Fremantle Stuff > FHS > Fremantle Studies > 10 > Pam Harris
Harris, Pam 2019, 'From card catalogue to ebooks', Fremantle Studies, 10: 59-70.
The Fremantle City Library, in various guises, is one of the longest running cultural institutions in Fremantle. At the beginning of the research it was hoped that this paper would cover the entire history of the library 1851-2005, but it became evident that the wealth of information now available online through newspapers as well as the extensive archives held by the Fremantle History Centre that there is certainly more than enough for a book. Maybe it is a project for this author or another at a later time. Consequently, the paper looks at the evolution of the library through the people who helped establish it, primarily through the city librarians over time. It was their passion and energy and a firm belief in the benefit of public libraries that has resulted in the innovative and excellent library services the people of Fremantle have experienced over the years.
It is interesting that in the history of the library since 1902 there have only been six head librarians in a total of 114 years. They have all had a different set of challenges related to the context of the time they operated. Interesting also is the fact that of these six individuals three have been women in a time when women were not usually in positions of management. It is always puzzled me why the profession has been dominated by women since the 1960s, but that will have to be the focus of another paper. However, I couldn’t resist sharing the following quotation which reflects the attitudes towards women working in libraries and the workforce generally in 1917.
For various reasons, the elderly fathers of the Melbourne Public library do not employ women except, to scrub floors. There are a good many jobs, at the Library. It is a nice, cool, quiet spot in the summer-time, and a sheltered and pleasant place without draughts in the winter. Much of the work consists in sitting down and waiting for somebody to turn up and ask for something and a woman could almost do that. The time seems right to give her the chance. In neither war nor peace can we any longer afford to waste men in unproductive jobs. If the new arrivals at the library are nice things in clean pinnies and with a cheerful appearance, so much the better – always providing that the supply of disabled soldiers has failed to satisfy the demand. 1
Subscription libraries were the beginning of a broader access to information in the community, which began in Fremantle with the formation of the Mechanics Institute in 1851 after a meeting held on Friday 8th August at Wellard’s Hotel, previously the Crown and Thistle and now the site of the Cleopatra Hotel in High street. 2 Later, in the 1860s, there was a move to start a Working Man’s Association in Fremantle. An article reporting their second annual meeting in 1864 indicates that the association began in 1862. 3 This organisation also provided a subscription library and it was reported that the library had a total of 847 books. However, the committee urged members to return their loans within the 14 day loan period as there had been “complaints from time to time by members that they cannot obtain a particular class of reading”. 4
This is Fremantle so there was the inevitable rivalry between the two institutions, in 1863, Lionel Samson, a member of the Legislative Council, complained that the Working Man’s Association had been given a grant of £50 to support their library whilst the Mechanics Institute was denied.
The Colonial Secretary replied that the latter was now merely a reading and Book Society, the former being the only Association approaching to a Mechanics' Institute. Further the Governor considered “The Working Man's Association, though not exactly a Mechanics' Institute, more nearly approached it than the other Society, its object being to assist the lower class of people, a class whom it seemed were not acceptable to the Fremantle Institute". 5
However, by 1868 a meeting was held between the two associations and it was decided that they should amalgamate and they subsequently became the Fremantle Literary Institute and occupied the premises of the Working Man’s Association building on the corner of Cliff Street and Croke Lane. 6
Image 1: Working Man’s Association building on the corner of Cliff Street and Croke Lane, 1860s (LH000812 Fremantle History Centre)
Subscription libraries were also quite common in later times and research by Betty McGeever, city librarian at Fremantle City Library 1972-2005, revealed that there were various subscription libraries around Fremantle including Hancock’s Library, East Fremantle Public Library and Institute, Fremantle Workers Social and Leisure Club Library, the North Fremantle Public Library and various others over a range of years. Betty’s method of research was unusual. She sourced ex-library books in second-hand bookshops, bookstalls and fetes and in particular the Save the Children Fund book sale at the University of Western Australia. 7 It was easy to identify the books with the well-known penchant of library staff to stamp library property to identify ownership.
