The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-01-12

L
gifts, complied by the Minnesota
State library commission, We're used
to advantage this year In February
a pleasing exhibit of Karl ISappstein' 5
monotypes was held; in April Mr.
Blissenbach loaned a collection of
pictures. This same month a collec-
| ton of postal cards descriptive OF
| Europe attracted considerable atten-
| ton.
Work With Children.
Thirteen thousand. seven-hundred
and forty-seven books have circulated
from the children's department The
teachers have the privilege of borrow
ing as many books as they wish for
use in their school rooms, and a
large part of our circulation comes
in this way. The teachers are fre-
auent and welcome visitors in the
library; a number have come with
their pupils during the year. Some
instruction has been given the older
boys and girls as to the location
of the books and the use OF the
catalog. 1t is always pleasure to
have the children come in groups
with their teachers as these visits
acquaintanceship between children
and teacher and librarian, which is
such an essential part of work with
children. Frequent visits have been
made to the schools during the year
and always the librarian has been
given time to make announcements
or to talk to the children about the
use of the library. The freedom
given in this way is appreciated as
personal contact with the children
in their school rooms brings re-
suits in short time.
Books in Children's Room.
The collection Of books i'll the
children's room is not in as good
condition as the adult collection.
Considerable repair and reminding
has been done but we have standing
on our shelves many soiled and
shabby books which should be re.
placed by new copies as soon cas- the
book fund allows. The collection
needs these requirements and added
copies of many old favorites more
than it needs new titles at present.
Year after year the same books are
called for by the children and by the
teachers for reading to the children,
and we are constantly hindered i'll
supplying the book asked for because
in SO many cases there, is but one
copy. We believe that if a, children's
room is we'll stocked with the books
that have proved themselves long
ago and which are popular and be-
loved by children today, that there
is much less demand for the
mediocre type of children's stories.
During the year. a number OF classics
for children have been purchased and
their good print and Illustrations
have done much to interest the chill
dren in reading them. The collection
for younger children, picture books
and easy reading books. could be
increased to good advantage. This is
true also of these books which ap-
peal particularly to the boys and
girls that are beginning to break
away from the real childreM's stories.
In Touch With League Work.
The library has cont inued this year
to keep in close touchswith the work
Of the Junior civic feague Garden
and flower seeds were distributed. at
the library and in the early fall an
exhibit Of vegetables raised by the
children was held in the library The
annual meeting of the league with
the awards of prizes was held i'll
the auditorium in September.
No regular story hour has been
held but the children have been in
vited on special occasions to hear
stories in the library. Our thanks
ar educ the teachers and students who
have helped in this work.
Work of the Staff.
There have been a number of
changes in the staff during the. year
The resignation of Miss van Buren,,
librarian, took effect in August. Miss
van Buren, completed at this time
five years of splendid administrative
work and left to take a position
with the Wisconsin Library Com
mission and Library school Miss
Hanson left the first OF the year
and Miss Hannah Jones has taken
her place as first assistant. Miss
Marsh has been substitute.
Membership in the National Munich
pal league has this year brought to
the library great deal of valuable
material.
Miss Ottilie Liedloff spent four
weeks in the library in the early fall
in apprentice work before entering
the Wisconsin Library school
Miss van Buren, attended the two
weeks conference Of Wisconsin libra
rians in June and gave a number of
lectures at this time. The library was
represented by the present librarian
at the annual meeting of the State
Library association at Lake Mime
tonka in September.
The library building has received
excellent care under Mr.. Barnard's
management.
The thanks of the librarian are
extended to the newspapers for pub
licity in this work, to many citizens
who have forwarded the interests Of
the library, and to the members of
the library board for their support
and cooperation i'll the first months
Of her work.
Report For. December.
To the Board of Directors-Gentie-
mem Herewith is submitted the
report OF the Mankato public library
for December, 1911.
The library has been open for the
circulation of books twenty-five days
with a circulation as follow Adult
non-fiction, S51; adult fiction, 1920;
juvenile non-fction, SIT; juvenile iic-
ton, 706, making a total of 1894, an
increase Of 447 over last December
There has been a total attentIonce