The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-06-18
OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY RECON-
MENDED.

A late issue of the Lincoln NeaUS
gives a report of meeting of the
public library board, of that city,
with the leading points of the annual
report of the librarian, and some of
the remarks of one of the members of
the board criticising the conduct Of
the board. Lincoln is city of some
10000 population, and the library has
been established for many years. The
librarians report showed that the
library was open 3O7 days for the cir
culation of books, and 7O,550 were is
sued, or little over twice as many as
from the Mankato library for last
year. The librarian further stated
that the circulation for the year had
been smaller than for the year pre-
vious. The total funds at the dis
posal of the Lincoln library for the
year were 81 1863 q, and the total dis
bursements $4,292.1S. The amount
spent for books was 1856. The sum of
1898. p was spent for newspapers and
periodicals.
The manner in which the Lincoln
library board conducts the library
does not seem satisfactory to all, and
one of the members retiring from
membership took occasion to call at
tention to a few points. He did not
like the attitude of the library toward
the public schools and colleges, and
pointed out that for the best results
it should work closely in connection
with them The public library, he
said, belongs to the people and they
should have the largest possible use
of it, and for this reason it ought to
cooperate closely with the schools in
stead Of being unfriendly toward
them. Continuing, he said:
In every progressive city, the pub
lic library is in the closest possible
touch with the common schools.
Every progressive library, every Ii
brary that is up to date, seeks the
teacher as means Of reaching the
pupils under her care. and extends to
her every privilege she will use. l
could cite you to the great work done
in this line in Omaha, Milwaukee and
Denver, but would at once be met
with the statement that these libra
ries have large fund to draw on and
are able to do more. The argument is
not good, but L will yield to it and
beg leave to call your attention to
few items in the report of the libra
rian OF Mankato, Mimi, public library
for the year ending March /, 1897.
The little city has population of
about 10000. The library received
from all sources S2,513.84, about half
of our fund. Out of this they spent
for books 81 POI 81, which, if | am not
mistaken, is larger sum than we
ever expended in any one year. The
library has less than $500 volumes,
and put 80, al books in circulation in
the year, issuing each volume on an
average thirteen times. During the
year, as an experiment, free access
was granted to the shelves for the
selection Of all books other than fc-
tiOn, and the plan has been so salts
factory in every way that there is no
dntention of changing it. There has
been marked decrease in the use Of
fiction, and great increase in the
lines Of better reading. Grateful
acknowledgement is made for the
help received from teachers.
The great success of the Mankato
public library is attracting much at
tention everywhere in library circles,
and reflects great credit upon those