The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-08

Miss Maud Van Buren, has submitted
the following annual report of the
public library:
TO the Board OF Directors. Gentle
men: have the honor to submit
herewith the report OF the Mankato
public library for the year 1908 the
fifteenth in the history of the library
The efforts that have been made in
behalf of the library this year have
horne larger statistical results but
the same causes that have crippled
business and all other phases of the
city's activity have irterfered greatly
with our progress. We believe, how
ever, that the library has taken a
firmer hold upon community interest,
that it has meant more this year as
social force in the life of the city,
than ever before, offering as it does
larger opportunity Of inquiry along
educational and industrial lines as
well as furnishing pleasure to those
who come TO il Tor entertainment
only.
Registration.
Nine hundred ninety one new pa
rons REGISTERED Grring the year max
inc tie total number 4,l99; but this
number does not include many c,'ill-
rem and factory employees who are
making use OF the books at the sub
stations Several residents outside
the city limits have taken advantage
OF tie privilege of drawing books
from the lihlary at So a year. We
trust that b,jcre many months have
elapsed the county commissioners will
have made il possible for all resi-
dents of the county to have the
free use of the library, a plan which
has been adopted i'll other counties
with gratifying success.
Circulation.
The library was open for issuing
books 300 days with circulation of a.
III. 81 per cent of which was non fiction
These figures show only part of the
use of this department, however, as
many of the books were used in the
building and of these no accurate rec
ord can be kept
The new case at the entrance to
the reading room, for the display
of books along special lines, has ad-
vantageously served it's purpose in
bringing to the notice of artisans
and mechanics works of special in
terest to them. The branch reading
room opened at Hope Chapel last
january was only fairly successful
The Franklin school was made the
distributing center this fall for the
children of that part of town and
soft Sfu ptn
West Mankato school has also been
made sub station and q case of 100 vol
umes has been placed in the knitting
mills. Nothing we have undertaken
has given greater satisfaction than
the use made by the employees of the
books sent to the mills.
Every effort has been made to put
the right book into the hands of the
right person. Many letters and cards
have been sent out and the
following lists published, or printed
and distributed; cheerful books, home
and its interests, poultry raising, gar
dening, birds, sewing and needlework,
mothers books, house decoration, nur-
SEES and nursing, books that high
school girls like, books that high
school boys like, mechanics, practical
electricity, handicraft books for boys.
A graded list of books to read aloud
in school and list of books suitable
for Christmas gifts was made avail
able for use at the library.
Reading and Reference.
The reading room was open 346
days with an attendance of 1886 The
average Sunday attendance was 80.
There are now 67 magazines and 10
newspapers on file.
Material for the five study clubs
of the city was ready as usual at
the opening of the club year and lists