The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-08-04
Public Library
Closes Year of
Splendid Work
Librarians Report Shows Increased
Patronage; Circulation Gains 2040
Books Over That of Last Year
Reference Work Becoming One of
Prominent Features of The Library
Work; Many Students Aided
Gifts of Books And Other Material
Have Been Made; Story Hour by
Normal Girls Is Popular

The board of the Redwood Falls |
Public Library held its annual meet
ing at the library building last even
ing. At this meeting A. C. Dolliff /
and Mrs. H. Schleuder whose terms
of Office expire this month were cleo
ted to succeed themselves, and the
officers of the board were reelected,
H. NJ. Hitchcock, Pres; Mrs. H. M. |
Bell, Sec; and A. C. Dolliff, Vice /
Pres.
The members of the Library Board,
both as individuals and as working
organization, were hearty in their
sincere appreciation of the very ex-
cellent work being done by Miss
Moore, the librarian. Miss Moore's
work has been characterized by a
thoroughness and efficiency which has
made her an invaluable citizen of
Redwood Falls. Miss Moore's willing
helpfulness in the reference work of
students, club women and others who
have asked her assistance has made
the library a real intellectual centre
of the community, and is much ap-
preciated by all those who have been
and are being taught the real use
fulress of the library. Extracts from
Miss Moore's report are given here
and give the public an idea of the
work being accomplished.
AccessiOns
The total number of volumes ad-
ded during the year should have
totaled 800 if the last order of books
had come to us before the end of the
fiscal year. Forty-two of the years
books are gifts; not as many old and
worn books were withdrawn as should
have been, because of their populari-
ty; a few have travelled with their
borrowers; others lost but paid for.
The total number of books in the
library June 30, 1914, is 1851.
Registration
307 borrowers cards were issued
during the year. Of this number 1877
are children and ten are county sub
scribers All restrictions have been
taken from grade scholars and high
school pupils, and any child that can
read or be read to may have a
card in it's own name; for the school
and library exist for each other.
Circulation
The circulation the past year has
been most satisfactory, 1880 books
were loaned for home use, of this
number 1922 were issued from the
adult room; 1858 from the grammar
room. 2,1O7 were adult non-fiction;
1851 juvenile non-fiction. This makes
a gain over last year for the adults
of 100 books of fiction and l ,409 of
non-fction. A gain for the juveniles
(16 years and under) of Alt books
of fiction and 1874 of non-iction, which
gives total gain for the past year
of 2040 books, and daily average
of 40 volumes.
By placing the best books before
the people and thereby awakening a
demand for information and reference,
as we'll as pleasure and diversion, we
trust there may be continued de-
mand and increase in non-fiction.
Reference Work
The reference work with the High
School has been a pleasure. Too much
cannot be said for the earnest sup
port of Mr.. Street and his assistants.
The students were a credit to the
community, help to the library. and
a pride to themselves, our regret is
that we are so crippled in meeting
their demands, and hope that the city
may grasp the situation and come
nobly to the aid of the library.
Books on special subjects were re-
served for the clubs and teachers,
who made exhaustive use of them.
Material for the holidays, special
days, etc, was selected and placed
on a particular shelf easy of access.
1t is difficult to give any statistics
which will accurately represent re-
ference work; during the busiest
months an attempt was made to keep
a record, with the result that so diff
ferent questions were often looked
up in a single day. Reference work
is the spirit, vigor and energy of a
library. and as a consequence con-
sumes every live and spare moment.
Many mornings were spent in order