Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-01-15
LIBRARY GROWS RAPIDLY
Sphere of Its Influence And Useful
ness Extends Far Beyond
City Limits.

! iSVA0o anu t1plOS VI uB BuIc6s Will
which we are confronted at every
turn, are Stunned by the average
reader with as great diligence as the
Kentucky colonel" shuns dry
town-and for much the same reason.
Yet figures frequently prove to be the
most potent medium available, by
which the growth of an industry or
an institution can be guaged and,
frequently, when the institution whose
growth we are guaging is one in
which the people are interested, the
figures lose their qualities of dryness
and are read with pleasure.
This should be the case with the
following figures concerning the
Dallas Free Library, which were
obligingly furnished by Miss Jennie
Muscott, the librarian. One is inclined
to imagine, at first thought, that the
influence Of the Library in our COM
munity is comparatively slight, but
the records show that its influence is
not confined to Dallas alone but that
it extends far out into the suburbs of
the city.
Each year since it's founding it has
grown astonishingly in every branch.
The total number of new borrowers
cards issued in 1907, amounting to
23O was considerably surpassed in
the year just closed, the records show
ing that 29S cards were issued during
that period. This means 523 new
patrons secured to the Free Library
in two years time and it means, more
over (although portion of those 523
cards may have been issued to mem.
bers Of the same families) that the
Dallas Free Library has extended its
sphere of influence, into practically
that many new homes.
The total number of cards now held
by regular patrons of the Library is
1904, considerably more than the
actual total Of the population within
corporate limits of this city. 1t is Of
course not possible that every resident
Of Dallas holds borrowers card, and
that fact indicates that a very large
percentage of those living in the rural
districts, enjoy the benefits to be de-
rived from it.
And the patrons Of the library have
not been slow to profit by the advan-
tages it had to offer. During 1907,
667O books were loaned and in 1908,
the circulation rose to 8593.
The record OF the book circulation
however, gives only part of the real
story of the Library's work. The
reading table, with its long list of pop
ular periodicals, is factor that de-
serves fully as mucn consideration.
The amount of it's influence is a
trifle more difficult to determine, no
record of the nu mber of visitors be-
ing available excepting for those hours
Of the day during which the librarian
was on duty and that record being
only partial. 1t is estimated, however
that during 1907, the number of tran
sient visitors to the library land those
are the ones whom the reading table
most benefits) averaged fully 1900 a
month. During 1908 the average per
month is given at 1900 and it is prob
eble that If the actual facts could be
secured, they would show an even
greater number. Thus during 1907,
fully IA, 400 visitors called at the Lib
rary and during 1908, $4,000 visitors
passed through it's door. Those facts
alone, give a truly enlightening
glimpse into what the Free Library is
doing and an excellent idea of how
important position it has acquired
in Dallas.
A library of only 1882 volumes, sup
plemented each year by the travelling
libraries of about 100 volumes from
the State Commission, and the list of
periodicals on its reading tables, the
Dallas Free Library has proven itself
a force OF undeniable Importance in
the upbuilding of the city and its
development during the past two years
will be a source of surprise and graft
f1cation to the citizens Of Dallas.