In 1879 the Institute erected its first premises on a site granted by the government in Collie Street. Reportedly erected at a cost of £,1,000 this venue housed the society for twenty years. 8 This was replaced by the present building in South Terrace in 1899. An article in the West Australian of 17 March 1899 reported that:
The public hall is recessed from the street with a portico in front and the walls are decorated with dado and stencilling work. On the upper storey there is the Library, the Librarians quarters, a smoke and a chessroom, a public reading room with ample light and ventilation, and a committee room. The whole of the first floor has been planned in such a manner that there remains very little waste space, and is a credit to the architects Messrs. Wilkinson, Smith and Wilson. 9
Image 2. Fremantle Literary Institute, c. 1902 (LH0001312 Fremantle History Centre)
The Institute had a series of secretary/librarians. Although identifying them all has been elusive, research identified H.W. Young as the librarian in the original premises in 1869, his ‘Position practically honorary, rarely there, anyone wanting a book, walked in took a book from the shelf and entered the loan in a book.' 10 John W Miller held the position from 1902-1912 11 followed by John Henry Raymond until 1939, during which time he became a well-known identity in Fremantle. Life tenancy of the flat was granted on his retirement and he remained there until 1960 before going into care prior to his death in 1961. 12 Betty McGeever has memories of him negotiating the stairs to take a daily stroll along South Terrace. 13 The next librarian was to be Flora Anderson who was more commonly referred to as Mrs Kirtley Anderson and for some time I had thought that they were two different people.
Image 3. Flora Anderson 1983 (LH004913 Fremantle History Centre)
Flora Anderson (nee Mackay) was born in 1898 14 in Fremantle, and married Kirtley Anderson in 1926 in Durham England. Kirtley was a ship's officer but sadly he was drowned in the Brisbane river whilst away on duty in 1928. 15 This left Flora alone in England with her one-year-old daughter Shirley. Flora returned to Australia by April of 1929 and set about supporting herself and her daughter. 16 In the 1930s Flora ran a travelling library in the western suburbs which must have been one of the State's first mobile libraries. 17 On the 9 October 1939 Flora became Secretary Librarian for the Fremantle Literary Institute. 18 An interview with Flora as part of the Fremantle History Centre’s Oral History Programme in 1983 describes her experiences managing the library. When asked if it was a big responsibility Flora stated, ‘I was really a boy sent on a man's errand’ and added that she received comments regarding her work such as ‘... she runs the library just like a housewife.’ In 1948 she was sent to the library school at Mitchell Library in NSW (the only institution that provided training for librarians) to equip her to take the position of City Librarian in the new Free Lending Library. Flora successfully applied the knowledge gained from her training and established cataloguing processes and created the first card catalogue for the library. Flora acknowledged that she trained a couple of her friends to assist with the cataloguing backlogs and this tradition of volunteers assisting in libraries continues today. 19
The development of the Library Board and the Free Lending Public Libraries had a huge impact on libraries during the late 1940s and 1950s. Flora was ably supported through this process when the City of Fremantle took a key role in this development through the work of Fremantle City Councillor, Evan Davies. As early as 1893 20 a meeting had been held to discuss a free library for Fremantle, but no further discussion appears again in the newspapers until 1936. At a meeting considering a museum for Fremantle ‘Councillor Davies suggested that the committee should also consider the question of establishing a public library in Fremantle’. 21 The response from the mayor of the day, Mr FE Gibson was as follows, ‘my experience is that they are not patronized to an extent commensurate with the expenditure on them.' 22 It as probable this attitude may still prevail today! However, Councillor Evans continued the pressure and on the 5 September 1949 the first free lending library was opened by librarian of the Perth Public Library, Dr JS Battye. 23 One of the many firsts attributed to the Fremantle City Library.
After the Fremantle Free Lending Library had been operating for a short while an arrangement was made with the East Fremantle Municipal Council and the Fremantle Road Board (now Cockburn Shire Council) allowing ratepayers and residents of these authorities to membership upon payment by the Councils of a contribution at the rate of one shilling per head of population. This then represented about half the per capita cost to the Fremantle City Council. The Town of East Fremantle has continued in an arrangement with Fremantle to contribute towards the library to provide a service for East Fremantle residents, 24 though the future of this arrangement is still to be decided.
