Carl Peter Paul Vitz (June 3, 1883 – January 1, 1981)[1] was an American librarian and author. He received a certificate from Western Reserve University Library School, a degree from Adelbert College and a bachelor's degree in library science from New York State Library School at New York State Normal College.[2] He served as a library director for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library (1922–1937),[3] the Minneapolis Public Library (1937–1945)[4] and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (1946–1955).[5] He served as the president of the American Library Association from 1945 to 1946. During that time, Vitz wrote a letter to the President of the United States on behalf of the profession, addressing potential candidates for the vacant position of Librarian of Congress. In the letter, Vitz suggested that the position "requires a top-flight administrator, a statesman-like leader in the world of knowledge, and an expert in bringing together the materials of scholarship and organizing them for use—in short, a distinguished librarian".[6][7] Over the course of his career, Vitz planned or consulted on more than sixty library projects involving construction, site selection and remodeling.[2]
Carl Vitz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the American Library Association | |
| In office 1944–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Althea Warren |
| Succeeded by | Ralph A. Ulveling |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 3, 1883 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Died | January 1, 1981 (aged 97) Fort Thomas, Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Librarian |
Publications
edit- Demobilization and the library, the library's part in military and industrial readjustment: a working memorandum (American Library Association, 1943)
- Circulation work (American library Association, 1927)
- Current problems in public library finance (American library Association, 1933)
- A federal library agency and federal library aid (American library Association, 1935)
- Loan Work (American Library Association, 1919)
References
edit- ^ "Vitz, Carl (1883-1981)". ALA Archives. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Wiegand, Wayne A., ed. (1988). Supplement to the Dictionary of American Library Biography. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited. pp. 144–48. ISBN 978-0872875869. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Stambler, Arielle (September 1, 2013). "Library leaders: A brief history". The Blade. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Marco, Guy A. (2012). The American Public Library Handbook. Libraries Unlimited. p. 194. ISBN 978-1591589105.
- ^ Fleisxhman, John (2003). Free & Public: One Hundred and Fifty Years at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 1853–2003. Orange Frazier Press. ISBN 1882203917.
- ^ Vitz, Carl (1945). "Re: Librarian of Congress". ALA Bulletin. 39 (2): 62.
- ^ "Carl Vitz: Public Library will be a reminder of his leadership". Cincinnati Enquirer. Newspapers.com. January 14, 1981. p. 12.