Evening journal., 1908-09-02
In INCREASING DEMAND FOR
FREE LIBRARY VOLUMES
Great Growth in the Demand for Fiction During the
Month of August

read.
The number OF reference works that
have been used during the year has In
creased so materially that where three
years ago no one had charge OF this de-
partment. now an assistant Is kept busy
about all OF the time Many curious re-
quests come 10 this department from
seekers after knowledge one wanted 10
know recently where information OF a re-
oeipt for a solution TO cure diseases OF
dogs could be found Another wanted to
know the age OF John L. Sullivan. One
young man inquired Of the assistant what
the marriage license laws Of Maryland
were and what Il would cost TO be married
in that state. Stnl other inquiries come in
regarding the amount OF coal a battle ship
uses. and one wanted to know what presi-
dent Il was who sold his daughter as a
slave. The young woman who has charge
OF this department has plenty OF work
handling these numerous questions. Some
OF them are bathing and the most OF them
are udicrous They do not all come from
the school student The latter usually
wants 70 know what books the library has
dealing with ambition"
Duplicate Collection.
A feature Of the fiction department Is
tho duplicate collection OF books for the
use Of which a fee OF five cents Is charged.
These books are added 10 every week.
The demand upon the regular fiction, par
| ticularly upon the best Sellers" had been
so great that patrons were not usually
lucky enough 70 find the story they want
ed when they wanted It. So the duplicate
collection was added and assures book
70 the reader whenever Il may be desired.
After the books have gone the rounds
pretty well. they are taken from the dupli-
cate collection and added to the free
hooks. The collection has proved 10 be
very much in demand and has been d
genuine convenience 70 the summer read
er.
New books are added almost every week
to the library The present number all told
Is $1,000
Librarian Bailey recently received 55l
volumes OF supplements and document,
from the Patent Office at Washington
dealing with specifications OF that office
They are a most valuable addition 70 th'
institute.
! About the Indians.
Seventy-two volumes Of the Jesuit Re
lations and Allied Documents were als'
= recently secured. The books are edited b'
, Reuben Gold Thwaites. secretary OF th'
State Historical Society of Wisconsin
3 Librarian Bailey finds that there Is
' great demand for information relating q
. the Indians and these hooks give about al
we'll defined an exposition OF the variou
tribes as found by the Jesuit explorers al
could be had. The books are in the origi
nal texts with translations and are an In
valuable adjunct 10 the reference depart
ment OF the library
In the chndren's room are several pic
ture bulleuna and on the main floor ls
= presidential bulletin. giving the candidate
!, OF both parties and the platforms whic
n they represent. These things add a goo
q deal to the value OF library.
a Librarian Bailey regrets that he ht
ie been hampered because OF lack OF roo
IS In securing during the year an art exhib
T. In other cities these exhibits are large
rel made use Of and are very instructive M
n only 70 the student and connoisseur. b
" to the workman and his children as we'll