Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-29
THE cHlLDREN's LIBRARY.

Miss Mary e. Downey, librarian OF
the Ottumwa Public Library, has kind
1y consented to write about the child
ren's books at the library. We want
every Junior to save this essay,
together with the list of books, and
next week we will tell you what to do
with it. Miss Downey says:
The children's room of the Ottumwa
public library was placed in it's new
quarters on the first floor just year
ago. and is now one of the most inter-
esting departments of the library It
is we'll lighted room, especially fur
nished for children, and is made at
tractive with plants, pictures, chill
dren's magazines and books. There is
large fish net draped in one corner
of ~rhe room in which are arranged
pictures according to the seasons
spring. summer, autumn and winter.
On he reading tables are found
magazines that boys and girls like to
read such as the Youths Companion,
ST. Nicholas, Little Folks, Birds and
Nature. Forest and Stream, American
Boy md others. Numbers of these
magazines are bound for circulation
and are much used by the. children.
There is bulletin board in the room
on which are kept pictures suited to-
historic events, birthdays of great men
or any subject of temporary interest.
Among the bulletins used are: St Val
entine, Lincoln, Washington Japan,
Hawthorne, Easter, Riley, Fourth of
July, Mckinley. Holland, Louisiana
Purchase Flag Day, Great Britain,
Thanksgiving, United States, Chill
dren's Books. Christmas. Franklin,
Autumn, Halloween and Goops. The
object is not only to entertain, but also
to draw attention to interesting sub
jects and to teach care in the handling
of books. The Coop bulletin is good
one for the latter purpose; the idea OF
the picture on it is drawn from the
Coop book and below is printed the
lines:
The Goops they wet their fingers
To turn the leaves of books,
And they turn the corners down
And think that no one looks.
They put the marks of dirty hands,
OF lollypops and gum
On picture book and fairy book
AS often as they come.
ARE YOU A COOP?
The children are allowed to take
any two books on a card without re-
gard to class. They are taught toI
choose books for themselves, but as
sistance IS gladly given them in book
selection or in looking up special sub
jects.
A number of books and magazines
have been given to this department by
the children themselves. Many of them
seem to nave caught the library spirit
to share their books and reading
matter with others. A beautiful pic
ture of Sir Galahad by Watts was also
given by Mrs. J. H. Merrill and adds
much to the children's ROOM
Many children have come to the H.
brary in response to the invitation
given through the schools, and are
now regular patrons. A number OF
school rooms have small branch II.
braries. These branches are of special
benefit to the children who live long
distance from the main library. Chill
dren's books are also circulated from
the West End branch. South Side sta
ton, East End Branch, the Y nj. q. A.
and Y. w. G. A.
All the books are catalogued, having
very simple headings, enabling any
child to find all the material in this
department on any subject in which
he is interested.
No pains have been spared to make
this room an attractive place Tor chill
dren. and it is gratifying to see the
interest the boys and girls have shown
in their room and books. Aside from
the magazines, dissected maps and
pictures are proving very instructive
as we'll as entertaining. Soon the
number will be increased and they
~ o;,ou1atad with hooks
The new stereographs, over 700 in
number, illustrating travel. industries,
ETC.. in different countries, and especl-
ally the set illustrating Jane Andrews