of 1971. The summary includes topics of potential research interest such as library automation, audio-visual materials, and management. Each topic includes a profile of the respondents and recommendations.
COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS records round out the MALC collection. Few of the papers in this series include MALC-related material, and the focus is on other cooperative library organizations that were active in Wisconsin at the same time. These records include fact sheets, flyers, and newsletters from regional library organizations in the Milwaukee, northeast Wisconsin, and Green Bay areas that are not available in other archival sources or library collections. The SCLS/MALC records include information on the relationship between the two organizations such as cooperative purchasing that began in the mid-1970s.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Maurice Leon and the Council, 1979-1985. Accession Number: M79-203, MCHC84-048, M85-185
Processed by Julianne Haahr (Intern, 1997) and Carolyn J. Mattern, 2001.
Contents List
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Series: Organizational Records
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Box
1
Folder
1
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General information, 1970-1979
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Planning, 1968-1970
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Box
1
Folder
3
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User reports forms, 1968
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Bunge report on Library Cooperation in Madison area, 1969
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Box
1
Folder
5-6
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Advisory Committee on Interlibrary Cooperation, 1969-1970
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Series: Administrative Records
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and Guidelines, 1970-1977
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Annual meetings, 1970-1980
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Annual reports, 1971-1979
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Box
1
Folder
10
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General meetings, 1970-1971
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Board of Directors
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Box
1
Folder
11
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General records, 1969-1981
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Box
1
Folder
12-14
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Minutes and agenda, 1970-1976
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Executive Board, 1973-1975
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Box
1
Folder
16-17
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Policy and Planning Board, Minutes and agenda, 1976-1981
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Directors' and presidents' correspondence, 1969-1980
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Coordinators' records, 1972-1981
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Box
1
Folder
20
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Personnel materials re coordinator & treasurer, 1970-circa 1979
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Financial records
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Box
1
Folder
21
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Treasurers' reports, 1970-1981
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Box
1
Folder
22
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Budgets, Costs, and Expenses, 1970-1981
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Box
1
Folder
23
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Brainstorming ideas and plans, 1973-1976
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Membership
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Box
1
Folder
24-25
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General records, 1970-1981
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Box
1
Folder
26-27
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Applications, 1970-1972
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Series: Committee Records
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Box
1
Folder
28
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General, circa 1970-1980
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Box
1
Folder
29
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Cable Communications Committee, 1972-1975
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Box
1
Folder
30
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Career Development Committee, 1978-1979
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Box
1
Folder
31
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Community/Public Relations Committee, 1977-1978
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Education and Programs Committee
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Box
1
Folder
32
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Meetings, 1970-circa 1980
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Box
1
Folder
33-34
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Tours/Workshops, 1971-1980
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Box
1
Folder
35-37
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Middle Management Workshop, 1975
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Box
1
Folder
38
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Activities/Planning, 1976-1980
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Box
1
Folder
39
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Executive Committee, 1972-1974
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Box
1
Folder
40
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Fundraising Committee, 1973-1974
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Goals Committee, 1972-1973
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Interlibrary Relations Committee
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Records, 1973-1974
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Survey, 1973, 1975
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Long Range Planning Committee
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Records, 1976
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Report, 1976
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Membership Dues Committee, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Planning and Education Committee, 1977-1980
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Box
2
Folder
8-9
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Publications Committee, 1971-1981
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Recognition Committee, 1975-1979
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Steering Committee, 1977-1981
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Work Study Program Committee, 1973-1975
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Series: Project Records
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Cable television
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Box
2
Folder
13
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General, 1971-1973
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Box
2
Folder
14
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Cable communications information packet, 1972
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Box
2
Folder
15
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Informer [Newsletter], 1973-1981
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Box
2
Folder
16-17
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LSCA Projects, 1970-circa 1980
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Box
2
Folder
18
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Miscellaneous projects, 1971-1976
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Publications
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Box
3
Folder
1
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General records, circa 1971-1981
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Box
3
Folder
2
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List of Newspapers Currently Received...
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Union List project, 1972-1980
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Union List of Periodicals manuscript, circa 1973
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Surveys, Miscellaneous, 1970-circa 1978
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Tours, Workshops, Events, and Services, 1970-1981
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Series: Cooperative Organizations
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Interlibrary cooperation
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Box
3
Folder
7
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ACLO - NEWIL, 1973-1978
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Box
3
Folder
8
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TLC - Miscellaneous, 1973-1978
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Box
3
Folder
9-10
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Continuing Library Education Planning and Coordination Project (COLEPAC), 1972-1978
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South Central Library System (SCLS)
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Box
3
Folder
11
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MALC, 1972-1980
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Box
3
Folder
12
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General records and survey, circa 1974-1980
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