Pleasant Hill Public Library

History:

1981

On June 18, 1981, a committee appointed by Mayor Lawrence Hopper met in the Pleasant Hill City Council Chambers to discuss delivery of library services to the City of Pleasant Hill. Increased charges to Pleasant Hill by the City of Des Moines caused the city to initiate a study.

The Committee recommended the establishment of a library for the city armed with ideas to make this goal a success.

Many duties now carried out by the Library were conceived during these early meetings. For example, the Library is entrusted with maintaining a History of the City. This information is constantly updated by one of the staff.

Donations were already being promised and fund raising began.

By July 15, 1981, this ambitious group had a bank account for the Library, a trailer located for use as a possible facility, donations of shelving and 21 applications for the position of City Librarian!!!

After careful consideration of applicants, the Committee presented a recommendation to the City Council that Ms. Pat Rehder be hired as the City's first Librarian. Ms. Rehder would begin employment on September 1, 1981.

The Committee enthusiastically supported the Library with donations of cash, library materials, books and magazines. Most of these materials were used.

Librarian Pat Rehder enthusiastically joined the Committee in planning a media blitz at the upcoming City's Silver Celebration. A booth would be set up informing the public that they would soon have a Library in the City and inviting them to participate by becoming a Friend of the Library.

On October 22, 1981, the first official meeting of the Pleasant Hill Library Board of Trustees was held ........
in a "primitive" mobile trailer unit set up in the back parking lot of City Hall at 4450 Oakwood Drive. The first meeting was held with members sitting on the floor surrounded by boxes of donated library materials. Electricity had been connected only 3 hours earlier......

Officers were elected, duties assigned, library hours were agreed upon and a goal set for an official opening date of January 3, 1982.

As the opening date drew closer, and the trailer began to look more like a library, it became apparent that Board members would become even more involved as they donated hours of their personal time to staff the Library on weekends.

1982

The new year (1982) brought many new challenges as the Board faced preparation of its first budget. Fortunately, with the expert guidance of Librarian Pat Rehder, the budget received Council approval by February 1.

The months that followed brought growth to the Library -- growth in circulation, growth in programs, growth in staff... and furniture!!

Board meetings continued to be held in the Library, but members were seated at tables.

By September, the Library was showing definite signs of growing pains -- The Library was outgrowing its first home.

Board discussions turned to alternatives and the word got out into the community. Grants were researched, donations were sought, vacant land was reviewed and local builders made presentations to the Library Board.

The first full year of operation boasted a circulation of 24,500, or three times the library usage by Pleasant Hill residents over prior years.

1983

1983 brought a shift in the meeting place of the Board as library hours expanded and table space gave way to shelving space for library materials.

Discussion of the need for a larger facility continued to dominate concerns.

In October, the Board heard a presentation by a representative of Lloyd Witt, a local landowner regarding a commercial facility he was constructing on Maple Drive.

The months that followed brought proposed agreements and counter proposals. On December 21, 1983, the Board voted to accept a lease proposal between Lloyd Witt and the Pleasant Hill Library Board.

1984

1984 ushered in a new wave of planning. New equipment was needed for the new facility. Grants were written and fund raising again took place.

Groundbreaking for Mr. Witt's building began in March. The Library Board and staff were interested and involved with every detail of the building, not only floor plans, but special placement of electrical outlets to accommodate a growing Library. This was an exciting time.

In April, the exact unit of the building that would house the Library was selected. The Pleasant Hill Library would be housed on the Northeast Corner of the lower level.

April also brought the resignation of Librarian Pat Rehder who moved to other opportunities. Pat left the City of Pleasant Hill and the Library a fantastic contribution -- her leadership and abilities that had established the Pleasant Hill Library!!

July brought a new fiscal year and a new Librarian, Suzanne Larson. In August, Suzanne announced that she had received notice that the building was ready for occupancy. Moving day was set for August 15.

Board members rolled up their shirt sleeves, gathered moving crates, vehicles and dedication to pack, transport and unpack tons of library materials, books and equipment.
With extreme pride in the new facility, an Open House was planned for September 9. Citizens and city officials flocked in to admire the new quarters and acquaint themselves with materials now available.

1985

1985 began with discussions about cooperative services between surrounding libraries -- the walk-in policy. The Pleasant Hill Library Board chose to provide services to ALL patrons regardless of residence. Policies set by surrounding libraries forced Pleasant Hill to seriously begin consideration of a formal collection development policy to serve the needs of patrons. Reference materials were targeted for purchase so students would be able to obtain information for school work on a timely basis. Usage of inter-library loan services increased. And, circulation continued to increase under the direction of Ms. Larson.

By July of 1985, records indicate the library was becoming crowded and in need of a facility that would provide a larger children's area, study areas, workspace, increased hours and house twice the number of books in the collection.

In September, the Library hours increased and the Library began offering Sunday afternoon hours from September through May.

1986

Improvements to the Library accomplished in 1986 included an upgrade to the now overloaded computer system, and software to barcode library materials. In August, the Library began offering videocassettes to its patrons -- the result of a donation by the Friends of the Library.

December marked the 5th year of the library and was celebrated by a Birthday Party/Open House.

1987

January, 1987, was saddened by the announcement that Librarian Suzanne Larson would be leaving the Library in February. The Board began recruiting and interviewing.

In April, the Board welcomed Gary Bisignano as the new Librarian. The Board turned its concentration towards obtaining accreditation for the Library. The City Council assigned responsibility for compiling the "Communicator" to the Library staff. A nursing home outreach program was implemented.

1988

Accreditation papers were completed in March, 1988 and submitted on April 14. Formal policies and procedures and personnel policies were adopted in May. June of 1988 was marked by the addition of yet another service for patrons -- the Library now offered vacation information for all 50 states. In August, the Library held its first open house for teachers to coordinate the school year's activities with the library holdings. In September, the Library began addressing long term planning.

1989

Nineteen-eighty-nine brought continued concerns about space. The Library had definitely outgrown its current facility. There was discussion of a new city complex. There was discussion of a multi-use recreational facility. There was the fact that the lease was up for renegotiation. Patron use continued to increase. People enjoyed the programs being provided and planned. It was a busy, prosperous year.

However, the accreditation submitted last March was not approved. The Library holdings were not large enough. Undaunted, the Board began planning for the next submission of accreditation papers and addressing Long Range Planning.

1990

The new decade (1990) brought welcome records and changes to the Library. Circulation figures were the highest in history, with 26,259 items being circulated. Programming also set a record and almost 2500 patrons attended 102 programming events.

In November the Library responded to patron requests and increased its hours of operation to seven days a week. In addition, books on tape and large print books were now available.