The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-06-30
Mrs. C, P. Barnes, Librarian Of the
Gilbert NJ. Simmons Library, Tells
of a Successful Year.
INCREASE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS.
Library Has Been of Great Good to Patrons
During the Last Twelve Months. and
Interest Is on the Increase.

y
has made her annual report to the
City Council. The statement shows
a splendid increase in the library
work in Kenosha. The report in full
fo11ows:l
To the Board of Directors of Gilbert
M. Simmons Library:
herewith submit the fourth annual
report of the library for the year end
ing May 81, 1904.
The work of the past year has been
along the lines already established,
slight changes and improvements
having been introduced, as occasion
required.
We. shave added three handsome
| s1oping bookcases to the furniture of
the rotunda, jenab1ing us to make fine
displays of new books, or of books on
special subjects, etc., noticeab1y in
creasing the circulation in the differ
ent classes thus placed before the
public. It has proved to be very
advantageous way of bring out va1u-
able material which otherwise might
stand unnoticed on the shelves. We
have also added two new cases for the
shelving gof bound magazines in the
reading room, giving us ample space
for ourspresent needs, as well as room
| for growth in this department for
several years to come. A fine set of
shelves and letter press base with
drawers and cupboard, in the work
1 4 e
the assistants, their work in the me-
chanica1 preparation of the new
books, &C., being greatly facilitated
by these improvements.
Our North Side Station was discon-
tinued at the end of one years trial,
for lack of patronage. It's regular
patrons preferred to come to the main
library, for the larger choice to be
found there, while the general lack of
interest manifested in reading, among
majority, seemed impossible to
| overcome. With the sanction of the
board, hope to make a similar ex-
| pertinent, next fall, in the western
part of town.
The Renting Collection has stood
the test of time and continues in popu-
1arity. The receipts have been such
as to enable us to repay to the gen.
era1 library account the amohnt ad-
vanced IN the beginning to start this
little enterprise-so that it not only
has now paid for itself, but has 81
books on hand, and 1857 in the
treasury.
The School Duplicate Collection has
also continued to be most satisfactory.
With the purchase of 116 more books,
and smaller number sent to each
room, we increased the number of
grade school rooms having the use of
these books, from 10 to %. The will
irgness of the teachers to carry on
the extra work entailed by the care
and circulation of these books, is due
largely to their appreciation of it's
great value to the children. Without
their cooperation we could do moth
ing. With it, we feel we are doing
much towards forming the habit of
RIGHT reading among Our future men
and women.
More steachers are sending their
pupi1ssto the library for reference
work than during any previous year,
and have reported very satisfactory
results. They are also awaiting them
selves very freely of the special
teachers Gcards, eleven more than
last year having been issued, making
total of 104, with a circulation of
1854 allowing two weeks to each
book.
Our Special cards have also done
good service, and have been very pop
u1ar for club kwork, courses of study,
debates, I&c. Thirty-fve cards have
been issued, with a circulation of
1879.
The Reading room has had slight
decrease in attendance, which is more
than counter balanced by the real use
made of it. The id1ers have dropped
out, owing largely to the better order
maintained, which has sadly inter
fered with it's use as convenient
meeting place for visiting, etc., but
has enabled the students and readers
~ Pun SL4& lAOAA SluO1CS dI10 1CdO1uS
undisturbed. Another explanation of
this decrease may be found in the fact
that the Electric Light plant burned
down Gin September, and our own
transformer burned out in January,
leaving us for nearly four months of
the busiest season of the year, with
temporary 1ightsIwhich were dim and
uncertain. 10000 is the record of at
tendance, withsa4O8O books taken from
the circulating department for pur-
posessso gstudy, while last year the
readerssBnumbe 1910, with 278o
books from the circulating depart
ment. EWhat we have lost in num-
bers we.may safely claim has been
made up insearnest work.
Our circulation has increased in
numbers, while the standard as shown
by the decrease in percentage of fc-
ton circulated continues to be quite
satisfactory The following sum-
mary for the four years Of the exis-
tence of this s1ibrary, will show best
what growth we have made in this
a -.