Second Long Range Plan --Appendix B Historical Outline

In The Beginning, 1958-1961

1958  
Mrs. Dorothy Sebaste, Chairman MCLS Board of Trustees, wrote the Gates‑Chili Parent Teacher Association urging the P.T.A. regarding Town need for a library (Gates population 12,000). A P.T.A. committee including Charlotte York, Edna Kemp and Eleanor Freislich (Chairman) "indicated enthusiastic support for the library project" in the Rochester Times-Union 6/5/59). On November 11, the Gates Town Board approved establishment of a public library and appointed the first Library Board of Trustees: Eleanor Freislich, Ralph Johnston, Edna Kemp, Joseph Morrow and Charlotte York.

1960
A year of work ensued for the new Library Board and volunteers. The Board was able to rent the Gates Grange quarters at 1408 Buffalo Road and renovated the facility for public library services.

The Formative Years, 1961-1964

1961
The Gates Public Library opened on Tuesday January 3. The library was open Monday through Friday, 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. On the first day of service:

• 422 books were borrowed

• 167 people obtained the first Gates Library Cards

• daily circulation averaged 300 books a day

The library's first Director, Lois Klonick, was hired in September. The first story times for preschoolers started in November. Service hours were increased to 2:00 to 9:00, Monday through Friday (35 hours weekly). Total circulation for 1961 was 61,388 and the library owned 7,587 volumes.

1962
The first Friends of Gates Public Library was organized. The first book review program for adult library patrons was held. The first summer reading program was held with 58 Gates children registered. The library introduced records for patrons to borrow.

1963
Many special library activities revolved around the Town of Gates' Sesqui-Centennial activities in the summer of 1963. Many displays in the library, plus costumed hostesses, greeted visitors to the library on the Sesqui-Centennial tour of the town.

1964
The Recordak photographic method of recording library circulation was installed. The library held an open house and hobby show to attract Gates residents to the library in April. The library began outgrowing its rented quarters as the book stock reached 15,754.

The Building Campaign And Construction, 1965-1969

1965
The Town Board made a proposal to combine a referendum for a new town hall, a new library and a new highway garage. On February 10th, Gates Councilwoman Mary Murray presented her support for the idea to the Library Board. Due to the availability of federal money, through the Library Services and Construction Act, Gates Town Supervisor Frank Kipers suggested a joint Town Board-Library Board meeting to discuss this project. Plans were submitted for LSCA funding consideration early in the year. The present Library Director Susan Swanton, was hired in September with a pledge to keep the library open on Saturdays and to actively develop library programs for children. Ms. Swanton, a recent library school graduate, had one year of previous library experience as the Director of the Warsaw (N.Y.) Public Library.

1966
The library started to conduct story programs on Gates playgrounds. In July, the Gates Town Board (under Supervisor Everett Russell) unanimously approved an option to buy the present 11 acre site on Buffalo Road for a new Town Hall-Library complex to be called Gates Community Center. Preliminary site location work was done as a result of the new Director's research. The library received preliminary approval in October for LSCA funding which would pay 35% of the cost of a new library. December was set aside as the date for the referendum. The December 7th vote was defeated by a vote of 1,069 to 866. The next day Supervisor Joseph Campbell decided the proposal would be brought before the voters again as soon as possible). Library hours were Monday-Friday 2:00-9:00 pm, Saturday 1:00-5:00 pm (35 hours weekly); the book collection totaled 20,989; and circulation was 89,142.

1967  
February 14th was the date of the second referendum which narrowly passed by a vote of 977 to 941. The library received final approval for a Federal grant to cover 35% of the cost of the library construction in April. The library started the first film programs for adults. Gates was the only town library chosen for a microfilm experiment by the Monroe County Library System. The library offered two preschool story times and three primary grade story times. All adult programs were offered by the Gates Friends of the Library. Ground breaking for the new facility was held in December, 1967.

1968  
The library added its first Children's Services Librarian in June. The library began circulating framed art pictures. The library began its first programming for teenagers.  On Sunday November 27 the cornerstone of the new building was laid. Monday, January 13 to Saturday, January 18th the library was closed for moving. Monday January 20th, the library opened with only a part of the new equipment installed! By the end of 1969, the library had 5 pre-school story times weekly, 2 grade school story times, Saturday Children's films, a regular Wednesday night teen program, "Friends of the Library" monthly program, a Great Books Discussion group and Family Film programs. Library hours were Monday - Friday 1-9 pm, Saturday, 1-5 pm  

A New Decade Of Service, 1970-1979 

1970  
The library began circulating sculpture reproductions in May. The first Young Adult-Audio Visual Librarian was hired; she developed the first Ideas 'n' Authors adult book discussion group in September.