For nearly twenty years Flora Anderson made a huge contribution to the development of the Fremantle City Library seeing it move from a private institute to part of a State library network. By 1958 Flora retired and her position was taken by John EV Birch who had previously been Borough Librarian of Taunton, Somerset. 25
Image 4 : John Birch outside Evan Davies Civic Library, 1966 (LH005131 Fremantle History Centre)
Unfortunately, the oral history program was not in place in the time of John Birch, however, the interviews with Betty McGeever and Flora Anderson provide an insight into the man and his approach and commitment to libraries. 26 The following quotation regarding the responsibilities of the head librarian illustrate this - also the language demonstrates his education and style.
In order to plan a library service the whole area to be served must be surveyed with a view to ascertain the size, distribution, and composition of the population; the worktime and leisure-time patterns of behaviour; the presence and location of industries, commercial premises, schools, etc.; the existence of clubs, societies, etc. and the nature and extent of their activities; the natural points of congregation; and, so on. Any miscalculation made at this stage will inevitably result in inconvenience, reduced effectiveness, and unnecessary expense or even waste of public money. A wrongly-sited building, or one that is too small or badly designed, is an expensive mistake when the cost of buildings only is about 25/- per head of population served ...
He went on to say that
the organizational responsibilities of the chief librarian will consist: in the extension and improvement of the library service within the area of his local authority, e.g. by the provision of services to hospitals, old-people’s homes, factories, ships, etc.; by the organization of school visits, story-hours, and other activities for young people designed to stimulate and encourage an interest in books; by the organization of lectures, adult education activities, and cultural pursuits for adults; and by active engagement in all those proselytizing activities which fall under the name of public relations. 27
Although this was quoted in 1963 there is some legitimate advice here for those aspiring to provide a relevant and efficient library service, particularly in terms of serving the population and building design. It is particularly relevant today with the planning of new library space for Fremantle City Library.
However, there was more to John Birch. According to Betty McGeever. He was very British, very well educated and an intellectual with a keen interest in philosophy. His arrival in Fremantle resulted in new ways of doing things which caused some consternation for some long term staff. Apparently, he began to abandon some of the austerity measures in place which had followed on from the Second World War. Long time library assistant Miss Lily Organ was outraged when he discarded the used string and brown paper for interlibrary loans and provided staff with a new ball of string and a roll of brown paper with a guillotine to make the process more efficient. 28 The roll of brown paper was only recently discarded with the move to temporary premises in 2017. John Birch was also a strong advocate for professionally trained staff in libraries. He actively encouraged staff to become qualified and was involved with the development and provision of library training in Western Australia. 29 Along with this he instigated outreach services such as the appointment of Miss Jean Best (Ryding) as the first specialist Children’s Librarian in the State in 1959. In 1960 the Ships’ Libraries Scheme was established a service which was unique in Australia. Two years later, deliveries commenced to older people residing in hospitals or nursing homes, and in 1966 the Ships’ Libraries Scheme was extended to include lighthouses at Cape Don, Cape Leveque and Troughton Island. 30 Mr Birch also had a keen interest in the arts and in 1972 was appointed to the new position of Director of Cultural Activities with the City. 31 His legacy lives on and has contributed towards the development of festivals and the strong culture of music and art which is part of what Fremantle is today.
Image 5: Betty McGeever's 40 years of service (Fremantle City Library Staff Collection)
Betty McGeever was appointed Executive Librarian in 1972 32 and continued and expanded the outreach services instigated by John Birch including deliveries to people who were confined to their homes and loans to kindergarten and child care centres began. 33
Significantly for me, the Local History Collection was established in 1974 in a three-drawer filing cabinet. It has now flourished and provides access to Fremantle’s history through documents, photographs and sound. 34 The library moved to much larger premises on the ground floor of the Town Hall Centre in 1974 adopting the new name of the Fremantle City Library. 35
Other services were developed including story time for pre-school children and Fre-info, the first community information service in Western Australia, established in 1979. Fre-info’s first query was: ‘Where are the nearest loan services for jigsws for adults’. In its inaugural year Fre-info produced the first of a number of community directories. 36 Around this time the Fremantle Oral History Group was formed as an expansion to the oral history programme first instigated by the Fremantle Society in 1975. 37 From the Fre-info database, Fremantle City Library produced the Visitors Guide to Galleries, Museums and Markets in Fremantle, it was Fremantle’s first tourist brochure. 38
Betty was a strong advocate of the Local History Collection and acquired Commonwealth funding to build a purpose built extension for the collection which opened in 1994. 39 Connection to the Internet arrived in 1995 and the library system was automated in 1996 providing online access to the catalogue and other online information. 40 Betty also interacted with Indigenous people in the community. In 1999 she helped coordinate the signing of the Commitment to Reconciliation in Pioneer Park. 41 Betty also acquired funding in 2003 to undertake an Indigenous oral history project which involved training Indigenous interviewers. 42 For Betty it was all about inclusion and equity of access and opportunity. Betty had a long career at Fremantle starting out as a library assistant in 1960 and retiring in 2005 as City Librarian. 43 Betty saw many changes in the way libraries operated during this time but the changes experienced by Julie Caddy in more than ten years at the helm have been more than anyone could have foreseen.
