- Starting the Serving Every Ohioan
- Directorship
- Bookmobile Service
- Automation
- Delivery of Materials
- Library Flooding Disasters
- Building Addition
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Mobile Computer Training Lab
- F. Ward Murrey Annex
- SEO Today
- Timeline (PDF)
Starting the SEO Center
State Library Service Center was established by the State Library of Ohio with the intent of augmenting the services of 12 libraries in 8 counties of Ohio which were among the state’s most impoverished.The Center was placed in Caldwell because it was centrally located in the region. The Center first opened in January 1961. It covered an eight county service area that included Belmont, Guernsey, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry and Washington counties.
The Center was one of four field units established by the Ohio State Library (known now as the State Library of Ohio).Locations of the other units were Central Ohio Bookmobile in Columbus, serving Ross, Champaign, Madison, Marion and Union Counties; Regional Library Center in Napoleon, serving Fulton, Henry, Defiance and Wood Counties; and Regional Library Service Center in Winchester, serving Adam and Brown Counties.
The Regional Center was a storefront that was 2,400 square feet on two floors with space for about 15,000 volumes plus a meeting space for 30 people, several offices, two bookmobiles and work space.It was located on Olive Shopping Lane.It had two operating budgets.One budget was for the regional center and one budget for the bookmobile program.
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In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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The Center stayed at this location until 1980.The State Library of Ohio leased 13,252 square feet of office and warehouse space located on South State Route 821.In 1991 the State Library of Ohio purchased the leased property. |
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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The Center was considered a “strange library” because it was not a “walk-in” type of library.It was to be used for storage, distribution and regional libraries.Patrons could not borrow directly from the Center.It was strictly a library for libraries. |
Directorship
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In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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Shirley Sippola, 1961-1964 - Her time was devoted to checking and ordering supplies, requisitioning and receiving the remaining equipment needed, and the usual basic organizational planning related to a new operation.
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R. Jane Thomas, 1964-1972 – She served as the bookmobile supervisor and an adult consultant before becoming the director. She worked at the Center since it opened in 1961 |
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Raymond Mulhern, 1972-1978 – He started at SEO in 1968 and was the assistant director for three years then was appointed director. He was responsible for the operation of the Center along with reference, consultant, bookmobile and all related services.
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Susan Schmidt, 1978-1979 – She took directorship in July 1978. She was the project director of the federally-funded, multi-county cooperative Mideastern Ohio Library Organization (MOLO). She planned to continue and to improve the fine service that the Regional Library provided to Southeastern Ohio. This included a ten county area.
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F. Ward Murrey, 1979- 1998 – He started out as a part time employee traveling to various counties to pick up books. He later became an assistant to R. Jane Thomas and a bookmobile driver. When R. Jane Thomas left the Center, he became the bookmobile supervisor. Mr. Murrey was appointed director and had the vision for sharing an automation system statewide and a traveling training lab. He worked at the Center since it opened in 1961.
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Christine Tucker, 1999-2007 – She was an effective leader. She guided the SEO building addition project through the design, procurement, and contract phases. She brought the SEO bookmobile libraries together to develop a collaborative program to continue to provide bookmobile service after the State Library program ceased.
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Dianna Clark, 2007-present – She worked at SEO for 23 years before being promoted to director. She played a big part in the development and expansion of the SEO Consortium, which is now up to 73 library systems, 156 locations and 36 counties.
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Bookmobile Service
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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In November 1961, the State Library Service Center staff members Mrs. Shirley Sippola, Miss R. Jane Thomas and F. Ward Murrey, Jr. accepted the delivery of the bookmobile from the Gerstenslager plant in Wooster. The bookmobile held 3,000 books. January 1962 the bookmobile made its first visit to a school community in Noble County. During January (the first month of operation), the bookmobile circulated 1,145 books in Monroe County and 5,006 books in Noble County. |
The circulation for the first year of service was 69,240 books in Monroe and Noble Counties in 228 ½ hours of service, 16 different locations, and driving 6,557 miles. The bookmobile served 17 schools and communities in Noble and Monroe Counties.
The program continued to provide bookmobile service for many years to communities and schools in Noble, Monroe, Washington County, Belmont, Harrison, and Perry counties. The program extended the service for the Guernsey County District Public Library to be their back-up bookmobile.
After much consideration the State Library of Ohio decided to shut down the bookmobile operation in December 2002.
Automation
Libraries began resource sharing through a facsimile machine taking 3 minutes per transmission.