1971  
The original Friends group disbanded while Director was on maternity leave. Library hours were Monday, Tuesday: 10:00-9:00 pm. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 1:00-9:00 pm (53 hours weekly); the book collection totaled 40,153; circulation was 172,442.

1972  
The YA-AV Librarian began the Live 'n' Learners series of travelogues and other programs of interest to senior citizens. (To this date, Gates is the only town library to offer a Live 'n' Learners series). Gates had its first annual book sale of library discards.

1974  
Gates Public Library was the first area library to offer evening story times. Borrow by mail service was also started (now an inactive service).

1976  
The Horatio Gates Memorial Book Fund, the library's first endowment fund was established as a result of the Town's Bicentennial activities. A small library station collection of materials was created to service the residents of Dunn Tower I. Library hours were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00-9:00 pm, Thursday, Friday 1:00-9:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00-5:00 pm (56 hours weekly); the book collection totaled 60,163; circulation was 252,654.

1977
C. Pauline Breit was hired as Children's Services Librarian.

1978  
A new librarian was hired for YA-AV Services, and Nancy Lurie Blanda became the first Adult Services librarian. The Library Director, Susan Swanton, created the first Gates Human Services Directory with the help of a Community Advisory Group.

1979  
Pauline Breit designed her first summer reading program, titled "Book Bugs." The library began an "out of town" telephone directory section. The library increased its circulation from 147,200 in 1969 to 279,584 in 1979 and book volumes owned increased from 32,486 to 70,856. Library Trustee and Founding Board Member, Eleanor Freislich, was selected as Citizen of the Year by Gates Lions Club.

The 1980's and Beyond

1980  
The library increased its service hours from 56 hours to the present 62 hours a week Monday through Friday 10:00-9:00, Saturday, 10:00-5:00. The library began circulating visual aids for the sight handicapped. Gates also became the first library in western New York to circulate unabridged books on cassettes. A new service was the addition of circulating 45 rpms for teen interests. A second library station at Dunn Tower II was established. The Gates Business Directory was updated and copies made available for patrons to borrow. The U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*D L*I*B*R*A*R*I*A*N featured Gates' use of the Rolling Stone Top 100 list, weeding slips and patron comment sheets in three different issues.

1981  
Thanks to a state grant, the Gates-Chili News and its predecessor, the Gates-Chili Press, were preserved on microfilm covering the years 1947-1958, 1962-1980. The first videocassette collection for public loan was introduced. The very popular coupon exchange began. The Gates Amita Club Memorial Book Fund was the second endowment fund established. Library hours were Monday through Friday 10:00-9:00 and Saturday 10:00-5:00 (62 hours weekly); the book collection totaled 76,802; circulation was 329,802.

1982  
Library Director Susan Swanton was installed as the 14th President of the Gates Chili Council of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. Gates joined with Chili Public Library and the Gates-Chili School librarians in a cooperative project for "Local History Taping." Gates became the first library in the state to loan portable smoke detectors. The Dungeons and Dragons program (later called Friday Fantasy Games) was established for older elementary and junior high school students. The library began a collection of annual reports of local businesses. A collection of HI-LO paperbacks for students or adults with reading problems was developed and is now part of the literacy collection.

1983  
The library added many new services:

• instant picture cameras for loan 
• Job Bank 
• the Storyline (available 24 hours) 
• two microcomputers were added (Apple IIe and Timex Sinclair, latter discarded)

• a manual typewriter for public use 

• "New Readers" a bibliography designed to aid Literacy Volunteer tutors who use our facility  

• "Family Films" program brought classic feature films back to Gates

1985

The library received two cooperative grants which enabled Gates to create:

•  a rotating Italian language book collection, thanks to Nancy Blanda, Adult Services  

•  an experimental collection of compact discs, thanks to Terri Bennett, former AV Librarian

The library offered an experimental lunch time adult book review series titled "Brown Bag 'n' Books." An acquisition of a video camera enabled the library to preserve library programs on video tape for patron loan. All "Brown Bag 'n' Books" were videotaped. "Movies for Mom and Me," a new film program designed by Pauline Breit for pre-schoolers, was added as a bridge between Fall and Winter-Spring story times. Library Trustee, Sam Palma, was selected as Citizen of the Year by Gates Lions Club.

