lincoln park zoo library: an introduction to the library and its special collections

I.    Introduction

For the most part, zoo libraries are a recent phenomenon. A recent study done by Lincoln Park Zoo Library showed that although three zoo libraries were founded before the turn of the century, of twenty-seven national and international zoo and aquarium libraries which report a date of origin, almost half were established within the last fifteen years, and 80 percent of those were less than five years old.¹ Lincoln Park Zoo Library, which opened its doors to the public in December 1980, is representative of this phenomenon.

II.    History

In the fall of 1978, Mrs. Julian Harvey, chairman of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society's Library Committee, approached Walter L. Necker, the soon-to-be retired Bio-medical Librarian at the University of Chicago, about the proposed organization of a library at Lincoln Park Zoo. Mr. Necker became volunteer library consultant and with the assistance of paid and volunteer help, the dirty work of sorting, organizing, and classifying boxes and crates of donated books, journals, and reprints was begun.² Within nine months, Mr. Necker was able to submit a progress report which stated ". . . it is a collection superior to that in the average American zoo."³ Mr. Necker, at that time, recommended: (1) the zoo library develop a general zoological garden archive; (2) the library be designated archives for the zoo; and (3) a special collection of zoo posters from around the world be established.⁴

However, Mr. Necker was not able to see the finished product of his plan. His death in December 1979, left his effort and work in the hands of volunteers until a professional librarian was hired in 1980. In recognition of his contributions and devoted service to the library, the "Walter Necker Reading Room" was designated and a library fund was established in his name.

Through the continuing commitment and support of the Lincoln Park Zoological Society, the library has built a foundation of zoological research materials and offers unique informational resources to the community.

III.     Purpose

The library's primary purpose is making available informational support and service to zoo staff and volunteers, zoo society members, and the general public. Its resources are designed and organized to further the goals and purposes of the zoo, to educate the public, and to promote scientific communication.

IV.     General Collection

The library's collection consists of over 1,600 books, journals, and other printed materials in the subject areas of zoology (emphasizing animals in the zoo's collection), veterinary medicine, endangered species, ecology, and zoo management.

V.    Special Collections

Special collections include the Zoological Parks and Aquariums Reference Collection, the Zoo Poster Collection, Lincoln Park Zoo Archives, and the Audiovisual Division.

The Zoological Parks and Aquariums Reference Collection is comprised of guidebooks, maps, newsletters, animal inventories, annual reports, and promotional materials from ninety-six national and eighty-seven international zoos and aquariums. These materials are shelved by state (national) or country (international), then by city and name of the institution and stored in molded cut-corner plastic cases. The collection is primarily consulted by zoo scientific staff and education staff; however, people who are interested in touring worldwide zoos and aquariums may wish to use this information when planning their trips.

The creation of the Zoo Poster Collection, first recommended by Walter Necker, was organized by the Lincoln Park Zoological Society's Library Committee. Over two hundred national and internations zoos were contacted for copies of their posters, which resulted in the library receiving posters from sixty-six sister institutions. A display of the posters was exhibited in the Lincoln Park Zoo Lion House during the national conference of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums held in Chicago, September 1980. Ten of the posters were framed and are on permanent display in the zoo library. The posters are housed on the zoo grounds and consulted primarily by the zoo's graphics department. The acquisition of posters is an ongoing library project.

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When the library was designated the Lincoln Park Zoo Archives, zoo staff members and members of the public took a particular interest in seeing that the history of Lincoln Park Zoo be preserved. Correspondence, official publications, keepers' diaries and log books, and photographic slides were received from zoo personnel, as well as donations of postcards, pictures, buttons, and other collectables and memorabilia relating to the zoo. Donors often hand carry these precious items to the zoo and present them to the library.

The zoo's staff of animal keepers maintain daily logs of the activities of their animals containing useful information and insight into the animals' behavior. These logs become a part of the library's growing collection of archival materials and may be consulted for historical data. Because keepers are often responsible for providing the public with background details concerning zoo animals, they use the historical and recent scientific information found in the library to better explain the natural history and behavior of the animals in their care. The definitive history of Lincoln Park Zoo is yet to be written, however much information can be gleaned from the library's collection of scrapbooks of newspaper articles dating from 1923 to the present. These scrapbooks offer a rare look into the changing public attitudes toward the zoo and its activities and bring into perspective the evolving goals and purposes of animal exhibition, maintenance, and research carried on by the zoo. Scrapbook compilation is an ongoing project to the zoo's docents.

