Library & Arts

Meet JILL THRASHER

our Library Director. Joining the Sherman Library in 1998, she can still lose herself among the books, papers and objects. The library is a unique space where visitors can examine regional history and art in a peaceful, quaint setting.

“SHERMAN LIBRARY HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.”

The overarching goal for Sherman Library is to increase access to its holdings. For any research library, making information about its holdings widely available is critical to generating use. Over the last year, this was further improved by creating collection guides, digitizing materials for the Sherman Library Digital Catalog, expanding online reference services, and improving educational outreach.

At the beginning of the fiscal year, Sherman Library was open by appointment only, as well as provided remote research assistance. Despite these limitations, requests for access to our manuscript, photograph, and book collections were overwhelming. The library reopened in June 2021 to the public, and the library welcomed more than 4,000 visitors between June and October 2021.

Sherman Library also increased its city directory research program, a revenue-generating service, which averaged nearly 50 requests per month in the program’s first year. To assist in these requests, Sherman Library hired a Library Aide, Lauren Healey, a graduate student in San Jose State University’s MLIS program. Lauren completed all city directory requests, welcomed visitors to the library, and assisted guests in impromptu research requests.

Creating the Sherman Library Digital Catalog was a major success of the year. The W. C. Sawyer Collection was uploaded to the digital catalog, making over 8,000 photographs available online. Sherman Library increased its online archival and manuscript resources, which attracted academic researchers. Sherman Library’s archival collections were used in four published books, over a dozen published articles, and other publications. Paul Wormser and Jill Thrasher published several articles for CDM Life, The Sherman Times, and the Tales and Treasures library blog.

Sherman Library’s art collection grew with a commitment from Woody Dike, son of noted watercolor artist Phil Dike. Sherman Library entered into planning phases to accept a large collection of watercolor paintings, oil paintings, lithographs, serigraphs, and a number of sketches. This art donation will be the subject of a future exhibit dedicated to the work of Phil Dike and the Brandt-Dike School. This donation also affords Sherman Library the opportunity to rotate artwork and have sufficient works to lend to qualified institutions.

Finally, Sherman Library has expanded its educational outreach by welcoming intern workers from UCI’s History Department and participating in the Orange County Department of Education’s National History Day program. The UCI intern program gave two students practical archival work experience within Sherman Library’s collection. Whereas the National History Day program tasked students with creating a historical video regarding regional history with prizes for the top researchers. Both were successful programs in

deepening Sherman Library’s place in the community.

From left to right, top to bottom: Phil Dike, Sawyer Collection, Newport Harbor Lady Anglers Collection, Irvine Park by Anna Althea Hills, Kay Finch Collection.