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Below is the 2008 Annual Circulation
SEO Consortium
- 72 library systems representing 36 Ohio counties
- 5.9 million items in the database
- 660,089 registered borrowers
- 999,244 Bibliographic records
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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Annual SEO Circulation
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Annual Consortium Circulation
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Delivery of Materials
The State Library Service Center delivered materials via United States Postal Service or the bookmobile. As years passed, these methods continued. As the demand for materials grew, a need for a delivery service was started.SEO was the first of its kind in the entire state to have such a delivery program.The custodian of SEO would deliver materials in the south east region two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday).There was a greater demand for more frequent deliveries so the “Pony” soon grew to three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
The State Library expanded the delivery service. They contracted out to a delivery service called Pony Express. There were two drivers that split the route in half in order to make every stop each day.
Today the State Library of Ohio participates in statewide resource sharing runs over a single delivery network operated by US Cargo. The State Library of Ohio will complete their eighth year of contracting with US Cargo for statewide delivery services. It provides an efficient, economical and successful program on behalf of libraries throughout Ohio. Over the past eight years, they have seen dramatic increased activity in the number of libraries participating in this service as well as the amount of material moving throughout the system.
Library Flooding Disasters
The library that was located on Olive Street, Caldwell, Ohio suffered numerous flooding incidents. Due to the repeated water damage, the library was relocated in 1980 to its current address on Marietta Road (State Route 821) south of Caldwell, Ohio. Click to see a larger images
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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The Marietta Road location was believed to be above the flood plain. However, in June 1998, SEO had approximately 3½ feet of water in the bookmobile garage area due to excess rain causing Duck Creek to overflow its banks and surround the building. Weekend staff was unable to enter the building due to flooded highways. On Monday all employees who were able to report did remove the mud saturated books from the building. Records were kept of the item numbers for discard from the system with over 7,700 books being destroyed. The building was without running water for a couple of days. Cleanup continued once full water usage was restored.
Building Addition
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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In 1998, the State Library changed SEO from a regional library resource to a statewide library resource. The shift from a regional perspective to a statewide perspective has resulted in much heavier use of the SEO collection, the SEO library database, and the SEO facility.
The State Library requested capital funds to build an addition on the SEO facility and to purchase shelving. The purpose of the building expansion was to provide space for a growing and increasingly used collection. In June 2000, $750,000 was approved for the project to add a 9,900 square foot expansion on the existing facility.
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Mobile Computer Training Lab
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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In 1998 SEO expanded services and outreach to consortium members with the introduction of a mobile computer training lab. To create this innovative technology training center, SEO retrofitted a bookmobile with eight computer workstations. Transforming a bookmobile, which once traveled throughout six counties in Southern Ohio carrying over 4,500 books, into a roving training center was a milestone in library service.
The mobile lab was hailed a success with a busy schedule traveling throughout the state. It was a valuable resource for libraries to teach computer classes in their communities. As the need for computer training and access to the Internet grew, the State Library of Ohio responded by having a wireless mobile computer lab built.
The new lab hit the road in 2003 equipped with the latest wireless mobile technology, networked computer workstations, a printer and projector. Since the first trips to Monroe County District Library and Canal Fulton Public Library, the mobile computer training lab now averages 30 library visits per year serving 2500 patrons participating in 250 classes.
The State Library of Ohio’s commitment to help libraries serve their communities with computer training opportunities remains strong. Hardware and software updates keep pace meeting the needs of library patrons throughout Ohio.
The headquarters for the mobile lab is at the SEO Library Center in Caldwell, Ohio—a department of the State Library of Ohio.
F. Ward Murrey Annex
“SOLO Learning Center” construction in 2000
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.
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SEO Today
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For many years SEO stood for Southeastern Ohio. Because SEO now serves the entire state and not just one region, the SEO Advisory Committee voted to change the name of the library center. SEO now stands for Serving Every Ohioan and the center will be called the SEO Library Center rather than the Southeastern Ohio Regional Library.
The SEO (Serving Every Ohioan) Library Center, located in Caldwell, supports a consortium of 73 Library systems at 156 physical locations throughout 36 counties across Ohio using the OPLIN network.
In 2006 the SOLO Regional Library System disbanded as part of a reorganization of regional libraries throughout the state.The building was a gift from the SOLO Regional Library System. The facility will continue to be used as a computer training center for state agencies and libraries across the state. SEO Library Center houses, maintains and supports a centralized shared catalog database that includes over 6 million items with a patron database of 700,000+ borrowers. The SEO staff provides technical support as well as software help desk support for all consortium members, alleviating the burden of specialized IT functions on small libraries. SEO also provides and maintains training facilities through a mobile computer lab and the F. Ward Murrey Annex facility (located next to SEO library Center) to state agencies and public libraries across Ohio.