With the 3 roughest decades in human history behind it (World War I, Great Depression, and World War II) the Vermont Square Branch went back to “normal times.” By the end of World War II, the library’s now over-flowed book collection was ranked one of the highest in Los Angeles. A survey conducted by the Los Angeles Public Library Survey Committee displayed the library’s rankings: #1 in labor materials and U.S. history; #2 for health, geography, economy, and religion; #3 in science, technology, reference books, education, and European reconstruction; #4 for photography; and #6 for literature and nutrition (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 7). With such numbers, therefore, the library was getting back on track after enduring through tough times.
The library was also in talks about developing into a regional branch. Helen Spotts greatly anticipated this and centered her planning around this objective. However, it did not occur until February 1, 1949, nearly three years after her departure from the library. Thus, from 1949 to 1979, the Vermont Square Branch Library was the regional branch of the public library’s Central Region (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, pp. 5, 8; Los Angeles Public Library, 1959, p. 2; Los Angeles Public Library, 1988, p. 2).
By 1949/1950, however, the library was seeing rapid changes in its circulation. There was a sharp decline in “reading for pleasure” and the community’s educational level was slightly below the city’s average (Los Angeles Public Library, 1959, p. 2). In addition, the library’s collection dropped from over 400,000 pre-war to 186,114 by the end of the decade. During the 1950/51 fiscal year, it dropped to 152, 926. It climbed up to 165,059 by 1952, but dropped again to 141,934 in 1953 (p. 12). Another disappointing figure was the number of registrations for library cards. The number fell from 11,176 by 1949 and kept descending, dropping to 8,891 in 1953. The branch went from being #1 in circulation in 1930 to #8 in 1950. That ranking kept plummeting, for a report stated that its rank was #23 by the end of that decade (pp. 3, 12). With these figures, it was evident that the library was losing its popularity. Therefore, according to a current librarian at Vermont Square Branch, it may have been factors such as the advent of television in households, movies, and American parents working longer hours that began putting the library on a fast-track to declination, a trend that still continues to this day (M. Jones, personal communication, April 6, 2010).
As mentioned, the library was the headquarters of the Central Region. The first regional branch meetings were held in its auditorium on January 22, 1951. Its second annual meeting was held in the same place on February 19, 1952. However, by 1953, the library was hurting financially and its staff had been reduced; therefore, the new Baldwin Hills Branch was used as the temporary regional headquarters until October 11, 1949 (Los Angeles Public Library, n.d.; Los Angeles Public Library, 1959, p. 3).
The first 40 years of the Vermont Square Branch Library thus capped off with a grand celebration on March 17th, 1953 (Los Angeles Public Library, 1953, pp. 1-5). The newspaper Southwest Wave published a story on its front page chronicling the branch’s history. The branch also exhibited special displays on its history. Furthermore, the Board of Library Commissioners held a special meeting at the library and a reception was held honoring the patrons who have used the library since its 1913 (Los Angeles Public Library, 1959, p. 8). Hence, there was no better way that the Vermont Square Library could have celebrated its 40th anniversary.
During the post-war years, a change in staff once again occurred. In 1945, the beloved Helen Spotts was transferred to the Hollywood Branch. Her replacement, Eleanora Crowder, led the library until 1946, when she transferred to the West Los Angeles Branch. Gertrude Bergman was brought in as head librarian in 1946 and stayed until her transference to the Pico Branch in 1949 (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 5). That year, history was made at the Vermont Square Regional Library. The first African-American librarian in Californian history, Miriam Matthews, was chosen as head librarian, which was reported by the Los Angeles Times (La Ganga, 1983). Though faced with financial difficulties and a declining circulation, she ensured that the library was a cultural center in the community and succeeded. She may have not been as celebrated as Miss Spotts; however, Matthews have been noted for her intelligence and her community activities. She served as the library’s leader until 1959, when she decided to retire from the librarian profession (La Ganga, 1983; Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, pp. 5, 8; Los Angeles Public Library, 1959, p. 11).
-Miriam Matthews, California's first African-American librarian
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