LIBRARIAN IN ANNA VERY CONTENT WITH JOB AMONG THE BOOKSHELVES

ANNA, Ill. -- Ask Robert Hafeman to place himself under one of the card catalogs in the Stinson Library here, and chances are he'd file his entry under "Content."

Hafeman is very satisfied in his position as head librarian at Anna's small but impressive Stinson Library.

"I know that I am a minority in my job," he said. "It has always been a female-dominated profession except for academia librarians." In fact, a recent survey indicated that 85 percent of all public librarians are women.

Hafeman, a native Chicagoan who has been in Southern Illinois about 13 years, takes great pride in the library's architecture. "The building was constructed here in 1914 by Walter Burley Griffin, an original student of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School of Architectural Design, and was the last that Griffin did before going to Australia," said Hafeman. "It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"Many times here we'll hear the squeal of brakes as a motorist makes a quick turn off South Main Street to take a second look at the structure of the building," said Hafeman. "We're often asked if the building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

"We take great pride in the building," said Hafeman. "But we also take pride in our library's contents."

Hafeman assumed his position as head librarian in March, succeeding Mary Bacon, a 47-year Stinson veteran. One of Hafeman's first duties at the library was to write an application for a grant, which was used to establish a database link to other libraries and universities in the state.

"This position is a big challenge," said Hafeman, who worked a number of years for the Shawnee Library District and at the Choate Mental Health Center. "It is a challenge in the sense that one needs to look at the architecture of the building, but also keep in mind what the library needs is to bring it up to specifications with computerization."

Hafeman is familiar with the operation of Stinson Library; he served as a consultant at the library two years before becoming its director.

"The functions of libraries have changed greatly during the past 25 years," he said. "We need to keep up with these changes through automation, reference resources, programming and computerization, and we need to zoom into the 21st century."

Hafeman stressed that the main function of his library and any other still is to be an information center. Challenges do lie ahead, however, he said. "We've got a lot of irons in the fire. We're already on line with our database, and we're looking now to going on-line with a computerized circulation system."

Like all libraries dedicated to serving the community, Hafeman is looking into reaching some unserved people as well. "Jonesboro, Dongola and Anna have the only three public libraries in Union County," he said. "Service is limited to those people who live in the city limits of each of the three cities."

The solution, Hafeman said, is "one big district." He said: "We can envision a link to become one district. Of course, that has to be discussed at board level. Meanwhile, we'll work hand-in-hand with Dongola and Jonesboro and see how we can work in reference sharing so we won't be duplicating titles in the area."

He said he would like to see the district expanded to the edges of the county so "we can include all school districts and senior citizens." He said, "We have many people in and around Alto Pass and Cobden who are not being serviced."

Hafeman first became acquainted with the area when he attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

From SIU Hafeman went to Champaign and the University of Illinois to complete his masters degree before starting work with the Shawnee Library System.

He received his bachelor-of-science degree in human services at Governor's State University near Chicago.

"When I graduated from Illinois, I decided to return to the Southern Illinois area," he said. "This is a great area to live and raise children in."

The Hafemans are parents of three children ranging in ages from 11 months to 6 years. "We still have family in Chicago, but I just can't imagine moving back to the city."

Hafeman's plans at Stinson also include a literacy program and opening the building's auditorium free to local groups. Hafeman said he wants people to discover the library's potential as a community meeting place and hub for service.