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.