1986  
The Library celebrated its Silver Anniversary (25 years of service) with an open house in January; 400-500 attended during 4 hours. An Apple IIc microcomputer was given to the library by the Family Faculty Forum of Washington Irving School and Gates became one of only two libraries in the County with more than one public access microcomputer. The Library won a $2200 grant for Adult Literacy software to use with the library's two Apple microcomputers, thanks to Nancy Blanda, Adult Services Librarian. The Friends of the Gates Public Library was reestablished in Fall 1986. A compact disc player became available for patrons to use in library. Library hours were Monday through Friday 10:00-9:00 pm and Saturday 10:00-5:00 pm (62 hours weekly); the book collection totaled 93,093; circulation was 364,482.

1987  
Judge Michael Telesca was the speaker at the Friends Annual Meeting on May 13. The circulation desk was enlarged from 15' to 41' to accommodate anticipated automation. An electric typewriter was provided for public use in library. Fall Craft programs for adults began. The first two book sales run by the Friends resulted in $1635, which was donated to the library for refurbishing the meeting room. The Gates Town Board honored Librarian Nancy Blanda and Gates-Chili Continuing Education Coordinator Penny Cannon for their cooperative work on the 1986 Adult Literacy Grant in March.

1988  
The Junior Friends of the Gates Public Library started for teen volunteers in May. The Friends donated $2250 from 1987-88 book sales for public service equipment not in the library budget. Pauline Breit was appointed to fill the new Assistant Library Director position. The Gates Amita Club donated half of their annual Civic Endeavor Award to the library to increase the principal of the Gates Amita Club book fund from which the interest is used for purchase of materials of interest to the Italian-American community of Gates. The Freislich Fund was established in memory of founding Library Board member Eleanor Freislich and her husband Ken from money donated by family and friends in their memory; interest from the fund is presented annually to a library employee (or employees) furthering his/her formal education. The Library actively participated in the Town of Gates' 175th Anniversary. Programming for teens was greatly expanded during the year with the first summer reading program for teenagers ("Bookopoly"). Barcoding the library collection in order to join the County library system's automated circulation system began in December. A Building Needs Assessment Committee was established in the Fall by the Library Board to review library space needs and to offer alternatives to library crowding. The Library dropped circulating 8-track tapes and sculpture reproduction due to lack of public use.

1989  
Donations in memory of founding Library Board member Edna Kemp were used to purchase new equipment for the children's area. The final report of the Building Need Assessment Committee was presented to Library Board; Committee recommendations were:

• build a new library facility  

•  expand the existing site pending a feasibility study 

• rent a new site in Westmar Plaza

The Library Board authorized a feasibility study by an architect on building expansion. Space in the library was reorganized to accommodate automation equipment and resulted in the loss of virtually all study carrels. After several years of preparation and a year of barcoding, Gates Public Library went 'live' November 9 on Geac, the county's automated circulation system. The Library began shelving non-fiction videotapes with non-fiction books. The Library won two grants: a matching grant for the purchase of materials on the Bill of Rights thanks to Joan Rubin, YA Services Librarian a grant for the purchase of Adult Literacy Audio and Videotapes, thanks to Nancy Blanda and Betty Slowe.  Young Adult Services Librarian Joan Rubin won the first Freislich Award.

1990  
The Library's first CD-ROM database (Infotrac) was added and provided 3 years of indexing to over 400 periodicals. The Library held a celebrity readathon for the Night of 1000 Stars during National Library Week in April. Adult Services Librarian Nancy Blanda was honored by the Town of Gates and First Lady Barbara Bush for her efforts to promote adult literacy. The Library Board accepted architect Peter Romeo's feasibility study which showed expansion on the existing site was possible, pending resolution of parking congestion. The Friends donated $2842 from the 1989-90 book sales for a brochure highlighting library space needs to kick off the library's capital fund drive. The monies were later utilized with Friends permission for public service equipment. The Library began preliminary budget estimates for joining the county's on-line public access catalog (OPAC), scheduled to replace card catalogs in 1993. The Director served on the OPAC Planning Committee beginning in 1986. The Library began ordering print materials directly from vendors due to library system service cutbacks in July. The Library Board adopted a purchasing policy compatible with the Town's policy in September. Director Susan Swanton began a series of newspaper columns titled "The Library Link" which highlighted changes impacting the library and other issues raised by patrons. Library hours were Monday through Friday 10:00-9:00 pm and Saturday 10:00-5:00 (62 hours weekly); the book collection totaled 96,612; circulation was 385,522.

