Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-14

The annual meeting of the Free Pub
lie Library Board was held last even
ing at the library rooms in the First
National bank and was called to order
by Judge Silverthorn, the out going
president, who made brief statement
of existing conditions, and then va
Gated the chair, Mrs. ID. l.. Plumer,
president of the board, con-
Quoting the meeting. The PILOT gives
the proceedings of the meeting in full
giving the different reports outside Of
the regular minutes which follow at the
close of this article The reader may,
if he cares to, find out exactly the con-
dition of our Free Public Library by
perusing these reports
LIBRARY COMMITTEES REPORT.
Wausau, Wis, July 11th, 1908
Annual report of the library COM
mittee for the year ending July 18th,
1908:
To the Honorable Library Board,
Wdus0u, Wisconsin:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-We have
bought during the year, just closed,
439 books, about one-third of them
being reference books, one-third fic-
ton, and one-third juvenile.
The cost of the books, including
few magazines was $3.50 Is, We have
had 179 rebound, at cost of $75 so.
Very few books were bought until
the close of the year, on account of
the surprisingly small appropriation
made by the common council, the
amount being barely sufficient to pay
the cost of rent and the services of the
librarian. A repetition of this policy
for several years would seriously i'm
pair the value of the library to our
citizens, if not actuall close its doors.
The demand for books however be-
came so insistent that your committee
felt obliged to purchase more than the
appropriation indicated.
Your committee feels that it cannot
be too strongly impressed upon the
minds of our citizens and upon those
in authority that library looses its
efficiency and, like lake of water, be-
comes stagnant, if constant stream
of books is not being added regularly.
If library is not a good institution it
should De closed; if it is good institu-
ton it ought to be supported literally
enough to keep it up to its highest
efficiency, and anything less than this
| reflects little credit upon city whose
boast has been that her educational
facilities are excellent in every respect
One OF the most economical and
valuable plans yet worked out by our
State Library Commission is their
travelling German library. By paying
no TO 10 uh uo
tage of this scheme whereby we get
some thirty-six German books at a
time for the use of our patrons. After
six months, when these books have
been quite generally read, they are
returned to Madison and different
set is sent us which is to be kept for
six months again. The books are well
selected and highly appreciated by our
German readers.
We have had the library books, with
the exception of the magazines and
public documents, properly catalogued
during this library year by the card
index system so that anyone can, in a
moment, determine whether or not
particular book is in the library;
whether or not topic is treated and
in what books and on what pages it
can be found; and also whether or not
a particular author is represented, and,
if so, by what books. 1t differs from
Poole's Index in this; that whereas
Poole gives references to all authors
and books published that are of any
value, the card catalogue tells just
what we have in our library and helps
one to find it as easily as one looks up
word in dictionary. 1t was wise
to have the work done when we did
because the expense of such work is
in proportion to the size of the library,
and ours is still small. The services of
the expert costs US STA %, while the
cards and cabinet cost S57.40. This
work is now done for all time and as
the system is flexible the librarian can
keep it up to date, by adding to 1T just
as fast as new books are put upon the
shelves. Your committee is glad to
report that our librarian is doing this
work satisfactorily.
This system is so simple and so COM
prehensive that a new librarian could
determine at once the contents OF our
library and be able to assist our patrons
who come to the library in search OF
books and information.
We are glad to add that the work of
the expert, Miss Bessie Gaynor, was
exceptionally good, and marked by
thoroughness and ability. In con-
clusion we beg leave to say that our
greatest need, after an ample appro-
priation for books is provided, is
children's room where the juvenile
books and magazines can be kept and
where the children can receive the
special attention that they need
Such room is needed both for the
sake of the children and the conven-
fence of the adults.
Respectfully submitted:
(KARL MATHIE,
Library Com. Chairman.