OCLS Extension Department 1966 – 1983

ABOVE: Arnold Sobel at the Northgate Library in 1983.

OCLS Extension Department Scrapbook

Photographs of employees who worked in the Extension Department and the library Annex from 1966 to 1983, were collected and  carefully and lovingly arranged in a scrapbook to preserve the memories of the staff and their shared experiences.

ABOVE: Baby Shower for Alice Grace (in red), 1982. L-R: Teresa White, Alice Grace, Dorothy Burns, Gladys Woodard.

The photographs document celebrations and parties, working in the Extension Department office and at the Annex, traveling with the bookmobile, and working at the Pine Hills, North Orange, Fort Gatlin, Northgate, Eastland and South Trail branch libraries.

ABOVE: The 1961 bookmobile at the Annex at 453 North Orange Avenue.

Other photos feature the bookmobile staff at stops in Bonneville, Lake Cane, Zellwood, Peach Lake, Oviedo and Isle of Cat. The bookmobile in these photos was purchased in 1961 to replace the 1949 bookmobile which was donated to the library by the Sorosis Club. The library’s innovative Books by Mail program that still today provides delivery of library materials throughout the Orange County service area, made the library’s bookmobile service unnecessary.

Read more about the library’s bookmobiles.

ABOVE: Storytime at the Isle of Cat bookmobile stop. View additional photos under IMAGES below.

There are other surprises and treats in the scrapbook. Several pages document a visit from the author of the “Encyclopedia Brown” series, Donald J. Sobol in June 1983. There are also postcards from staff vacationing in faraway places.

ABOVE: Donald J. Sobol at the Northgate Library in 1983.

Extension Division at the Albertson Public Library

The Extension Division is described in detail (below) in this excerpt from the Albertson Public Library 1928 annual report. It included mini-libraries in city and county public schools – elementary, junior high, and high schools – and, also, two private schools.

Excerpt from the Albertson Public Library 1928 annual report.

The Albertson Public Library monthly reports from 1923 to 1931, sometimes include statistics on the number of books circulated at each of the school stations.

The 25th Anniversary booklet published in 1948, lists plans for the the growth of the Extension Services, including additional stations in the public schools in Orlando and outlying areas, additional branches, a Traveling Branch Library (bookmobile), and construction of a new building for the Booker T. Washington Branch. Additional details about the stations, branches and bookmobiles can be found in the annual reports.

Extension Department at the Orange County Library System

The scrapbook dates – 1966-1983 – are significant as the new Orlando Public Library opened in 1966 and the library expansion opened to the public in April 1985.

In the early 1970s it became apparent that the library needed to be expanded. According to the 1975-1976 Annual Report, ” 8,000 sq. ft. of office space was leased at 453 North Orange to open up more public area.” This is what was called the Annex.

Space was leased for an Annex for the Extension Department as the staff that worked there did not interact with the public who visited the Main – Orlando Public Library. In 1976, a 2nd Annex was leased in the old Salvation Army building for Talking Books, Books by Mail, and other behind the scenes departments due to the need for more public space in the library. Read more about the history of the Orange County Library System.

Index to scrapbook

Peruse the entire scrapbook or use the index below to quickly locate people, branches, and the bookmobile. If you can identify anyone not listed, leave a comment below with the page number, person’s name and location in the photo.