The Audiovisual Division consists of video cassettes, audio tapes, and phono discs. A major part of the video cassette collection is the most complete set (204 Betamax® tapes) of former zoo director Marlin Perkins' Zoo Parade. This television series, which was the forerunner of Wild Kingdom, featured Lincoln Park Zoo and its animals and was filmed live on the zoo grounds from May 1949 to September 1957. Mark Rosenthal, curator of mammals at Lincoln Park Zoo, planned and coordinated the acquisition of these materials which were in Marlin Perkins' possession. Mr. Perkins generously loaned the original kinescope recordings (an early form of motion picture film taken directly from the television screen) which were then reproduced in a special project funded by the Lincoln Park Zoological Society. In accord with Marlin Perkins' wishes, the tapes may be used for educational and historical purposes only, and must remain on the zoo's premises. NBC used these valuable tapes when developing a retrospective program on television in Chicago.⁵

Training films for zoo animal keepers and docents, films of animal activities (arrivals, departures, births), and delicate operations and surgical procedures are cataloged and available for use in the library. Where else could you relive the exciting experience of watching actor Hugh O'Brien join the chimps at the Children's Zoo for a tea party?⁶

The library also owns audio tapes of docent training lectures, oral histories of the zoo, and talks given by various zoo staff. Phono discs are the most recent addition to the collection. They are cataloged and available for use in the library.

VI.    Zoological Research

In order to properly maintain a rare collection of over two thousand captive wild animals, the zoo staff must be actively involved in scientific research with a special emphasis on nutrition. The Lincoln Park Zoo sponsors an annual conference on nutrition of captive wildlife funded by the Dr. Scholl Foundation, the Chicago Park District, and the Lincoln Park Zoological Society.⁷ The library is currently developing an exchange program to make available the conference proceedings as well as helping to coordinate the dissemination of other zoo scientific publications nationally and internationally.⁸

VII.     Library Cooperation

The library is a member of the Library Interest Group of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums which produces a union list of serials⁹ and publishes a quarterly newsletter.¹⁰

The library maintains a cooperative agreement with the Library of the Field Museum of Natural History in order to facilitate reference and interlibrary loan service for zoo staff.

In 1980, the library joined the Illinois Library and Information Network (ILLINET).

VIII.     Hours and Use

The library, which is located in the north end of the Primate House, is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments to use the library are necessary and should be made at least 24 hours in advance. The library is closed on major holidays. All library materials are available for use only in the library and may not be checked out.

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IX.    In Conclusion

An important goal of the Lincoln Park Zoo Library is to make its existence known to the greater library community so that its unique resources can be shared and utilized.

X.    Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Pat Piasecki and Bill Abler for invaluable comments and discussions about the manuscript, to Chris Dunn for checking dates in the scrapbooks, and to Pat Swieca, Caryn Schrenzel, and Pam Dunn for reviewing an earlier draft of the paper. I also thank the Lincoln Park Zoological Society for continued library support and Katherine Harvey, Jo Rydholm, Dennis Meritt, and Mark Rosenthal for personal communications concerning library history.

Footnotes

1.    Joyce M. Shaw, "Collection Size of Zoo and Aquaria Libraries," Library Evaluation Report Series 1 (November 1983): 1-4. (unpublished manuscript)

2.    Virginia L. Beatty and William L. Beatty. "Walter L. Necker (Obituary)," Bulletin of the Medical Librarian Association 68 (July 1980): 318-320.

3.    Walter L. Necker, "Report of the Library Consultant to the Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens through September 1979," 1-6 (unpublished manuscript)

4.    ibid.

5.    Robert Feder, "35 Years Young, Channel 5 Puts Its History in Focus," Sun Times TV Prevue, Jan. 8-14, 1984: 3-5.

6.    "Chimp and orang tea party, with Pat Sass and Hugh O'Brien," Lincoln Park Zoo, 1982. Betamax® 14".

7.    Dr. Scholl Conference on the Nutrition of Captive Wild Animals, "Proceedings," Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens. Chicago: 1980-.

8.    Eric R. Maschgan, "Clinical Data for Gorillas. Orangutans and Chimpanzees at the Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens:Preliminary Report," Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens. Chicago: no date.

9.    Mary Clare Gray, "Union List of Journal Titles in AAPZA Libraries," (September 1979) National Zoological Park. Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, D.C., 1979.

10.    "Library News for Zoo and Aquarium Libraries," National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington D.C., quarterly, 1982-.

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