The Vermont Square Branch: Origins, Pt. III

The Library during World War II (1939-1945)

Three years before the outbreak of the 2nd World War, in 1936, the library’s circulation was in decline. Vermont Square Library dropped from 2nd to 8th place on the branch circulation list. However, in 1939, it mounted to 2nd place and went back to 1st in 1940. Yet, during the 1940s, that number kept on fluctuating due to World War II (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 2). Also, the war was the reason for the many negative changes in the library. For instance, there was a 35% drop in the amount of cardholders. Many adults began training for new wartime jobs instead of coming to the library; hence, there were losses in adult circulation. Due to problems such as gasoline rationing, it was difficult for people to make frequent trips to the library. Therefore, the amount of books that could be checked out on a library card was raised from five to ten to make it easier for patrons (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, pp. 2-3.).

On July 17, 1940, the Board of Library Commissioners held a conference at the Vermont Branch in order to look over its building. They also discussed the library’s problems with the head librarian and tried to find solutions to them, yet to no avail. In addition, the library was having a difficult time securing necessary funds in the spring of 1941 due to a charter amendment (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, pp. 4-5). Thus, the staff campaigned anywhere they could- P.T.A. meetings, local churches, women’s and businessmen’s clubs- and wrote letters to officials and city voters. However, their campaigning was unsuccessful and taught them a lot about the community and its leaders. They also learned a lesson: to make group contacts instead of individual ones in order to “gain new borrowers and extend the library’s field of service” (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 4).

Unlike the first war, World War II had a major effect on the library’s hours. From December 10, 1941 to May 1, 1942, the library was closed during the evenings (as a wartime measure). The library’s regular hours were from 9 AM to 5PM the first two weeks of the month and closed at 6 PM the last two weeks. The branch was open on Sundays from 2 PM to 6 PM. In 1943, the branch’s hours were changed from 1 PM to 9 PM. During 1942 to 1945, all of the branch libraries were closed during the last two weeks of August for staff vacations. This thus occurred because it was nearly impossible to obtain vacation substitutes during the war (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 3).

However, just like during World War I, the Vermont Library was the center of wartime activity. The library was selected as an air raid shelter and a Red Cross casualty center. War drafts were conducted there, and district air raid wardens held meetings in the auditorium. The United States Service Organization (U.S.O.) also held its meetings there for the Southwest District. In addition, the library was accredited as a Civilian County Defense Information Center. Rallies, book and food drives, and relief work all took place at the branch during this time. However, just like during the previous war, these things did not prevent regular groups such as the Girl Scouts (and even the Board of Library Commissioners) from holding their own meetings at the library (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 3). Also, it during this time, on March 1, 1943, the library observed its 30th anniversary, with newspapers covering the event. Scrapbooks were made with photographs depicting the library’s change over the past three decades. Hence, even though it was a somber time due to the war, people showed support towards the library and commemorated that special event (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 5).

During the 2nd World War, Helen Spotts continued to be the head librarian at the Vermont Square Library. She had been in that position since 1929, according to the Southwest Wave newsletter (“Know Your Southwest,” 1930). She was extremely well-liked by the community and was a social leader. She publicized the library through many avenues- posters, letters, activities, etc.-and drew up plans for the branch. She served on many different committees and integrated the library’s services with local programs. In addition, she attended many different conferences. For instance, in 1945, she attended the University of Chicago’s Graduate Library Institute’s “The Library in the Community” conference (Los Angeles Public Library, 1949, p. 5). Spotts used such meetings to gain information on how to improve the library, especially in the community. In 1943, Manual Arts High School, a local school that had a partnership with the library, awarded her with a lifetime membership in their Parent Teacher Association for her outstanding achievements in the community. Spotts, with her incredible leadership skills, was thus arguably the best librarian in the history of the Vermont Square Branch Library (p. 5).