Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-08-20

WAUsAU, Wis, July /, 1912.
To Mr. G. E. Turner, President, and
the Board IF Directors of the Wau--
sau Public Library:
/ have the honor Of submitting the
fifteenth annual report of the library
for the year ending June 30, 1912.
The average daily circulation this
year is the same as last, being 16S vol
umes per day.
The total number of books of nom
fiction read exceeds that of 1911 by
two per cent. This, in itself, is of
very great importance, in as much as
it means the raising Of the stand
ard of reading. The question is
not, how many books is the public
reading, but what kind Of literature9
Is it fiction alone, or is 1T the mechanic
reading about how to become more eff
cient in his work, or the boy learning
how to make something useful.
REGISTRATION.
The work of re-registering has con-
tinued during the year, 178 children
and 201 adults having renewed their
cards. In addition, many new bor-
rowers have been added, 432 children
receiving cards and 6l3 adults, making
total of 1,O45.
Most encouraging has been the in
kterest which the country people have
taken in the Library. Slowly the
knowledge of their equal privilege
with the city people Is becoming
known and with gratifying results. 1t
is hoped that they will soon realize
fully these privileges and profit equal
| ly by the knowledge.
The country teachers have also been
| given the same privileges which
the city teachers are given. The Ii
brarian has tried to encourage their
patronage, for their need is as great
if not greater than the city teachers
/ On the evening of September 10,
1911, reception was given in the LII
brary by the Board of Directors to
the teachers of the city, to which the
members of the School Board were
also invited. The teachers were given
an opportunity during the evening
of meeting the Boards, Library staff,
and of becoming acquainted with each
| other.
| ACCESSIONS.
Seven hundred and fifty-five vol
umes have been added by purchase,
eighteen by binding and sixty-two by
/ gift. There were 1850 volumes at
the beginning of the year, and ll9
have been withdrawn, making total
of 1876.
A great number of books have been
procured through secondhand dealers
| which otherwise could not have been
afforded. Some very beautiful garden
books, especially were purchased for
use in the Garden Club through these
dealers at one-third the original
price, and also number of fine travel
books which have been greatly appre-
| ciated
A bulletin has recently been printed
of the new books purchased during
the year. 1t would be impossible to
keep correct complete catalog of
the Library on account of the con-
slant withdrawing of old and adding
| of new books to the shelves, but by
issuing such d list of new books, the
attention of the patron can be called
to the important accession, from time
to time.
A very valuable addition to the cir
culating department has been the
| purchase of several sets of Underwood
| and Underwood Travel Tours, which
are loaned with the stereoscopes
| the same as books. Much apprecia-
ton has been expressed by the pub
lie for these interesting pictures and
it is hoped that additional tours can
be bought during the next year.
1t was planned to complete the mag
azine files this year, but owing to
the great number of books which
needed reminding, this was consid-
cred of more immediate Importance
and the magazines left for this next
year.
REFERENCE WORK.
The last year has seen marked in
crease in the reference work done.
Patrons are coming to depend more
| and more on the Library for all mate
rial for club papers, debates, ETC.,
which fact tends to add to the impor-
lance of this department. The libra
brarian has taken an active part in
the program committees of the three
departments of the Ladies' Literary
club and also of the Monday Evening
Study club. Thus each of the subjects
studied has been thoroughly under
stood before the material is collected
for the papers, and much thought put
into its selection.
During the year the librarian has
served as secretary of the Home and
Educational Department of the Lit
erary club, and has also attended as
many meetings as possible of the
other departments, thereby getting
into closer touch with the members
for whom so much of the reference
work is done.
The librarian attended the annual
meeting of the Wisconsin Library asso-
citation held at GAINESVILLE in Febru-