By 1960 the Library circulated 168,889 items. Holdings were
listed as 29,011 items. 79 Cramped conditions at Thrall coupled
with a small operating budget made library service difficult and
little money was spent on new materials during the 1960's. 60
Thrall did however, open two branches designed to serve residents
(especially children) in low income housing. These branches,
open part time, are still serving these neighborhoods today. For a short time Thrall also provided bus service to outlying housing
developments to bring pre-schoolers to the story times held by the Children's Room.
Funding the operations of the Library remained a serious topic of discussion between the City and the Library in the 1960's. By 1969 the City transferred its control of Thrali
Library to the Board of Education. Shortly thereafter Thrall
would be governed by a separately elected Board of Trustees.
Within five years the city would no longer fund the library.92