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MCEMSA History
| Previous recipients of the Nancy E. Walker Award. |
1945 |
The Maryland Council of Student Library Organization is founded by Elizabeth Stickley. At this time there were only three full-time librarians in the county high schools. |
| 1946 | Elma Toth and Elanor Ablard, then parent librarians, help with the study of elementary libraries. |
| 1948 | Alice Robinson becomes the first school library supervisor of Montgomery County. She gradually appoints full time secondary librarians and coordinates high school libraries. Miss Mae Graham, State Library Supervisor, visits Montgomery County. |
| 1952 | Maryland State Library Standards included in MCPS administration Handbook. |
| 1954 | Montgomery County School Board sets minimum standards for school libraries -- $1.50 per pupil for HS library books and $.75 for ES. Additional funds for new schools disseminated. |
| 1955-1956 | The first two elementary librarians are hired. Library service becomes part of the newly created Education Services Division. |
| 1956-1957 | Five more elementary librarians are hired. Seven elementary librarians meet with Alice Robinson to share ideas about elementary libraries. Murray Andrews becomes Supervisor of School Librarians and the 12 month program is begun; extended evening hours in key high schools; building standards are revised, and librarians have in-put on remodeling and new construction. |
| 1957-1958 | Librarians are given one half day each month to meet alternately between elementary and secondary schools. A manual, "From Carton to Shelf" is written to help set standards for librarians and parents who were operating more elementary libraries. Betty Culotta and Murray Andrews share an aide, half time, on an experimental basis -- the first support staff. Dr. Whittier is appointed Superintendent of Schools. |
| 1958-1959 | Montgomery County School Library Association is organized. The presidency alternates between a high school and elementary librarian. "First Purchase" list is established for elementary schools by Claribel Bigelow, Aimee Harper, and Sylvia Mostov. |
| 1959-1960 | First delegate Convention of Maryland Council of Student Library Clubs. Motto: "Knowledge and Pleasure Through Books"; Sponsor is Teresa Doherty, MCPS Librarian. Basic book lists developed for all levels by librarians and the supervisor. Dr. Elaine Barnes, supporter of school libraries, begins gathering information for Central Book Processing Center. |
| 1960-1961 | Processing Center is established in the spring. It is in operation by Sept. 1961, under the direction of Mary Eckford who ran one in Ohio. Unification of the library and audio-visual programs. Dr. Whittier has Dr. James Brown conduct a study of the library-AV county program which recommends instructional materials centers, a curriculum library and a central IMC be created. Dr. James Jacobs is appointed Director, Department of Instrucional Materials, where he remains until 1966. Film and central booking services enhanced. Dr. Brown's report causes national recognition to media program. Librarians on an 11-month contract. |
| 1961-1962 | There are now 41 secondary librarians in 24 schools and 3 aides. Elementary schools have 16.5 librarians and 16.5 aides. Peggy Sullivan is added as an elementary school library specialist. Formal establishment of the curriculum library. Library budget is now $1 per pupil for ES, and $1.89 for HS. Newsletter of the MCSLA is established after taking over the Library Letter, formerly written by the library supervisor. It is later known as the Librarians Newsletter. In June 1961, 17 MCPS librarians are sent to Columbia University to a workshop entitles "The Library as a Materials Center." |
| 1962-1963 | There are now 33 elementary librarians, each serving at least two schools. There are some called "Circuit Riders" who serve five or six schools. Libraries are becoming instructional materials centers. |
| 1964-1965 | Dr. Richard Darling becomes Assistant Director of the Department of Instructional Materials and Teresa Doherty becomes Library Supervisor. |
| 1966-1967 | MCSLA president presents a document to the Board of Education requesting the end of a mandatory 12-month position and for an 11-month. She finally speaks at 1:00 AM. Dr. Jacobs resigns and Dr. Darling becomes Director of Department of Instructional Materials. |
| 1967-1968 | Professional concerns, such as certification, 12-month program, professional growth through university and/or in-service programs are addressed. Library aides tea is held during National Library week. |
