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Isabel Urban Ball Music Collection
Isabel Urban Ball Music Collection
In 1950, a memorial collection of music was established at Muncie Public Library by Edmund F. Ball in memory of his late wife Isabel Urban Ball who had died in a boating accident in Florida the previous year. She was not only a patron and member of several music organizations locally and statewide but also had been a talented musician.
Housed in the adult division of Main Library (i.e. Carnegie Library), the Isabel Urban Ball Music Collection consisted of “opera librettos, miniature symphonic selections, instrumental and vocal music, both sacred and secular” (Muncie Evening Press, 02-16-1950, p. 17) ranging from modern composers to classicists and included pieces representing every instrument normally played. Mr. Ball wanted this collection to be of use to the greatest number of library patrons possible, so it became a circulating collection at Muncie Public Library (MPL). At the time, MPL was one of the very few libraries of its size to have a circulating music collection. Furthermore, in order to provide for the collection’s growth, Mr. Ball planned to give money several times a year so that MPL could respond more readily to the community’s needs.
Isabel Urban Ball (Muncie Evening Press, 03-07-1949, p. 1)
Audiovisual Department
Audiovisual Department
The new collection grew rapidly with the addition of not only records and films but a record player for patrons to listen to music, so a new Audiovisual Department was created in 1955. With that, the library added a new staff position to oversee the collection, the Audiovisual Librarian. From 1955-1959, a number of librarians filled the position, but no one stayed for long until Bluffton native Patricia (Pat) Schaefer was hired in September 1959, a role she fulfilled until 1986 when she became the Director for Muncie Public Library. From 1981-1986, Schaefer served both as Assistant Director and Audiovisual Librarian for the system.
Patricia Schaefer sits at her desk in the Audiovisual Department at Main Library (now known as Carnegie Library) while patrons browse the films and records available (MPL Archives, ca. 1960s).
Patrons of the Audiovisual Department could listen to records on the library's record player! (MPL Archives, ca. 1960s).
A New Branch Library
A New Branch Library
By 1974, the collection had grown so much that then library director Leon Jones announced that Muncie Public Library would be moving it to a rented space downtown at 209 N. Walnut Street. It would become known as the Audiovisual (AV) Center within the Muncie Public Library system. This location, however, was no longer feasible for the library by 1980, and it moved again to 200 E. Main Street. Throughout the 1980s, the popular collection continued to grow. By 1986, the collection included “nearly 600 pieces of art and sculpture, more than 2,000 audio and video cassettes, 1,500 films, 1,000 musical scores, and nearly 14,000 sound recordings” (“Patricia Schaefer: Muncie Public Library 1959-1995” program, 1995). For this reason, the Audiovisual Center moved once again to High Street Square in 1991. (The building in High Street Square that once housed this location was recently demolished in 2022.) However, change was on the horizon.
The second location of the Audiovisual Center on Main Street (MPL Archives, undated)
A customer peruses the cassette collection at the AV Center (MPL Archives, 1986).
AV Center Closing
AV Center Closing
In 1988, MPL Board of Trustees hired a firm to do a space utilization study to help plan for the future. It concluded that the library system had an overabundant availability of library service for a community the size of Muncie. The 1988 study also proposed that MPL introduce audiovisual materials into all libraries. MPL implemented this recommendation in March 1996. In November 1996, the Citizens’ Task Force, a body appointed by MPL Board of Trustees to study library facilities and community needs in April of that year, hired Veazey, Parrott & Shoulders, Inc. to complete an updated study. The firm recommended that MPL close the Audiovisual Center for four reasons: 1. the AV Center was a leased facility; 2. it was perceived to be in direct competition with video rental stores; 3. closing the building would result in needed savings for the library; and 4. Library customers liked the addition of AV materials at all libraries, resulting in increased overall library usage. The MPL Board of Trustees voted to close the AV Center and transfer materials to other libraries in November 1997. The Audiovisual Center closed its doors on March 1, 1998.
The last location of the Audiovisual Center in High Street Square before it closed in 1998(MPL Archives, undated)
Legacy
Legacy
While this branch was open, the community witnessed the rapid changes in media technology from records and filmstrips to tapes, CDs, and VHS cassettes. At one time, the Audiovisual Center even circulated an art and sculpture collection for the community to switch out and enjoy different decor within their homes and offices.
Furthermore, like all libraries, the AV Center provided a safe place for people to come and gather. MPL Youth Services Specialist Jeanette remembers and discusses her memories of the closed library branch.
Left: Suggested design for a new sign advertising the location as well as the offerings of the Audiovisual Center in downtown Muncie (MPL Archives, 09-17-1981).
Customers using the Audiovisual Center at High Street Square(MPL Archives, undated)
A customer checks out materials at the circulation desk at the Audiovisual Center (MPL Archives, undated).
Jeanette Stafford, Youth Services Specialist at Kennedy Library, talks about one of her favorite MPL branches, the Audiovisual Center, which closed in 1998.
What did you like best about the Audiovisual Center? Was it your favorite branch? Let us know by clicking here.
Sources
Sources
“Boat Explosion Fatal to Mrs. Edmund Ball.” (03-07-1949). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
Dailey, Nancy. "More Than a Good Book: Library's Audio-Visual Center Offers Paintings, Sculptures, Films." (12-15-1985). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
Davies, Tom. "Library Audio-Visual Center to Move." (04-10-1991). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“Library Asks Same Levy.” (08-04-1954). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
"Library Branch Will Mark 50th Anniversary." Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“Library Gets Assistant Director.” (07-15-1981). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
"Library Phonograph Record Collection Grows in SIze, Use." (02-09-1955). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
"Library's Audio-Visual Unit to Move." (09-10-1974). Muncie Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
Melloan, Joan. “Plans for Improved Library Service Here Are Outlined.” (11-19-1951). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
Minutes, Muncie Public Library Board: 1979-1980. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
Minutes, Muncie Public Library Board: 2003. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“Music Collection for Library Established.” (02-16-1950). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“On the Record: Library Liberalizes Policy on Check-Outs.” (12-18-1954). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“On the Record: Location of Cabinets Changed at Library.” (04-23-1955). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“On the Record: Suggestions Made for Trying Out New Player.” (01-16-1955). Muncie Evening Press. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“Patricia Schaefer: Muncie Public Library 1959-1995” program. (1995). Former Staff. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
Scrapbook. (1985-1986). MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
“Why is the AV Center Closing?” pamphlet. Audiovisual Center box. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.
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