Image 6: Julie Caddy accepting 2012 Award for Excellence (Fremantle City Library Staff Collection)
Julie was set the unenviable task of filling Betty’s shoes, daunting given Betty’s reputation. However, since 2005, the rapid changes in systems and technology have allowed little time to reflect. Also, in every annual report since 2005 there has been discussions about the relationship between the State Library and public libraries which still continue. 44 During this time Julie has been actively involved in this process at a state level. Further online resources such as databases, mobile apps, ebooks, digital audiobooks, streaming movies and music downloads are all at the library members’ fingertips from their lounge chair. Instead of making libraries irrelevant this technology has created challenges in terms of adapting and providing the resources formats to satisfy all. Added to this came the responsibility for the Meeting Place, a local community activity centre, and the Toy Library. 45
The way information is provided and accessed by individuals has changed dramatically since the 1850s when the concept of the library emerged in Fremantle. With the advent of the Internet in the 1990s and the rapid development of technology it may well be that libraries will be limited to benefitting the privileged in the population as they once did when they first emerged as institutions and could only be used if you could afford to pay. The egalitarian access to information provided by public libraries since the 1950s may not be able to be sustained. State government funding is being continually cut back putting the responsibility on the local government authority. But as with all public services there is an increasing expectation to provide more with less both in terms staff and resources. Added to this is the constant need to adapt and reinvent services to remain relevant and current to a society who expects more instantly and at no apparent financial cost. In contrast to this is the common catch cry, ‘We don’t need libraries for information we can just Google it’. This creates an environment which further marginalises those individuals without money or wherewithal to access the information they need. It requires constant vigilance of librarians and the community to ensure this doesn’t happen.
‘Access to information is a basic human right; information empowers people to make better decisions about their own lives, families and communities. Information is power, but it can function in this way only if it is shared and used.’ 46
Fremantle Studies Day, 2016
1 Extract from The Bulletin, October 1917, https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/slvhistory/ staff. Accessed 17 July 2018.
2 Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News, Friday 8 August 1851, p 2.
3 Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News, Friday 29 January 1864, p 3.
4 Ibid.
5 Inquirer and Commercial News, Wednesday 1 July 1863, p 2.
6 Fremantle Literary Institute Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
7 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
8 Herald (Fremantle, WA : 1867 - 1886), Saturday 12 April 1879, page 3.
9 West Australian, 17 March 1899, page 7.
10 Young, H W, Biographical File, B/YOU, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
11 West Australian, Saturday 7 June 1902, p 7.
12 Fremantle Literary Institute Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
12 Betty McGeever, interviewed by Heather Campbell, 2010, OH/MCG, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
14 Anderson, Flora, Biographical File, B/AND, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
15 Albany Advertiser (WA: 1897 - 1950), Saturday 11 August 1928, p 1.
16 Western Mail, Thursday 11 April 1929, p 31.
17 Flora Anderson, interviewed by Margaret Howroyd, 1983, OH/AND Fremantle City Library History Centre, Fremantle.
18 Anderson, Flora, Biographical File, B/AND, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
19 Flora Anderson, interviewed by Margaret Howroyd, 1983, OH/AND Fremantle City Library History Centre.
20 Daily News, Monday 13 November 1893, p 3. ;
21 West Australian, Tuesday 16 June 1936, p 13.
22 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
23 West Australian, Tuesday 6 September 1949, p 7.
24 Fremantle City Library Annual Report, 1954-55, S/027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
25 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
26 Anderson, Flora, Biographical File, B/AND, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
27 Birch, John EV, Biographical File, 1963, B/BIR, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
28 Betty McGeever, interviewed by Heather Campbell, 2010, OH/MCG, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
29 Betty McGeever, interviewed by Heather Campbell, 2010, OH/MCG, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
30 Betty McGeever, interviewed by Heather Campbell, 2010, OH/MCG, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
31 Birch, John EV, Biographical File, 1963, B/BIR, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
32 McGeever, Betty, Biographical File, B/MCG, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
33 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Goitre.
