1930-1939

Nellie Williams is still the Executive Secretary of the Nebraska Public Library Commission as this decade begins. The question of space in the Capitol remains an issue for the time being. A letter from Miss Edith Tobitt, President of the Commissioners was sent to Governor Weaver requesting a renewal of the application for more space.

Biennial reports to the Governor were the traditional method of informing people of the work of the Commission. It was during 1930 that the first quarterly Bulletin was published. It was to contain the 15th Biennial Report. Noted in Nebraska Public Library Commission Bulletin, v.1, #2 for April 1932 were courses for librarians at Teachers' College of the University of Nebraska and at Kearney State Teachers' College. There is also a list of Thirty Books for Young People in the same publication

Governor Charles W. Bryan was particularly interested in cutting expenses and the Library Commission was one of his targets. He introduced HR631 to abolish the Commission. The Nebraska Library Association jumped into the fray with a resolution supporting the work of the Commission and recommending that HR631 be defeated. The bill subsequently failed to pass. An appropriation of $19,000 was passed, instead of the $29,800 requested by the Commission.

The Board of Commissioners met in special session on September 7, 1931 to consider the resignation of Miss Williams tendered on June 1, of that year. It was accepted "with regret" to become effective October 1, 1931. After some deliberation, Miss Nellie Carey was unanimously elected as the next Executive Secretary. Carey had been librarian at Hastings Public Library prior to becoming the head of the Commission.

Survival of the 140 public libraries in the state was a concern of the Commission. Budgets were cut as demands for services increased. Some of the cost-cutting procedures that were implemented included sending out fewer overdue notices thus reducing postage costs, buying more cheaply bound books, and borrowing books from other libraries. Many libraries became more dependent on donations of books from organizations.

Eva Morse, long-time member and president of the State Home Economics Association, died in 1933. A library memorial was established in her honor. Contributions from her friends accumulated and in 1938 the Eva Morse Memorial Library was established. This ongoing project was made a function of the Nebraska Public Library Commission. The books were on family life and child development. The project was continued until at least 1953.

Dark days were ahead for the Commission. Governor Bryan was convinced that abolishing the Commission and turning the work over to the University would relieve some of the budget pressure. When the legislature reconvened in 1933, newly elected members supported his point of view and passed HR96 abolishing the Commission and creating the Nebraska Public Library in its place. Governor Bryan signed the bill on May 10, 1933. Gilbert H. Doane, Librarian of the University, became the director at no additional compensation. The budget was cut to $10,000. Two staff members remained - Dorothy Woodrow (later Lessenhop) and Nellie Carey - at much reduced salaries. The University did not take over the tasks of the Commission. The two-person staff continued to do all they had done before and more. New Deal organizations - notably, the Civilian Conservation Corps--added to the number of requests for reading material from the Nebraska Public Library. It was during this time that the Civil Works Administration, the Public Works Administration and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration started programs to help libraries cope with reduced budgets. Cleaning and refurbishing libraries, providing employees to staff libraries and mending and cataloguing books were the contributions of these organizations. Libraries were being built in the state with funds from the Civil Works Administration. In 1934 new buildings were built in South Sioux City, Ulysses, Syracuse, Beemer and Nehawka with this fund.

Two bills were introduced in 1935 aimed at re-establishing the Nebraska Public Library Commission. The language of both was similar. HR569 was introduced January 30, 1935 and indefinitely postponed on May 14, 1935. SF273 was introduced April 1, 1935, amended on April 12, engrossed, advanced and finally on May 10 was passed out of the Education Committee by a vote of 58-23. It was returned to the Senate signed by the speaker and presented to the Governor on May 17.

Herculean efforts by Aileen Gantt Cochran, wife of Governor Robert Cochran led to the passage of SF273. The Governor signed it May 18, 1935. The Nebraska Library Association, and the Nebraska Federated Women's Clubs were instrumental in helping with the impetus that led to the Commission's re-birth. The first meeting of the newly appointed board of the Nebraska Public Library Commission was held in the Governor's Hearing Room at the State Capitol on July 1, 1935. Mrs. R.L. Cochran called the meeting to order. Members of the new board were H.L. Webster (Tekamah), Mrs. David (Nettie Hill) Simms (Hastings), John W. Delehant (Beatrice), Mrs. P.L. Cady (Arlington) and Miss Annie C. Kramph (North Platte). Terms were staggered so that only one new member would be appointed each year. Mr. H.L. Webster was elected chair of the commission. Mrs. David Simms was elected secretary. (Minutes, 1935-1959, p. 1) On July 16, 1935 Nellie Carey was retained as Executive Secretary for the re-established Nebraska Public Library Commission at a salary of $2000 for the year. A flurry of activity followed, with discussions about getting material to every part of the state, developing a regional plan, putting the "proper reading material" in the state institutions and paying for Mrs. Cochran's expenses to go before the Carnegie Corporation in New York with a "prospectus of Library Experimental Work in Nebraska or regions thereof."

The Commission was moved from the University to rooms in the new capitol. Appropriations of $25,000 provided much need monetary help. The WPA contributed nearly $4000 to purchase shelving and furniture to furnish the rooms.

This was the beginning of a much more optimistic time. A new bookmobile was provided by a group of Omaha businessmen at the instigation of Mrs. Cochran. It made its first appearance at the State Fair in 1936.

By the end of the decade things were definitely on the rise. The new biennium budget was $33,680. WPA funds paid for the labor of starting a Union Catalog. This major project catalogued and identified the holdings of 28 public, college and university and special libraries. The initial catalog held nearly 1,500,000 entries. This made it possible to provide interlibrary loan services to the entire state.

Many bills affecting libraries were passed in the late 1930s. They dealt with providing for future library expansion, appropriations bills giving the Commission much needed salary increases and some legislation concerned with creating township and county libraries.