In 1978, Jim Jones and his followers died at Jonestown, Christopher Reeve flew as "Superman" and Microsoft's year-end sales topped $1 million.

John Paul II was named pope, Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees ruled the airwaves and then-President Jimmy Carter led the "Framework for Peace" in the Middle East at Camp David.

1978 also is the year the average book in Winona Area Public Schools' elementary libraries was published, says Mary Alice Anderson, a media specialist for the school district.

In the 24 years since, the world has seen the influx of computers and the rise of the Internet. Four more presidents have led the United States through economic booms, recessions and terrorist attacks, and Alicia Keys has replaced Debby Boone as Grammy's top new artist.

The library collections, however, haven't kept pace with the times.

"It was obvious that we needed to do some updating," Anderson said. "A lot of the books were out of date, unappealing."

"You have to take into account how our society has changed," she said. "So some of the non-Christian religions probably wouldn't be represented."

The late Ben Miller, sensing a need, donated more than $12,000 last spring to purchase new books for the elementary schools.

The books arrived this month.

"Come on over, kids," said media specialist Vivian Angst to a handful of students at Goodview Elementary School on a recent Friday. "Any one of these boxes. Dig through them."

The students obliged, pulling out "Franklin" books, Dr. Seuss and "Curious George."

Titles such as "Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day" and "If You Take a Mouse to School" joined the heap.

"These are such cool books," 9-year-old Miranda Northrup said, reading aloud the title of the book in her hand, "Franklin Says I Love You."

"Is this a chapter book?" asked Erin Paulson, 8.

"Yep," answered Angst. "This is 'Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur'."

Miller's donation was divided per pupil and given to schools. Jefferson Elementary, with the most students, was given $3,200. Dakota, with the fewest, was given $720.

Anderson said they're grateful for Miller's gift.

But, she said, they're still not where they'd like to be. Miller's donation purchased fewer than 1,000 books - for a collection that numbers nearly 70,000.

Last year, Follett Library Book Company conducted an audit on the school district's four automated, elementary media centers, those in Jefferson, Washington-Kosciusko, Madison and Goodview, to assess the district's elementary book collections.

The results: Less than 2 percent of the collection has a copyright average of 1990. Technology books have an average date of 1977; social sciences, 1973.

Minnesota standards call for an average collection age of 10 years.

"In some topics, science, technology, you don't want to go more than 5 years," Anderson said.

Popular books, including those from Dr. Seuss, get broken and beaten, as well, she said.

"Children not only need books that are accurate and updated, but appealing, books that children want to read," she said.

Anderson said the fault lies in two areas - decreased funding and increased book costs. And it's a nationwide problem.

Media centers benefited from a large influx of dollars in the 1970s, she said. As budgets have diminished, however, so has funding for media centers.

According to the Follett audit, in 2000-01, Winona's elementary schools spent $5.95 per student on books and pennies per student on electronic resources. In the North Central region of the United States, high service media centers spent $32.12 per student in 1998.

Furthermore, in 1986, the district's average cost per hard-bound book was $12.80. The 2000-01 price tag? About $19.

Anderson said updating media centers collections is an ongoing process. Standards typically recommend updating or replacing 5 to 10 percent of the collection each year.

Because of the condition of Winona's collection, writers of the Follett report recommend that, at a minimum, 50 percent of the elementary collections should be replaced.

Miller's contribution may be a good start. But it's far from the end, Anderson said.

"It isn't numbers (of books)," she said. "It's quality, currency ,and relevancy to the curriculum."

Anderson added, "Once you have a collection that's attractive, the books look more appealing and they get used more."

Contact reporter Kirsten Singleton at ksingleton@@winonadailynews.com or 453-3511.