34 Fremantle City Library History Centre Miscellany File, Miscellany File, ????, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
35 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
36 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
37 Oral History Miscellany file, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
38 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
39 Fremantle City Library History Centre Miscellany File, 1974-, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
40 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
41 Ibid.
42 Ibid.
43 McGeever, Betty, Biographical File, B/MCG, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
44 Fremantle City Library Annual Reports, 2005-16, S/027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
45 Fremantle City Library Miscellany File, 027.4, Fremantle City Library History Centre.
46 http://www.who.int/about/who_reform/change_at_who/issue4/information- sharing/en/#.V-9bYTskx-0. Accessed 1 October 2016.
Fremantle Herald article, 13 December 2019
PAM HARRIS is a retired Fremantle history librarian who was a treasure to those who treasured the city's unique local history collection. During this year's Fremantle Studies Day, she had a look back at the history of Fremantle's library and its many innovations. 'From card catalogue to eBooks' is one of a swag of scholarly pieces to make their way into Fremantle Studies Volume 10, 2019, which is published by the Fremantle History Society. This is an excerpt from Ms Harris's contribution, so if you want the full version plus more, purchase a copy of Fremantle Studies via secretary.fhs@gmail.com
ENJOYING coffee at The Dome on South Terrace is something many residents and visitors to Fremantle experience.
It would be interesting to know how many of these people are aware that the building was built as the Fremantle Literary Institute in 1899, which later went on to become the first free lending library in Western Australia in 1949.
Prior to this a subscription was required to borrow books and use the facilities.
Most libraries evolved from mechanics' institutes which were established to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men.
The Working Men's Associations was also set up to provide this service and in 1868 a meeting was held between the two associations and it was decided that they should amalgamate, and they subsequently became the Fremantle Literary Institute.
The building in South Terrace was opened in 1899 to accommodate the service.
The library operated from this building until 1974 when it moved to the council offices at Kings Square.
The Fremantle Library has a history of firsts in library services in this state.
These services were largely developed under the leadership of John Birch, 1952-1972 and Betty McGeever, 1972-2015.
Retired Fremantle librarian and innovator Betty McGeever
These innovative services included the appointment of Jean Best (Ryding) as the first specialist children's librarian in the state in 1959, the development in 1960 of the Ships' Libraries Scheme, a service that was unique in Australia.
Two years later deliveries commenced to older people residing in hospitals or nursing homes and in 1966 the Ships' Libraries Scheme was extended to include lighthouses at Cape Don, Cape Leveque and Troughton Island.
Other services also emerged such as the Fre-info service and the expansion of the Local History Collection (now the Fremantle History Centre) and assisting the Fremantle Prison to develop a library.
The way information is provided and accessed by individuals has changed dramatically since the 1850s, when the concept of the library emerged in Fremantle.
With the advent of the Internet in the 1990s and the rapid development of technology, it may well be that libraries may be limited to benefitting the privileged in the population as they once did when libraries first emerged as institutions which could only be used if you could afford to pay.
State government funding is being continually cut back, putting the responsibility on the local government authority.
But as with all public services there is an increasing expectation to provide more with less, both in terms of staff and resources.
Added to this is the constant need to adapt and reinvent the services to remain relevant and current to a society who expects more instantly and at no apparent financial cost.
In contrast to this is the common catch cry – “We don't need libraries for information, we can just Google it”.
This creates an environment which further marginalises those individuals without the money or wherewithal to access the information they need.
It requires the constant vigilance of librarians and the community to ensure this doesn't happen.
Congratulations to the Fremantle Library which celebrated its 70th anniversary in September this year.
It has truly been 70 years of excellent and relevant service to the community.
Garry Gillard | New: 11 December, 2019 | Now: 25 February, 2023