The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-07-20
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANNUAL REPORT
Institution in a Most FlOuriShinQ
COnditiOn-Mdny Improve
mentS Past Year.

thirteenth annual report of the Free
Public Library for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1915.
ACCESSIONS-Duri the year, 791
books were added to the Library; 68l by
purchase; 70 by gift; 38 by binding:
making the total number of books in
the Library 6,946. s~
REGISTRATION = The registration
table shows that 797 new borrowers were
registt red during the year; 366 being
new borrowers The total number of
borrowers at present is 3.34o. Number
of teachers cards issued 46. Number of
cards Withdrawn $50. Most of these
wore Withdrawn for registration.
CIRCULATION-The total number of
books loaned during the year was 36,062.
OF this number 1888 were children's
and 22,189 adult books. The largest
daily circulation was 316 The increase
over last year was 1869. German books
circulated IVA. Periodicals 3,168. Pic
lures 1870. The largest circulation for
one month 4,143, during month Of
March, 1915.
BINDING AND MENDING-Num
of books rebound 140. Number of books
mended 729. Number of magazines
bound 38.
WITHDRAWALS number of
books withdrawn during the year 238.
READING AND REFERENCE DE-
ARTMENT- December until
April the reading room was open on
sunday afternoons from two until five.
The members of the staff took charge of
the library in turn. The attendance
each Sunday was quite gratifying, the
average being about fifty people.
FOrty-four of the leading magazines
are subscribed for by the Library. The
Westermann's Monatshefts. Scientific
American Supplement- and Pan Ameri-
can Union were added to the list this
year. Some of the popular magazines
are duplicated by friends of the Library
numbers are circulated as books. The
periodical circulation for the year was
3,168, which shows that great inter-
est was taken in magazine material and
late information.
Lists of books on various subjects such
as European War" were made out from
time to time and distributed to the pub
lie from the loan desk.
The reference room the past year was
used well. Material for clubs, schools,
school programs, debating societies,
special study, ready reference questions
was looked up. When recent material
was not available, books and pamphlets
were obtained from the University Ex-
tension Division of the State Library
Commission.
The reference room is one of the most
important departments in the Library
and should be sufficiently equipped to
meet the demands of the public. 1t is
the aim of the Librarian to make it as
useful as possible and it is hoped that
the coming years will bring even more
people in search of answers to puzzling
and important questions.
Some new reference books were added
to the Library this year, the "New In
ternational Encyclopedias" and Ameri-
can History and Encyclopedia of Music
being the two most important sets.
CHILDREN'S WORK-A story hour
was conducted each Friday afternoon at
o'clock from November to April for
children of the first, second, third and
fourth grades. The average attendance
was about IS. Fairy and folk tales were
the principal themes. The Librarian
was assisted in the work by Miss Ella
Wilder and Miss Catherine Blair.
During the year the Librarian visited
schools and invited the children to come
to the Library. Much individual work
was done in the Children's room, with
the children, to help them find good, in
teresting and suitable books.
SCHOOL Talks were given by
the Librarian to the eighth grades Of
the city. The lectures covered instruc
tion in the use of the card catalogue
periodical index, reference books, and
care of books. The pupils were given
examinations after the course and all of
them showed a practical knowledge of
library methods and resources. Part of
the talks were given at the schools and
part at the library.
The teachers this year have ayailed
themselves the use of the library and
have drawn many books for school use.
The picture collection which was
started last year has grown. Lists of
various pictures and poems which have
been mounted for school use were made
and distributed to the teachers in the
grades.
GIFTS Gifts are always gratefully
received at the Library. The citizens of
Watertown have demonstrated by many
gifts their appreciation Of the Library.
Among those presented this year are the
following:
Plants and flowers: Stuebe Floral Co.,
Mrs. Eli Fischer Miss Clare Hermann,
Miss Bieber, Mrs. Emma Stienke, Mrs.
Sidney Eberle, Mrs. Solliday.
Maney. Saturday cluh oava S5O tn ho