VORMELKER, ROSE L. (11 June 1895-3 Nov. 1994), though not 5' in stature physically, was regarded as a towering figure in the field of library science. A native Clevelander, she was the daughter of Julius and Amy Hippler Vormelker and went to East High School. She entered library work at 16 as a page in the Superior branch of the CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY and received her library science certificate from Western Reserve University (see CASE WESTERN RESERVE) in 1919. After experience with the Detroit Public Library and the research library of the WHITE MOTOR CORP., she returned to the Cleveland Public Library in 1928. At the request of Director LINDA EASTMAN†, she organized and ran a Business Information Bureau which gained international respect for the accuracy and thoroughness of its resources. During WORLD WAR II she was asked by the federal government to install war and defense information centers in 4,000 libraries across the country. She published a 2-vol. reference on Special Library Resources (1941-6) and a pamphlet on "The Company Library" (1951). Vormelker became assistant director of the CPL in 1955 but left the following year to become library director for the CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER and the CLEVELAND NEWS, combining 2 formerly separate libraries into a unified system. She retired in 1962 to become an assistant professor at Kent State University. There she taught possibly the only course in the country on newspaper libraries and continued teaching until 1984. Among many honors, she was inducted into the Special Libraries Assn. Hall of Fame and the Ohio Library Assn. Hall of Fame. Never married, she died at home in SHAKER HEIGHTS
Last Modified: 23 Jul 1997 09:59:19 AM- Related Article(s)