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Inventory of the Friends of the Library Collection
P 119  
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Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Processing History
  • Biographical History
  • Scope and Content
  • Indexing Terms
  • Related Collections

  • Title: Friends of the Library Collection
    Date (inclusive): 1972-2008
    Collection number: P 119
    Collector: Friends of the Library
    Extent: 24 file folders, 3 scrapbooks, 1 CD
    Repository: Roseville Public Library History Collection
    Roseville, California
    Abstract: By 1972, the Carnegie Library on Lincoln Street in Roseville could no longer accommodate the growing population of the city. A group of library supporters gathered on August 22, 1972 in the basement of the Carnegie, at the request of head librarian Helen O'Connor, to discuss a solution to the ever-growing problem of overcrowding. From that meeting, the Friends of the Library organized to persuade the city to build Roseville a new, badly needed library. The Friends of the Library Collection is arranged in eight series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Meeting Records, 3. Financial Records, 4. Legal Documents, 5. Scrapbooks, 6. Ephemera, 7. Publications, and 8. Media. Items span the dates 1972 to 2008.
    Physical location: Roseville Public Library
    Languages: Languages represented in this collection: English

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult Roseville Public Library History Collection staff. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the Roseville Public Library History Collection, Roseville, as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the Roseville Public Library History Collection.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Friends of the Library Collection, P 119: [box: folder number], Roseville Public Library, History Collection, Roseville, California.

    Acquisition Information

    Lenore Batiste, president of the Friends of the Library, donated this collection in 2008.

    Processing History

    Lola Aguilar processed this collection and created its finding aid in 2008.

    Biographical History

    By 1972, the Carnegie Library on Lincoln Street in Roseville could no longer accommodate the growing population of the city. A group of library supporters gathered on August 22, 1972 in the basement of the Carnegie, at the request of head librarian Helen O'Connor, to discuss a solution to the ever-growing problem of overcrowding. From that meeting, the Friends of the Library organized to persuade the city to build Roseville a new, badly needed library.
    Along with assistant librarian Conrad Pfeiffer, O'Connor met with charter members Peggy Benedetti, Helen Duran, Myron McIntyre, Diane McCarthy, Bruce McFarland, Martha Riley, and Marian Tiedemann. The group joined others in the community to get the funds to build a more spacious Main Library. On September 14, 1973 the Friends of the Library incorporated as a non profit organization.
    Martha Riley then led the campaign to put a bond measure on the ballot. After three attempts, the bond measure narrowly failed. The city eventually agreed to use federal revenue sharing funds to build the library and the community celebrated the grand opening of the Roseville Public Library in September 1979. The Friends remained active, raising funds for activities and programs such as the Family Music Series, summer series, and the annual poetry contest, as well as library materials.
    The Friends continued their support with the addition of the Coloma Branch Library in 1978, and after its closure and with the opening of the Maidu Branch Library. The new library opened in August 1990 as part of the Maidu Regional Park off Rocky Ridge Rd. The organization has held book sales, ice cream socials, a play, a narrated slide show, author visits, film showings, and since 2004, the Winter Classic to raise funds for library programs.
    The city planned a third library branch meant to serve West Roseville as early as 1998 as part of the Mahany Park Sports Center. Once again the Friends of the Library, headed by Martha Riley, gathered forces in 2002 to lobby the Roseville City Council about building the promised Mahany Branch Library. Three years later on August 23, 2005, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mahany Library. On January 27, 2008 and after many construction delays, the renamed Martha Riley Community Library celebrated the grand opening of West Roseville's long awaited library. Martha Riley received the most votes in a citywide contest to name the library. In honor of her years of service on the Library Board, Friends of the Library, and other civic organizations the City of Roseville designated the new library in her name.
    The Friends of the Library continue to provide financial support to Roseville's three libraries.

    Scope and Content

    The Friends of the Library Collection is arranged in eight series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Meeting Records, 3. Financial Records, 4. Legal Documents, 5. Scrapbooks, 6. Ephemera, 7. Publications, and 8. Media. Items span the dates 1972 to 2008.
    Series 1, Correspondence, consists of one file folder and includes only a limited number of letters to the Friends. The second series, Meeting Records, consists of nine file folders, which includes board of directors list, but does not cover all years. Minutes records are complete beginning when the group formed in 1972. The group's annual fundraiser records for the Winter Classic, is also incomplete. Series 3, Financial Records consists of seven file folders and includes statements only for 2005 and budgets only for 1981-1982 and 2007.
    Series 4, Legal Documents, consists of two file folders and includes copies of the organization's by-laws and articles of incorporation. The fifth series, Scrapbooks, consists of three binders of newspaper articles and ephemera of the Friends various activities. Many articles are not dated. Series 6, Ephemera, consists of one file folder and includes brochures, programs, flyers, tickets, and letterhead. The file also contains three panels from cartoonist Al Vermeer, which he donated to the Friends of the Library possibly for a fundraising raffle.
    Series 7, Newsletters, consists of one file folder and includes the Friends of the Library newsletter. Several dates are missing from the collection. Series eight, Media, consists of one CD that holds copies of the minutes dating from 2003 to 2007.

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Friends of the Library
    Roseville Public Library
    Roseville (Calif.)

    Related Collections

    Roseville Public Library LG 202