EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference desk staff at Peter White Public Library.

30 years ago

ESCANABA — Someday, they may call it the “Registration Revolution.” Starting Wednesday, Bay de Noc Community College will allow current students to sign up for fall semester classes by telephone. Instead of heading to campus to wait in long lines, students will be able to use the phone to punch in their fall course selections. College officials think the new system will be hugely popular. “We tried out the system with a selected group in the winter semester and they loved it,” said Dean of Student Services Jim Peterson. “We predict 97 percent of the eligible students will use it. It’s so much less of a pain in the neck.” Six of eight students polled in the March 27 Bay Beacon say they’ll use phone registration instead of venturing onto campus. One dorm resident said he preferred to walk to Bay’s offices and one student said she doesn’t like telephone instructions. Peterson said telephone registration will make more efficient use of both students’ and staff time. “It takes about four to five minutes for a student to log in their schedule,” he said. “Also, because it records the information directly into our computers just as though a staff member was doing it, it saves Bay the actual labor costs involved.” Peterson said Bay is the first Upper Peninsula college to start phone registration. Four universities in Lower Michigan have launched similar systems, with the only reported drawbacks from students being busy signals during peak calling times.

60 years ago

NEGAUNEE — Effective immediately, the Negaunee Public Library will make its services and materials available to residents of Negaunee and Richmond Townships, City Manager Rodney D. Hodge announced today. City and township officials have agreed on terms of a contract to provide library facilities in accordance with a 1964 legislative act by which penal fine monies will be allocated by the townships to help support the Negaunee Public Library. Upon application and identification, residents of the townships will be issued library cards and will be entitled to the same rights and privileges as Negaunee residents.