The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-15
The Methods Being Employed 20
Improve on the Old
Arrangements.
Figures showing the Numbsr Of borrow
crs. the Number OF hooks aud
~ the Loans Made.

]
Anusion is made 70 the new library fur.
niture which was completed and paid for
within the yea. The trustees had all the
wo done in the city under careful supef-
vision, and secured 3 convenient arrange
ment and pleasing eject At moderate cost
The furnishings have pleased everybody
aud she library hss grown In popularity
until both the reading rooms and the shelV'
ing are slready ovstcrowdsd. The report
recommends that when necessary some OF
tho least used books be stored elsewhere in
orier g. make room for new books.
After stating that the number Of vol
umos added during the year has been =, 9,S
and that the total numbsr in the library Is
nov L. al6. the report goes on 10 say;
With IS 2l5 loans for the year and about
5000 volumes IN the lending department, 10
readily seen shat our books are not lying
idle on the shelves. For popular books this
calls have been far in excess OF the supp v.
lake few instance: We have seven
copies OF lvanhoe. six Of Les Miserables,
fvo OF Scarlet l. tier. hvs OF Ben HUI and
four Of Count OF Monte Cristo. aud 10 Is
rare III NJ 70 ind q copy OF eithe. OF lhese
books on the shelf Tho four copies OF
Piince OF India aud four copies Of Heaven
liz wills come We y far Short OF supplying
the demand. ID not infrequsnt 30 have
dozen calls IN day for each OF these books
shat We cAnnot supply. Recently there
were five calls IN succession with no inter
vening business for Prince Of India. IL -
an encouraging fact that all our grea, calls
IA fiction are for she best books.
There has been an inc easing use OF she
lihrars by the teachers and Pupils IN the
public schools. The librarian bel ewes thAt
when the library l. financially able 20 for
niBl the facilities and put forth the enort
tor tie schools that libraries IN other c.tiss
have. the samo large snd gratifying results
will follow.
The sc increase in the use OF reference
books aud books ON the lending depa l.
ment, In the reference room Is commented
on. Subject indexes aud Other books OF
this nature OF helps 10 readers ais kept a.
hand for public use. and the library stan
takes time 10 assist readers 20 md
material on their subj8ots of study. Sub
lsct lists are sometimes made TO help the
members OF study clubs. The SHAKES Jears
list of 40 titles was ~ pc written and posted
on the library bulletin board.
During the yea the total number OF per-
sons who visited the reference rocm 10 read
was 81, 1855. No statistics are kept OF she
use Of books and periodicals. 10 the room.
IL is stated that such count WOuld far
excesd the numbsr OF loans from tie lend
ing department. and would probably be
more than doub e. The use OF tie news
\
enc room. The increase in use over last
veEg is about 33 pr cent in ths loans for
home use and about 90 Pc csnt 10 the
rsading rooms. We quots again:
After all this iefsrsuco use, With the leaves
Of some Of our books actually going 20 pieces
/ from 50 great wear. We come to tbs end Of
the year with tie loss OF one volume only.
the retail price OF which - four English
shillings, "a loss. when compared wish the
benefits derived from the privileges % this
room, that would be insiRnincant x 10 we're
ten times as great
It's believed at the library that the pub
/ lie viii appreciate the books more and use
them mo e carefully II they are kept IN neat
condition. & eat pains have been taken in
/ rebindirg, mendIng aud cleaning. aud fines
I are tKacted for soiling and injury. After
/ book has been returned 10 is not allowed to
90 out again until IL Is carefully examined
20 see that "a 10 in good condition. The
books are being used more AMI mo care
I fully, and toe eE .ense oocasloned bY wear
Is being reduced.
new system TO- recording the loans has
gradually been INTRODUCED during the yesr.
The 9 IA now a book ca d ana card pocket
inside ths front cover Of each book. When
a book goes out its book card Is kept az the
library as the record OF she loan. The boz
rover guards against the loss Of his carl by
keeping 10 IN tue pocket Of the book Dor
roved. 1hs new pan has greater accuracy
aud greater convenience, bOth for the pub
Ito and tor be library.
We understand by this eport that the
books Of the lib ay are being carefully
classified and 40 marked that the books Of
a subject United states history. for exam
ple). will stand side by side on tue shelves.
which will certainly be great help in
promptly SERVING 40 inqnir.r with the
material h wants on a certain sub oct.
T As the Ib AIRY grows" We are told, new
Z - -. D. A. in oil.
/ by subject Just az cards 40 add 8 30 a
+ card catalogue The now loan mark Of a
/ book, which differs for every book IN the
T library. serves the borrower IN calling for
the book wanted. she class or subisct 30
which the book belongs, aud determines its
place on the snelTeL However much the
library grows whatever changes IN shelv-
ing or building. the books will continue IN
perfect class o der without the changing Of
these loan marks
Seven monthly numbers OF the library
/ bulletin have been issued IN neat aud con-
vsnient pocket form. Each one Of thos5
Z bnlletina contains a page or less OF intro
duotory matter giving info nation about
the llbrarJ for the benefit OF patrons. and
+ FOL owing this 10 q list OF 900 20 100 volumes
Of new books. The library patrons are
/ ress wing thess lists Is a supplement- 30
the catalogue.
We do not hesitate 10 say that this ad.
"
10 meeting with hearty approval. Tns
/ library bulletin a. valuable means Of
/ communication between ths library and
F the public. Is provides a way for prompt
+ publication OF lists % nsE books received
shich Lists would IN on opinion bs better
70 there we're descriptive notes about the
books listed. To 10 also gooi medium
Ga ougL which TO keep the paopls poste
about tue work. facilities an needs Of the
iibrary. Most % "a are NOS ware OF what
large and important e1aoatioual worl
the publlc library 10 accomplishing Ia oths
cities ami towns, aud We need % have thi.
work brought 20 our attention frequently
ttrouRl just such an agencv as this bulle
tiu. By nu means let the trustees keep al
$40 publication of ths library bulletin.
PEI haps 10 might DO tossibls, after th
10 arY IL all classified. 10 pu Jlish ia an
bulletin oomplsts LETS OF all the books i
she library on certain subjects. LIST thea
subjects follow one another in a natura
order, perhaps very like the afangsmen
oi the books on tie shelves. 1heao subj
lists might b. continued until tn-y made
complets taithouEh very Jeff catalogue
which will. OF course. Dc much needed by
aud bye.
STATISTICS YEAR TsDI>8 NAlrH 30. 1921.
Borrowers library cards issued during
s.ue i.-ue during 81 KIT ye.rs. from is-i 49,
/ Aumirr ul volumes lualefi tIr uum- u.s. %.
volumes bought during Che yetr -sfl
uiules gtfeu q Iring 20 year -ii
IotsI vu "a ne. telonsus tu th library H.
I leuu tlcula currently reC. wed Tor
At. alag rooms 3 fts-. IT,
I sub ilptola %
Number o. registered rofsrencs room
/ IsndeTs Tor The year 600 .... ..-...--... 50 i