1991  
The Library celebrated its 30th Anniversary with an open house from 2:00-4:00 pm on January 13; attendance was estimated at over 130 people. Development of a five year Long Range Plan for the library became a Board-Director focus. The Library closed two Saturdays for the first repainting of the public portion of the building since 1969. During National Library Week, Gates celebrated the Year of the Lifetime Reader. Assistant Library Director C. Pauline Breit retired after 30 years with Gates Public Library on October 31.  Kathryn O'Connor started as Assistant Library Director, with more than 20 years public library experience with Niagara Falls Public Library and Mid York Library System. The Gates Public Library crossed the 400,000 annual circulation mark, with an annual circulation of 417,727, an increase of 32,205 (+8.35%)  [400,000 = dividing line between medium size library and large library.]

1992  
The Library won a federal construction grant for a drive-up window and began a public campaign to raise donations for window.  Library wins additional state construction money for drive-up window.  The Friends of the Gates Public Library donated a Macintosh LC microcomputer to the library for patron use.  Director Susan Swanton reactivates weekly column The Library Link@ in the Gates Chili News to acquaint public with library issues. Monthly activity calendars developed for quick patron access to library programs by date.  The Library Board adopts its 1st 5 year Long Range Plan.  The American with Disabilities Advisory Committee was established to assist the library with federal law compliance. 

1993  
Bids let for drive-up window construction in January and awarded to Cardot Construction for $36,190.  Ground breaking for drive up window began on April 15th.  First drive-up window for library services in New York State opened for service at the Gates Public Library on June 25th.  Window service hours are 12:15-5:45 Monday-Friday for check out and 24 hours for returns.  Gates, along with all other Monroe County libraries, migrates from GEAC to CARL for automated circulation services.  In addition the card catalogs are removed and replaced with 7 on‑line access computers.  Townwide mailing to all Gates residents on circulation changes.  Gates provides training site for west part of county from new automation vendor, CARL.  There is a town wide mailing to all Gates residents on changes.  William Doty gives the single largest donation from any individual to Gates Public Library in memory of his mother to establish the Doty Memorial Fund.

1994  
Drive-up window hours changed to 3:15-8:45 and services expanded from charge and return to virtually full range of library services in response to patron preferences.  Judy MacKnight replaces Tori Reilly as Assistant Library Director.  Small group training sessions for online public catalog began and continued on a weekly basis.  Friends Cookbook "Literally Delicious" published; all recipes either from local residents or celebrity authors, and whole cookbook done with a literary theme.  Described videos added to collection for visually handicapped.  First HOPE Grant (Helping Our Parent Educate) a cooperative grant between Gates Public Library and Neil Armstrong School to prepare 4 year olds and their parents for school receives almost full funding from N.Y.S.  Weekly training series begin in September, with a 2nd in late fall and a 3rd in January-February 1995.  Video list of library holding completed and offered for sale.

1995  
Library Director Susan Swanton honored as Citizen of the Year by the Gates-Chili Council of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.  Internet training provided for all Gates librarians in preparation for expansion of CARL OPAC services to welcome Internet access.  Internet access to selected databases available for public in all Monroe County libraries including Gates.  Gates Public Library WWW page mounted on the Rochester Freenet's server at <http://www.ggw.org/gpl>.  Second HOPE Grant received, project broadened to include Walt Disney in addition to Neil Armstrong. 

1996  
The Library celebrated 35 years of service to the Town of Gates.  Diaper decks added to both public bathrooms, thanks to gift from Friends of Gates Public Library.  The Library received its 1st reference question via e-mail, thanks to our web page on 12/95.  Security system installed, and double shelving of videocassettes eliminated with use of locking cases for videos. Faxing to individuals new library service.  Internet training for public begins.  Double staffing of reference desk during the week begun.  Foreign films section created in videos.  Tapecheck machine to clean videos purchased, thanks to gift from Friends of Gates Public Library.

1997  
Last step of security system implemented with cassette locking cases.  At the request of Tinseltown, the new theater movie house, a permanent display from Gates Public Library is started at Tinseltown, with weekly displays from the library. They in turn give the library posters for new films opening at Tinseltown for the library to display in the library hall way.  Books to Babies project begun, thanks to funding from Friends of Gates Public Library.  Closing of Central for one month in May due to move to new building impacts Gates and other ring suburban libraries with increased circulation and reference activity.  Children's pamphlet file started. In June library held its 1st Staff Recognition Dinner.  "Reviews by You" started for children grades 4 - 6.  With server in place, office LAN in  process of being implemented.  Library begins circulating CD-ROMs to the public.