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Genealogical/Historical
1. Delaware Index. Wilmington Library staff maintains an index to major articles in the Delaware News Journal, Delaware Today and the major books in our Delaware collection. The index covers the years 1920-1977 and 1989-present. The index is in two parts: 1. A topical listing which includes historical events; 2. A biographical section listing famous Delawareans. 2. Delaware Newspapers. Our collection of newspapers begins in the 1880's. We have the News Journal, Morning News, Sunday Morning Star, Every Evening and Journal Every Evening on microfilm. Patrons can use our microfilm machines to copy articles from the newspapers. In addition, we have the Delaware State News in paper from 1923-present; however, missing are those from 1930, 1939, 1940 and 1947-1968. 3. Delaware Room. Our collection of historical Delaware materials is kept in a locked room. The collection is not designed for browsing but is well indexed in our Delaware index and card catalogs. The materials that we collect include: Delaware authors; industrial/company materials; legal materials, periodicals and other assorted materials about Delaware's past. We also have a clipping file of News Journal articles that are indexed in the Delaware index mentioned above. 4. City Directories / Cross Reference / Phone books. Although the earliest volume in the collection is the city directory of 1853, a more complete collection begins in the 1880's. The collection is not complete but is quite extensive. 5. Historical maps. Our collection of early Delaware maps is kept in the reference department. Maps show Delaware from colonial times to present. Our maps are indexed in our card catalog and patrons can search by geographic area and time period. 6. Delaware Census. Reconstruction of the 1790 Delaware Census. The Library also has the Delaware census on microfilm from 1880-1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. We have book indexes for the 1800 and 1850 Delaware Census and the 1920 Soundex on Microfilm. The extensive AfricanAmerican Collection of books, video and audio cassettes was presented to the Library in 1989 by the Civil Rights Commemorative Commission and the Wilmington City Council in honor of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Bill. All materials are available for circulation in the Audio-Visual Center. There is evidence, in the form of a hand written receipt for dues, that the earliest Wilmington Library was first incorporated in 1754. It is further believed that there was a hiatus in service due to inadequate funds during the Revolutionary War. Service resumed when the Library Company of Wilmington reincorporated in 1788 with the help of John Dickinson, Jacob Broom and Gunning Bedford, three prominent Delawareans who were also original signatories of the U.S. Constitution. The early Library was located at the residence of the Librarian who was responsible for maintaining collections for members who paid dues to use the technology oriented materials. As the size of the collections grew, the Library quarters likewise expanded. The Town Hall, as it moved from the Marketplace near the river to 5th and Market Streets, was the primary site until 1861 when the John Dickinson Mansion at 8th and Market was razed and a new building was constructed to meet the needs of the Library. Functioning as an Institute (since 1859 the Library offered technical classes to Wilmington's growing number of tradesmen), the building also included first floor retail shops for the convenience of a very busy downtown clientele. In 1894 philanthropist William P. Bancroft donated $20,000 to satisfy the Library's debt, enlisted the financial aid of the City of Wilmington and made the Library free to all citizens. The State legislation which created the governing Board of Managers in 1893 also provided for ex-officio members of the Board including public officials and school administrators. The Library, today, remains a private corporation, the stock of which (3,000 shares) is held in equal amounts by ten elected members. From the very inception of the Library, financial support has been available from both the public and private segments of the community. Although it was a subscription library until 1894, the collections were housed in public buildings. Later the City of Wilmington, New Castle County, the State of Delaware and the Federal Government, to varying degrees during the Library's history, have all provided operating funds to support public services. In addition, many prominent individuals and families have offered their guidance and support as members of the Board of Managers, as well as through their influence as corporate leaders. Tatnall, Bissell, Canby, du Pont, Biddle, Hoopes, Copeland, Ward, Reese, Rhoads, Winchester, Laird, Speakman and Pearson and others all represent the excellent quality of leadership offered to the Library during both prosperous times and lean years. The public/private partnership offered by local government and interested public spirited community leaders is responsible for the library as it exists today. During the early 20th Century when the Library began to once again feel the need for improved space, Pierre S. du Pont spearheaded a campaign to provide a larger building and improved services. Mr. du Pont donated the property for the current building, chaired the art committee which supervised the architectural development of the building and chaired the campaign to raise funds for the new building. He was instrumental in attracting the support of public funds and also $300,000 from 3,000 individuals for the completion of the new Library. The Library was dedicated in 1922 and remained physically unchanged until 1970 when the interior was extensively renovated. Pierre du Pont's influence and leadership within the Board of Managers has long been perpetuated by subsequent Boards. The du Pont family's interest in the educational and cultural welfare of the community is well known. Henry B. du Pont and Lammot du Pont Copeland each served over thirty years as Manager of the Library. Edward B. du Pont, with the longest tenure among current Managers, spearheaded the major capital and endowment campaign of the 1980's in an effort to improve book collections, to add staff and to automate library systems. As the public/private partnership for library support is perpetuated by the constant demand for excellence in public library service by individuals who live in Wilmington and by the business community which cares for the welfare of its working employees, the Wilmington Library continues to meet the challenge of those demands by continually evaluating and striving to improve its quality of library service. The Library's strength through the years has been its staff. Dedicated and loyal to the concept of excellent service, the library staff has been flexible in its effort to meet new public demands. Now in its third century of service, the Library is truly aware of the challenges presented by an information oriented society. The Library will continue to change as the demands of its services change. Books will always be the basis for library service, but the volume of information made available by new technology presents the most interesting of challenges - to blend traditional library service with futuristic concepts of retrieving information. The history of the Library has recorded similar past challenges; let future histories of the Library record similar Library successes in meeting the challenges of the third hundred years. 1.) Board of Managers The Board of Managers is a working Board. Managerial responsibilities for the corporation include two categories - procedural responsibilities and fiduciary responsibilities.2.) Library Director David Burdash and his administrative team oversees the running of the Wilmington Library and two branch libraries: North Wilmington and South Wilmington Branch Library. Each library has teams of library professionals, support staff, and volunteers who work to provide quality community service. Every month staff meetings help generate ideas, work on problems and find effective solutions. 1.) Operating Funds The principal source of the Library's operating budget is New Castle County property taxes. New Castle County, through the Department of Community Services, reviews operating budgets annually and requests proposals for the next fiscal year in the Fall. County funds represent approximately 57% of the Library's operating budget. Other sources of funds are Private Endowment 18%; the State of Delaware 17%; and the City of Wilmington 3%; additional Grants 5%.2.) Capital Funds Capital funds are provided by special grants, from special fund raising efforts by The Wilmington Library Foundation and from Federal, State, County or City grants.3.) The Wilmington Library Foundation Each year the Foundation contributes funds to the Library for capital improvements and for specifically designated operating needs. The Foundation was created in 1988 and offers endowment for special needs. |