The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-06-03
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MILWAUKEE LIBRARY.


brary. Small libraries of 40 or more
carefully selected books are sent out on
application to public or private schools,
institutions, associations, clubs, etc.
These may be kept as long as wanted.
Another feature is the collection Of col
ored picture books for children, and in
the new library building the children
are to have reading room all to them
selves.
There is very little red tape con-
nected with the borrowing of books.
Any resident Of the city proper is enti-
tied to card or can enable a nonresi-
dent to become a borrower simply by
signing 'guarantor' certificate" "
When an applicant receives book, he
leaves his library card and is given a
receipt for it, which he slips into an
envelope pasted inside the book. There
are plenty of bound catalogues which
may be purchased if desired, and sup
plemcnts containing catalogues of new
books are issued quarterly. Then there
are card indexes by which searchers for
information on any particular subject
may readily find what they want.
One of the best features is the deliv-
cry system. Branches are maintained in
various parts Of the city where books
may be ordered from the main library
or returned to it. This is great con-
venience for readers, and the managers
are constantly on the lookout for other
improvements. The department of Ger
man books is considerable, but not so
many are required as one might think
from the large German population Of
the city. 1t is apparent that most of tho
German American citizens prefer to
read English. In the basement of the
new library, which is to be above
ground and light, is to be an extensive
newspaper reading room furnished in
most comfortable style.
1t may be interesting to know how
this municipality conducts the business
Of building and maintaining such
beneficial institution. Both the museum
and library are under municipal con-
troll, and both are governed by an inde-
pendent, coordinate board of trustees.
These boards have two members in COM
mon, the president of the school board
and the superintendent of schools. The
building is being erected by the two
boards acting as a joint board.
Full allowances have been made for
future growth. At present only the
floors are to be occupied by the stack
rooms, but piers, foundations and all
supports are planned with the anticipa-
ton that some day the stack rooms will
reach to the top Of the building. The
reference room will be Of noble proper
tions and elaborate in decoration. 1t
will be so feet in length and "a feet in
breadth with a height of 32 feet 1t
will be surrounded by a gallery which
will be used for special collections of
rare and valuable books On the third
story is to be Il lecture room which will
seat about 400. Ample space has also
been set aside for administration pur-
poses. There will be trustees room Il
cataloguer's room, librarians offices
and various other rooms which will be
found necessary.
With this addition to its public insti-
tutions and with the knowledge of pos.
sessing one Of the finest and most COM
plete woman's clubhouses i'll the coun-
try as well as Il large and active liter
ary circle, Milwaukee may we'll claim
scholarly distinction as well as brewing
renowI. JOHN +. WILLOUGHBY.