Library Staff operate a Microfilm Reader at the Lewis Research Center

Jean Neidengard and George Mandel operate a Kodak Recordak microfilm reader in the library at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. The library was located in the Administration Building until the mid-1960s. It was then moved to the Propulsion Systems Laboratory Office Building. In 2008 the library was moved once again, to the Research Analysis Center.

At the time of this photograph, the Lewis library claimed to possess “One of the most complete aero-technical collections in the world.” It was doing a brisk business in the early 1960s. During 1960 alone the library acquired 19,000 new documents and provided 100,000 documents to customers. The library’s eleven-person staff provided reference services, archived technical reports, and supplied periodicals. The staff also included Sam Reiss, a full-time translator who could read 30 languages. He translated technical reports from all over the world for the Lewis research staff.

Jean Neidengard oversaw the secret Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) documents in the collection. NASA was partnering with the AEC at the time on Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA) program. NASA Lewis was the agency’s lead center in the NERVA program. Neidengard’s husband Bill was the head mechanic in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory. George Mandel led the library staff from 1955 to 1968.