The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-12-01
DID MUCH FOR The LIBRARY
Had Been at the Head of the Institu-
ton Since it Was First Opened in
1896 and Did Much to Bring Success
to the Library's Work.

The city of Kenosha is to lose one
of it's most efficient officials as Mrs.
Clara P. Barnes for the past fifteen
years Librarian of the Public Library
and the Gilbert M. Simmons Library
has sent her resignation to the Board
of Library Commissioners and If
successor can be secured the resigna
ton will be effective the first of the
month. Mrs. Barnes notified the COM
missioners of her intention to resign
the first of October but the matter was
left open, the commissioners thinking
it possible that she would see her way
clear to change her decision to leave
the library 1t is possible that the
commissioners vii elect a successor so
as to permit Mrs. Barnes to give up
the work Of experimenting the library
by the opening of the new year.
The retirement of Mrs. Barnes from
the working force of the library will
be regretted by all people who have,
been connected with the growth of the
institution. Mrs. Barnes has been the
most active factor in the development
of the library and the library spirit
in Kenosha. More than fifteen years
ago when the first public meeting was
called to consider the opening of a
public library in the city, Mrs. Barnes
was one Of the most active workers
at the meeting and when after many
struggles the library was opened in
one of the rooms over the First Ma
tional bank Mrs. Barnes was named
as librarian. She labored necessarily
for the success of the institution and
when the late z. G. Simmons provided
for the erection of the Gilbert M. Sim
mons Library, Mrs. Barnes was chosen
by the unanimous vote of the commits
sion as librarian. Her ability as a Ii
brarian was given chance to show it
self in the new institution and since
it was opened she has been the prac-
tical head Of the great institution. The
splendid system of cataloguing books
and papers was worked out by her
and it is declared that the Kenosha Ii
brary has one of the best systems to
be found in any institution in the
country. Under her care Mrs. Barnes
has seen the library grow to be one of
the largest and best selected in the
state and she has taken an active in
terest in the selection of the thou
sands Of volumes placed on the shelves.
Under her guidance reading rooms for
the children have been opened and at
her suggestion the books have been
sent out to the school children through
the medium of the teacher. The or
ganization of the Kenosha library
has attracted attention through
out the state and surrounding states
and one of the leading librarians in
Wisconsin recently declared that Ken
osha had a model library and model
organization of it's workers.
The first annual report made by Mrs.
Barnes at the end of 1896 showed that
the library had total of less than
1000 volumes and that the circulation
of books for that year was in the
neighborhood Of 1900 books. This year
the report of Mrs. Barnes showed a
circulation Of more than $4,000 books
and the library has more than $4,000
volumes.
When seen this morning Mrs. Barnes
said: "For reasons of health I have
decided to give up my place at the IL
brary and want to say that it is
hard for me to give up this child I
have been nursing for fifteen years.
have taken a real pride in the devel-
opment of the library and it has been
a great pleasure for me to know that
my efforts have been successful AMI
that I have in my humble wav been
able to bring great deal of pleasure
and intellectual advancement to the
people of Kenosha. The appreciation
that the library has been given by the
people of the city has more than re-
paid all those connected with it dur
ing the early years of struggle. It
seemed best for me to retire at this
time but I shall always take the most
lively interest in all the affairs of the
institution