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LIBRARY HISTORY IN
1970 - 1989
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1970:
Library sponsors Book Review program on Warner QUBE which allows patrons to interactively vote for favorite books and order them through their cable boxes.
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1970:
Rev. Ward S. Parham becomes the first African American Library Trustee.
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February, 1970:
Circulation of 8mm films begins.
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April, 1970:
"Billy Bookworm," a puppet designed by library staff to teach children how to use the library, debuts on Lucy's Toyshop a local children's tv program.
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February 22, 1971:
The first "buck-a-bundle" Friends of the Library booksale is held at the Morse Road Branch February 22, 1971.
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March, 1971:
The first Main Library tours for students begin.
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March 17, 1971:
The portable library moves from Gahanna to Dublin, and the Dublin Branch opens at 74 N. High Street, Dublin.
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May 23, 1971:
South High Branch opens at 2912 S. High Street.
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November 2, 1971:
Gahanna Branch moves from the portable library into a permanent building at 480 Rocky Fork Blvd.
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1972:
CML's Talking Book and Homebound Services begins.
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April 9, 1972:
The Grove City Library contract for their books to be ordered and cataloged by CML.
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November 9, 1972:
Driving Park Branch opens at 1566 E. Livingston Avenue.
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1973:
Microfilm cataloging of periodicals begins.
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1974:
Library revenues decline due to State Board of Tax Appeals cutting library's budget. This results in lay off of staff and reduction of hours of operation.
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1975:
Budget reductions started in 1974 continue and result in substantial cuts to staff, hours, book budgets, and discontinuation of Bookmobile service to schools.
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1975:
The Friends of the Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County, formed as a 501(c)(3) organization, is formed to fund and help pass a library levy.
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May 13, 1975:
Books by Mail Service begins.
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July 1, 1975:
Video Studio opens.
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September 1, 1975:
Voter registration begins at our libraries.
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November 1, 1975:
The first drive-in window service begins at the Main Library.
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December, 1975:
The Library system's name changes from Columbus Public Library to Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County (PLCFC).
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December 19, 1975:
The first OCLC cataloging is introduced at CML.
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1976:
Citizens pass a $.6 million library tax levy by a 2 to 1 margin. The theme: "Everybody Loves the Library." And, they did!
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1976:
The first Friends of the Library meeting is conducted.
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1976:
Franklinton Branch moves to 1061 W. Town Street.
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1976:
The Center for Discovery and Center for Development opens at Main Library as part of PEP: preschool experience project.
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January 17, 1976:
The first genealogy workshop is held at Main Library.
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September 22, 1976:
Northside Branch moves to 1260 N. High Street. It is the second time the branch has moved.
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November 4, 1976:
Hilltonia Branch moves to 2222 Eakin Road.
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April, 1977:
A Childrens Services Librarian is appointed at every branch.
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April 4, 1977:
The Northern Lights Branch moves to 3401 Cleveland Avenue.
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October 21, 1977:
Card catalogs are transferred to computer output microfilm called COMCATS.
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December 19, 1977:
The first personal computers provided for the public become available.
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1978:
The largest toy lending library in Ohio is established at the Main Library.
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1978:
The Friends of the Library (FOL) holds the first Evening at the Library--an evening of wine, food, and entertainment. The Evening at the Library FOL fundraising event was repeated in 1981, 1985, and 1986.
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1978:
The Friends of the Library (FOL) co-sponsor "Book and Author" luncheons held at the downtown Lazarus Store.
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February 2, 1978:
The library system's first videos are added to the collection.
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February 3, 1978:
Renovation of the Main Library begins, eventually adding 18,000 square feet of public service space.
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February 3, 1978:
A Main Library renovation begins.
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April 10, 1978:
The Library wins the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award.
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May 30, 1978:
The Hilliard Branch Library moves to 5657 Scioto Darby Road.
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June 22, 1978:
The Magazines and Newspapers Division (M&N) is opened at Main Library.
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August 26, 1978:
The Shepard branch Library moves to 2424 E. Fifth Avenue.
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September 23, 1978:
The library's collections are labeled with barcodes for the first time.
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September 26, 1978:
The public card file catalog is removed.
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November 6, 1978:
The Livingston Branch Library moves to 3655 East Livingston Avenue.
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May 17, 1979:
Author Milton Caniff visits Main Library.
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1980:
Reynoldsburg and Channingway Branches merge and move to 1402 Brice Road. This library is called the Reynoldsburg Branch Library.
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1980:
Conversion of all branches for handicapped accessibility began. The Americans with Disability Act was not signed into law until July 26, 1990.
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1981:
Main Library sponsors an Antique Appraisal Fair on their front lawn. This is repeated in 1982.
