The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-27
WORK wIrH THE SCHOOLS.

WORK WITH The SCHOOLS.
Twenty-three teachers cards have
been In use during the year, with
total circulation of 1876 books, but this
circulation is not as large as it should
be. The teachers card gives teacher
the privilege of drawing as many books
at once as she needs for use in the
school room and of keeping these books
one month or even longer, if they are
not in demand in the library. Several
of the district school teachers have
been glad to use the library books in
this way in their schools.
In October the librarian invited all of
the teachers to an informal talk in the
library, explaining the arrangement of
the books on the shelves, the use of the
reference books and the card catalogue
and she tried to show the teachers
few of the many ways in which teach
ers and librarian can cooperate In their
work for the children. Teachers can
be of especial help to the librarian IN
suggesting books which they would like
to have bought for the library. Soon
after school opens in the fall, another
meeting of this sort will be held and an
effort made to get all of the teachers
interested in the work of the library.
Many parents have an idea that the
reading of library books by the children
hinders them in their school work, but
if the reading is carefully directed by
both teachers and parents this ought to
be help, not hindrance in their
school work.
GERMAN AND NORWEGIAN BOOKS.
Arrangements have been made by
which we receive two travelling libra
ries, one of German and the other of
Norwegian books, every six months,
for five years. $500 year is paid to
the State Library Commission for each
library and 80 far the result has been
very gratifying, especially for the Nor
wegian books. The circulation of Ger
man books for the year was Isl and of
Norwegian, 274. There are Is German
borrowers using the books and II Nor
wegian.
FREE LECTURES.
In January, 1909, the Library Board
voted to make arrangements for a
series of free lectures, illustrated by
stereopticon views, to be given in the
auditorium of the library. Mr.. Frank
Hutchins of Madison helped the board
to secure speakers and arrange the
course. The average attendance was
about 100. the highest attendance being
about 270, when Mr.. Legler talked on
the subject of sIndian Folklore. = The
total cost of the course, in addition to
light and heat, was about $500. The
lectures were all given on Wednesday
or Friday evening. Following is list
of the speakers and their subjects:
Jan. Is, Prof. Martin, 'The Earth
quake in Italy"
Feb. 10, Geo. B. Merrick, "Old Days
on the Mississippi.
Feb. "a, Ethel Raymer, "Japan.
March IL, Henry Legler, "Indian
Folklore
March "a, E. C. Mason, 'sForgeries. I"
April Z, H. w. Rood, Civil War
Scenes"
COUNTRY CIRCULATION.
A new plan was tried by the librarian
this year for carrying library books to
those in the country who are unable to
visit the library About thirty books
at time were placed in store at Full
ton and loaned out by Miss Ida Muir
win. These were replaced by other
books about once in five weeks, and
the same plan was tried in Albion but
there the interest has not been as great
as in Fulton. During the year 239
books have been sent out in this way,
with total circulation of 943. These
books include only the better grade of
fiction which had been read by many OF
the people in town and been rebound.
All of the books were at least a year
old. An effort should be made to get
contributions to the library funds from
these country borrowers, if the work is
continued. So far it has been done by
the library free of charge.
Miss Isabelle Mcintosh has worked
with the librarian this year, as an APP
prentice, and her willingness and eff
cheney have been of great assistance.
In closing, wish to thank all the
members of the Library Board for their
interest and cooperation in the work
of the library, and to bespeak their
further interest in our plans for the
| coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
LEoRA E. MABBETT, Librarian.