Index to Staff and Branch mentioned in Extension Department Scrapbook 

Page 2 – Spring 1966 – Going away party for Joanne Lang, head of Extension Depart from 1964-1966.
Top photo: Left – Martha Staples, ___, Joyce Lundequam, Helen Watson, Estelle Harris, Mildred Drake, _____ Tyson, Joanne Lang (center). 
Top photo Right side: Anne Keeler, Margaret Cates, Hildo Keseler, ____, Gladys Woodard, Dorothy Burns, _____. Bottom photo: Mildred Drake, Elsie Towle, Estelle Harris, Joanne Lang.
Page 3 – 1970 – Pine Hills Branch, Jean Rhein
Page 4 – 1970 continued – Fort Gatlin Library, Susan Broomall
Page 5 – 1970 continued – Fort Gatlin Library. Top photo: Eleanor Gentry, Debbie Stanfield, ______, Hilda Keseler, Gretchen Conduitte. Bottom photo: Susan Broomall.
Page 6 – 1971 – Helen Watson, Head of Extension Department 1966-1972; Hilda Keseler, Clerk Typist; Lee Zawacki, Librarian.
Page 7 – New expanded Pine Hills Branch, Averill Jones, Bernice Souders
Page 8 – 1971 continued – Friends of the Library president presents Young Adult Classics to Fort Gatlin Library and Martha Staples.
Page 9 – 1972 – V.I.P. Night at the Library announcement card; retirement party for Helen Watson April 1972. Photos: Anne Keeler, Lee Zawacki, Jacki Talbot, Anita Heard, Barbara Marquess, Helen Watson, Hilda Keseler, Diane Reedy, Dorothy Burns. 
Page 10 – 1972 continued – Dottie Shang, North Orange Library.
Page 11 – 1972 continued – Anne Keeler 
Page 12 – 1973 – North Orange Branch Library, Apopka, February 1973.
Page 13 – 1973 – North Orange Branch Library, Apopka.
Page 14 – 1973 – Extension Department Christmas party
Page 15 – 1973 – John Claytor at North Orange, Betty Brady, Dorothy Burns, Martha Staples, Anne Keeler, Eleanor Gentry, Ceal Dwyer, Rose Irhiski, Annabelle Wood, Alice Swilley.
Page 16 – 1974 – Extension Department Christmas Party – photos missing
Page 17 – 1975 – Community Service Award presented to Margaret Cates by Apopka Schools. Glenn Miller, Margaret Cates
Page 18 – 1975 continued – Community Service Award presented to Margaret Cates by Apopka Schools. Glenn Miller, Margaret Cates.
Page 19 – 1975 continued – Postcards from Martha Staples’ trip in England, May-June 1975
Page 20 – 1975 continued – Bookmobile photos, Pat Kremkau
Page 21 – 1975 continued – Bookmobile at Bonneville
Page 22 – 1975 continued – Bookmobile at Lake Cane
Page 23 – 1975 continued – Bookmobile at Zellwood and Peach Lake
Page 24 – 1975 continued – Bookmobile at Tangerine, Oviedo, Isle of Cat
Page 25 – 1975 continued – Extension Christmas Party
Page 26 – 1975 continued – Extension Christmas Party
Page 27 – 1976 – postcards from Hilda Keseler and Barbara Marques 
Page 28 – 1976 continued – postcards from Sarah Harrison and Susan Broomall
Page 29 – 1976 continued – postcards from Catalina Montanez and Cathy Rae
Page 30 – 1976 continued – postcards from Dottie Shang and Alison Landers
Page 31 – At the Annex – Bookmobile and Julie Stanford, Patty Kines, Vivian, Sherry, and Hilda
Page 32 – 1976 continued – Carol Shurtz, Susan Bailey, Chris Kirby and Susan Bailey
Page 33 – 1977 – Northgate Library
Page 34 – 1980 – Graduation party for preschoolers at North Orange Library, August 1980.
Page 35 – 1980 continued – Graduation party for preschoolers at North Orange Library, August 1980.
Page 36 – 1980 continued – Halloween at Pine Hills Library, October 1980. Mrs. Clark and Ed Perkins (photo of Ed Perkins missing)
Page 37 – 1980 continued – Halloween at Pine Hills Library, October 1980. Bea Chambers and Story Time.
Page 38 – 1980 continued – Halloween at Pine Hills Library, October 1980. Merci Zaldivar, Susan and Emily; Karen Mahoney, Extension Department Secretary, December 1980.
Page 39 – 1981 – Celie Dwyer, Extension Department Secretary, Spring 1981. Postcard from Merci Zaldivar.
Page 40 – 1981 continued – Anne Keeler, Merci Zaldivar, October 1981.
Page 41 – 1981 continued – Celie Dwyer, Extension Department Christmas Party- Nancy Dang, Hilda Keseler, Anne Keeler, Eric Atkinson, Celie Dwyer.
Page 42 – 1981 continued –Extension Department Christmas Party, Celie Dwyer, Nancy Dang, Anne Keeler, Eric Atkinson.
Page 43 – 1982 – Eric Atkinson, Lee Zawacki, Dorothy Burns, Teresa White, Alice Grace, Martha Staples, Barbara Marquess, Angela Jacobe, Anne Keeler.
Page 44 – 1982 –Teresa White, Gladys Woodard, Dorothy Burns,
Page 45 – 1982 – Lee Zawacki, Angela Jacobe, Barbara Marquess, Alice Grace, Dorothy Burns.
Page 46 – 1982 – Teresa White, Alice Grace, Gladys Woodard, Eric Atkinson, Barbara Marquess, Martha Staples, Dorothy Burns, Howard Hornburg. *** Correct order on photo: Teresa White, Alice Grace, Dorothy Burns, Gladys Woodard, Barbara Marquess (tan pantsuit).
Page 47 – 1982 – postcards from Merci Zaldivar and Catalina Montanez.
Page 48 – 1982 – postcard from Angela Jacobe
Page 49 – 1982 – South Trail library grand opening photos. Betty Wallace, Cindy Davenport, Edith Kelly.
Page 50 – 1982 – South Trail library, Martha Staples, Dorothy Burns, Alice Grace, Merci Zaldivar, Angela Jacobe, Celie Dwyer
Page 51 – 1982 – Martha Staples, Clara Magee, Barbara Marquess, Eleanor Gentry, Lee Zawacki
Page 52 – 1983 – Eastland Library – Merci Zaldivar, Catalina Montanez, Teresa Ott, Peggy Cordell. Anne Keeler and Dan White at FLA convention.
Page 53 – 1983 – Northgate Library – Angela Jacobe, story hour.
Page 54 – 1983 – Northgate Library – story hour.
Page 55 – 1983 – Donald J. Sobol (Encyclopedia Brown) visits Northgate Library, June 1983. Newspaper clippings and photos. 
Page 56 – 1983 – Donald J. Sobol (Encyclopedia Brown) visits Northgate Library, June 1983.
Page 57 – 1983 – Donald J. Sobol (Encyclopedia Brown) visits Northgate Library, June 1983.
Page 58 – 1983 – Donald J. Sobol (Encyclopedia Brown) visits Northgate Library, June 1983.
Page 59 – 1983 – Donald J. Sobol (Encyclopedia Brown) visits Northgate Library, June 1983.
Page 60 – 1983 – Newspaper clippings about events at Northgate and North Orange libraries. Staff mentioned: Angela Jacobi, Lee Zawacki.
Page 61 – 1983 – Clipping mentions Barbara Marquess, at West Orange Library; Christmas party at Anne Keeler’s – Merci Zaldivar and Eric Atkinson (Missing), Merci Zaldivar, Anne Keeler, Celie Dwyer.
Page 62 – 1983 – postcards from Hilda Keseler and Angela Jacobe