| 1968-1969 | MCSLA has 101 members. The Department of Instructional Materials is changed to Department of Educational Media and Technology. MCSLA president speaks before the Board of Education and County Council for increases in per pupil allocation, aides, and librarians, and importance of 12-month librarians. Lloyd Alexander is the speaker for the luncheon. |
| 1969-1970 | Librarians are allowed to be 10-month hires. |
| 1970-1971 | Concerns arise: Censorship and selection of materials. |
| 1971-1972 | MCSLA has 137 members. Mrs. Nancy Walker arrives as Director of MCPS Dept. of Educational Media and Technology. A telephone tree and a buddy system for new librarians are established. |
| 1972-1973 | Murray Andrews retires. There are concerns with the ordering procedures. |
| 1973-1974 | MCSLA has 172 members. A Committee on evaluation of librarians is established. |
| 1974-1975 | MCSLA members take a school bus to Baltimore for EMAM-MECTA meetings in October; propose a "Cooks in Print" cookbook project and start tasting recipes; hold a spring luncheon in May. |
| 1975-1976 | The Cookbook project is approved. Scope and sequence chart is introduced. |
| 1976-1977 | The association has a name change from MCSLA to Montgomery County Educational Media Specialists Association (MCEMSA). The 12-month program is eliminated. |
| 1977-1979 | MCEMSA has 157 members. BATAB is first mentioned. MCPS Supt. Dr. Bernardo proposes the dissemination of DIR. Nancy Walker, Regina Crutchfield, and the MCEMSA president testify against the proposal before the Board of Education. Subsequent negotiation sessions between 3 BOE members and Nancy Walker, Regina Crutchfield, and Margaret Lefever result in the restoration of DIR. |
| 1979-1980 | Nancy Walker has one of her famous holiday parties; she retires at the end of the school year. Paula Montgomery accepts the position with the Maryland State Department of Education as Director of Library Division and Services. Teresa Doherty retires. |
| 1980-1981 | A security system is installed in 10 high schools. Fran Dean is welcomed as the new director of Department of Instructional Rersources. A painting is given to EML in honor of Nancy Walker. Library aides are now called media assistants. |
| 1981-1982 | The constitution is revised in November. Computers are to be placed in media centers. MCEMSA president creates the position of historian, first held by Sara Margaret Depew. The president also serves on an interviewing team to select the Supervisor of School Media Programs (Regina Crutchfield), Evaluation and Selection (Donna Dale), and teacher specialists. School closings cause position changes for media staff. A letter writing campaign to the County Council ensues. |
| 1982-1983 | Media specialists lose a special friend when Nancy Walker dies on January 11, 1983. The Nancy Walker Memorial Fund is established. Principal's dialogue held with elementary and secondary school principals to discuss concerns. |
| 1983-1984 | "The Germans are coming!" 23 German libarians and students visit MCEMSA members. A committee is established for the principal's award. There is an open house for Board of Education and County Council members. There is an exchange with Fairfax school librarians. Idea booklets for all media specialists are published. Judy King is elected president of AASL. Wilmer Cody, the new Supt. of Schools, speaks to MCEMSA. |
| 1984-1985 | Leslie Rader, London's media and technology wizard, speaks to MCEMSA. |
| 1985-1986 | The Nancy E. Walker award for a principal who shows outstanding support of the media program is established. Charlotte Chakin is the first recipient. A plaque with her name is placed in the Professional Library. A survey of the elementary media specialists regarding scheduling is taken and the results present to MCEA for contract negotiations. Teachers may not leave classes with media specliasts like art, etc. Assistance to TSA's in upgrading their position. |
| 1986-1987 | MCEMSA deals with MCEA on the issue of elementary media speclaists' scheduling in regard to being required to provide classroom teacher planning time. Testimony highlights increased financial needs for adequate critical collections, which is necessary because of enrollment, program changes, and the need to update collections. Principal Dr. Thomas Marshall and Laura Turner receive the Nancy Walker Award. |
| 1987-1988 | Communication is the goal for the year. An interact meeting is held in the fall with Fran Dean, Regina Crutchfield, and Charles Worsley. Media specialists are surveyed regarding planning time for teachers. There is support to upgrade media assistant position. |
| ~ from "MCEMSA History Report 1988" by JoFran Falcon |