Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-19
Advance in Activities.

branches of the work Of the library, Lii
brarian Bowerman points out the ad-
vances made in each case during the year.
One feature of the work. the report
shows. is the sending of books to class
rooms in grammar schools most remote
from the library building, where they are
circulated in homes where no other Ii
brary books find their way.
The school work of the library, as Yet
little developed. is all carried on by the
staff of the children's department" says
the librarian.
The chidren's librarian visited 1G5
classrooms in IL schools and talked TO the
them to use its privileges. Twelve def
n:tely arranged group visits on the part
of children, We're also made.
..'Of the 3J2 children who came in such
groups, 101 registered as borrowers. BY
arrangement also all the students in Nor
NAL School No. 1 came in five groups
and listened to talks on library work by
the librarian.
School Books in Circulation.
In 1@O7-OS less than COO volumes of the
school duplicates were available for cir
culation from classrooms. This number
was increased to 1,00O volumes for the
past year. From that stock there We're
sent out by motor cycle 4.105 volumes to
remote from the library From them
there was recorded circulation of 49,
5OS volumes.
Experience has taught the desrability
of exchanging books every two months.
These books went into homes SO remote
from the central library that no other
library books find their way there.
The publication of the monthly edu-
cational bulletin has been continued. 1t
is now recognized as the regular organ of
rn TyD,rY lir9 70 ha
schools. Invitations to night school pu-
pills and to children about to leave school,
sent through teachers, have been heartily
seconded by them and have resulted In
the registration of many of the desired
persons
During the year the report shows the
home circulation amounted to 646 POI
ipihces, including 591,7O4 books, nI,667
music rolls and 42, $40 mounted pictures.
OF the book circulation, 542. 13O volumes
were sent out from the central library,
2S5O3 from seven deposit stations and
21 ,12S from schools and Fairgrounds.
A steady Improvement In the quality
of reading is also noted by the librarian.
The percentage that fiction has borne
to the total circulation has been reduced
from "a in 1904 to 63.
In the useful arts and science depart
ment, patronized almost exclusively by
men, it is not an uncommon sight to
see the room filled to it's capacity with
business men, each intent on some book
or article bearing on his vocation. Last
year, the first full year of the depart
ment, the report states, was marked by
an increase in the circulation of books
on agriculture, engineering subjects and
mechanical trades of 80 per cent over the
previous year.
Picture Collection Grows.
The resources of the picture collection
have been largely increased during the
year. it is stated, and now includes fully
$1,000 pictures. The circulation of mounts
amounted to 42.SlO during the year, as
compared with 17,1O1 In l907-l9OS, fully
20 COO of which were used by public school
teachers for class work
\ plan for the establishment of library
stations in connection with Sunday schools
is outlined by Mr.. Bowernan.
On invitation of the Sunday School In
Stitute of the Protestant Episcopal Church
of the diocese of Washington he
on How to Strengthen the Sunday School
Library" and offered, with the APP
proval of the library trustees, to the first
Sunday school that would turn over to
the library funds up TO $40 for the pur-
chase of books TO duplicate the sum and
to furnish the Sunday school and exchange
as often as desired as many books as the
combined sum would buy.
"One Episcopal Sunday school, that of
the Church OF the Good Shepherd. has ac-
cepted the offer to the extent of contribut-
books as $50 will buy. Another Sunday
school, that of the Grace Reformed
Church, has been granted the same priv
ilise"