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June 2, 1981:
The $.6 million tax levy is renewed by Franklin County voters. The theme: "Everybody (still) Loves the Library."
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September, 1981:
The Columbus Circulating Visuals Collection begins.
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November 17, 1981:
The Dublin Branch, previously providing service out of a portable location, opens a permanent building at 75 N. High Street.
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December 5, 1982:
Main Library Divisions merge: Fiction into Humanities, Fine Arts, and Recreation Division, and Columbus & Ohio into Biography, History, and Travel Division.
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1983:
The Library System wins the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award for a second time.
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January, 1983:
The Franklinton Branch Library is renovated. A conversion to a bookstore shelving format is part of the rennovation.
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1984:
Branch Libraries begin circulating videos.
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February 5, 1984:
Alex Haley, the author of ROOTS, helps dedicate the newly renovated Linden Branch Library.
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September 29, 1984:
Barbara Bush is a keynote speaker at a Library Event held at Main Library September 29, 1984.
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1985:
Larry Black becomes Executive Director of the Library System.
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1985:
The Library System begins circulating compact discs.
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April 1, 1985:
Columbus Metropolitan Library's first Media Center opens at Main Library.
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July 14, 1985:
Due to I-670 construction, the Shepard Branch moves to 790 N. Nelson Road. This is the second move for this library location.
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August 24, 1985:
The Beechwold Branch closes. The Clintonville Branch closes two weeks later.
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September 23, 1985:
The Whetstone Branch Library opens at 3909 N. High Street in Clintonville. This is the Library System's first regional library and is a merging of the Clintonville and Beechwold Branches.
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July, 1986:
THE COLUMBUS MONTHLY July, 1986--"Library-Best: Whetstone Branch, 3909 N. High Street. Great design, good selection, surroundings conducive to reading, studying or browsing."
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November, 1986:
Voters renew a $.6 million levy, and approv an additional 1.6 milion for 15 years. This paves the way for capital projects and expanded services. The theme: "Make a Good Library Even Better."
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1987:
Columbus Metropolitan Library is the first library to win the National Accounting Award.
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July, 1987:
THE COLUMBUS MONTHLY, July, 1987: "Parades-Best: The Duck Walk based on MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey, conducted by the Whetstone Library and Recreation Center on the day before Easter."
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August 3, 1987:
Telefax machines are installed at the Main Library and five branches. This is not a service available to customers, but helps staff at one location access information from another location to provide information needed by customers more expediently.
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October 16, 1987:
Groundbreaking for a Main Library expansion occurs.
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1988:
Outreach moves into the former Morse Road Branch Library location.
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1988:
The original Friends of the Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County is reinstated and status advances to 501(c)(4) as legistlative activity is limited by (c) (3) status.
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November, 1988:
Discovery Place, a computerized card catalog, goes on-line the day after Thanksgiving 1988. Discovery Place replaces the old ComCats and VTLS systems.
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December 11, 1988:
The Karl Road Branch opens at 5590 Karl Road. It replaces the Morse Road Branch 1421 Morse Road which closed six days earlier.
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1989:
Dial-up access from home or office modem to Discovery Place begins.
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1989:
The Library's first public opinion survey is conducted.
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1989:
The Friends of the Library develop an idea for a gift/bookstore at Main Library, and the FOL joins the Museum Store Association.
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1989:
The Library System begins to barcode paperback fiction titles. Circulation of these items goes from manual count to computerized check-out.
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1989:
The Library System begins phasing out vinyl record collections.
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1989:
The Friends of the Library begins funding incentives for VolunTeens. VolunTeens are a major souce of support for location summer reading programs (SRP).
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1989:
The Friends of the Library approves funding purchase of VCR player/monitors for all branch libraries.
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1989:
1989 is the year the wearing of badges was first required of staff.
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1989:
The Library Board of Trustees approves the purchase of the Grant/Oak Apartments located directly north of the Main Library and Administration building at 96 S. Grant Avenue.
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1989:
Friends of the Library votes to gift CML $1500 to help underwrite the cost of a map for Columbus Monthly. This part of a "Design for Learning" grant is the kick-off for the "Discovery District."
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1989:
The Karl Road Branch Library receives the City Beautiful Award.
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May, 1989:
Secondhand Prose, Friends of the Library used bookstore closes its doors forever.
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June, 1989:
The Library System's name changes from Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County (PLCFC) to Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) June, 1989.The CML logo is also created at this time.
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July, 1989:
Main Library's Popular Library Division is established.
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July, 1989:
CML begins a joint venture with Franklin University. All material holdings from both institutions are seen on card catalogs, and available to all card holders.
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LIBRARY TIMELINE
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