Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-01-16
TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.


brary had once been started. had
not succeeded. and the books had
been scattered and lost; but undis-
mayed the enthusiasts began to earn
money, had at the end OF two years
about $1,000, with which they start
ed a subscription library. The Com
mercial club kindly loaned furniture
and donated over 5000. The enter
prise met with such cordial appre-
citation as to encourage to trial.
three years later, for a free library
and then for a donation from Car
negie. The result Is that Abilene
mas a $4,000 building and over
$500 worth of choice library furni-
ture for which II did not pay
cent, and has over 5000 books OF
which It did not buy one. The
books were either donations from
individuals, or were purchased with
funds earned each year for twelve
years by loyal women supporters.
The city has paid merely for run
ming expenses exclusive of books
and that for only seven years.
Today the library is recognized as
a public utility to which people turn
for information as they do to the
electric plant for light. Our library
is the peoples college. On its shelves
a liberal education awaits whoever
has the industry to take 1t. Students
through research work at the library
have learned power of concentra-
ton, the key to success, and the
reading taste of the public has In
creased and improved a hundred
fold.
Every school holiday brings
swarms of children to enjoy their
special room, the handsomest library
children's room in the state, and in
many states: and every Wednesday
morning during the summer brought
groups eager for their "story" told
by patrons or by the library force,
and planned to be beneficial as well
as enjoyable.
The tenth year in the life OF the
lpublic library showed a larger issue
Iof books and larger number OF
IcalIers than any previous year, not
wIthstanding the fact that fewer
books were purchased during 1912
than during any except two other
years, and the further fact that
many towns report a lessening use
OF libraries because OF time spent
at picture shows.
4 During the past year the library
purchased 1873 books, Is current
magazines, current newspapers;
land received donations Of 124 books,
l26 current magazines, 3 current
newspapers, Al valuable pamphlets,
la large framed picture Of Lincoln's
war cabinet, a brass jardiniere,
plants, Christmas green's, and $40
lin cash.
The binding OF SO volumes OF
magazine added much to the useful
ness of the reference department.
Comparative statistics show that
since the opening of the library,
January /. 1908, it has grown from
membership Of 3S7 to 1884, from
l1OOO to 5000 volumes, from the is
sue of 5000 to $4,000 books yearly,
from Is, 900 to $4,000 callers yearly,
and from an almost recreational to
an educational as well as recreation
al library.
Following are the names of those
who during ,,1912 assisted in the
growth of the library by gifts or by
telling stories to children: Mesdames
A. Augustine, e. T. Ellison, E. H:
Forney, e. H. Durkee, 7. H. Malott,
S. Kirk, H. w. Wilson, c, E. Rugh,
w. w. Davis, c. M. Troup, j. M.
GIeissner, j. b. Warf1eld, II, j.
Hodge, G. A. Rogers. E. e. Hazlett,
j. E. Keel, ]. E. Johntz, H. S. Tay-
lor, w. w. Childs; Misses Mary For
reg, Mary and Ethel Giles, Edna
Worley, Grace Peters, Delta Halo
way, Ethel Thayer, Media Reese, NJ.
Scanlon, Helen Sterl Elsie South
worth, Ruth Harger, Edith Fenton,
Elizabeth Hall; Messrs. C. M. Har-
ger, H. ]. Hodge, G. Stevens, H. L.
Humphrey, ]. L. Bristow, T. R.
Brendle; Coterie, Chronicle, Re-
Hector, News and Democrat COM
panies; Presbyterian Missionary So
ciety, Christian Science Association,
State Historical Society, State Board
of Health. State Board of Agricul-