A History of the Clark County Library District: Its Founding and Growth in Southern Nevada

Describes the development from 1963 to 1986 of the Clark County (Nevada) Library District, which includes the rapidly growing urban area of Las Vegas. It notes that, besides responding successfully to a population growth of 330% over two decades, the system was also able to fulfill its original goal of developing local libraries that would become cultural centers for the communities they served. Today system libraries are also home to the symphony orchestra, three professional theater companies, an art museum, and a children's museum. This paper is based on interviews with Jean Ford, who instigated the campaign to found the district, and with district librarians. It also draws on documents describing the system's growth, including a description of the initial petition drive begun in 1963; statistics detailing the growth of the library and the area it serves; the development of cooperative relationships with existing libraries; the institution of a county-wide automated catalog system in 1974; outreach to unserved areas via bookmobile and on-site services; building projects; a discussion of staffing and staff contributions; establishment of a volunteer program; and response to revenue needs and fundraising strategies. Several maps of the service area, documents used in the original petition drive, circulation statistics, annual budget statistics, number of patrons, and total holdings are appended.