The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-08
PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS TAKEN
FlRMER HOLD ON THE PEOPLE
Some Interesting Facts Are Brought Out in the Annual
Report OF Miss Maud Van Buren,; the Patronage
Is Increasing; Many Books Are Read.

! of the references in the library TO the
subjects for the high school debates
and essay contests were given each
contestant.
An illustrated lesson on the use
! of Poole's Index and the Readers
guide was given the nigh school stu
dents, followed by considerable indi-
vidual help at the library.
Cataloging.
! Eight hundred and eighty new books
by purchase, 81 by gift, and iS3
bound magazines have been added
making the total number of aces
sions 1892
The revision of the shelf-list and
catalog of adult books has been COM
pleted and it is now possible to take
an accurate inventory This work
made the staff acquainted with the
contents of the books in the library
to an extent that could not otherwise
be possible, and though a large I'M
dertaking and one consuming much
time, it has really proven a privilege.
Juvenile Department and Work With
The Schools.
The total number of volumes issued
from the children's department WIS
l4,42O of which $50 were non-tic-
ton. The relationship between the
school children and the library is q
very pleasant one. 1t is here, we
think, that the telling work of our
institution is done.
In September the librarian again
outlined, before the teachers at their
annual meeting, ways and means of
co operation between school and Ii
brary and visits were made to all
the grades and brief talks given their
ichildren.
The annual public school exhibit
of manual training, sewing and draw
ing, was held at the library as usual.
The post scrap books of geo
graphical interest, loaned by Mr.. w.
Warwick, did good service and the
collection of mounted photographs ac
iquired last year have been in con
constant use. We hope to add to
this collection very materially the
coming year.
In January Mrs. j. H. James enter
tanned the children at one of their
regular Saturday afternoon story
hours with charming talk on Japa-
nese school boys and girls. A Christ
mas story hour was conducted by
Miss Reynolds of the Mankato nor
NAL
The general plan OF the. work this
year follows that of last which is
set forth fully in the fourteenth an
nual report and | will give here only
those features of the work which are
characteristic of this years activities.
In January q choice collection OF etch
)ings by Whistler, Pencil, Bushot,
Fullwood, and Haden was exhibited
followed by an attractive collection,
loaned by the State Art association, of
coored reproductions of the great mas
ters. This fall and winter special at
tention was given American art. By
far the most successful exhibit, from
both an aesthetic and material stand
point, was that of American pottery.
Eleven of our potteries, besides Next
can and Indian wares, were repre-
esnted This was the Beginning of
permanent collection for the library,
the Art History club presenting an
exquisite lockwood vase, and Mr.. VIM.
Robertson of the Dedham pottery a
collection of valuable plates and
few odd pieces showing the develop
ment of the work of the Chelsea and
Dednam potteries An interesting
piece made for the Mankato Tile,
Fire Brick and Clay Co., from clay
found near Mankato was donated by
Mr.. j. G.. Noe, and a handsome Van
Briggle vase, one of the original de-
signs of Artus Van Briggle, has been
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