Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-07
LIBRARY REPORT
Ninth Annual Report of Wauseon
Public Library - Circulation of
Books Reading and Reference -
Public Schools -Assistance-The
Future.

To the Honorable. The Public Library
Board, Wauseon, Ohio.
Gentlemen
Your librarian herewith presents
his first annual report as librarian of
the Wauseon Public Library and the
ninth report of the library since its
opening in 1906.
CIRCULATION OF BOOKS
1t is generally recognized that a
public library serves its purpose in
direct proportion to the circulation of
IT'S books and the way in which it an
ticipates the needs of the community
IN which it is situated. 1t is also
coming to be recognized that the
circulation of books from a library
situated in a small community should
at least equal four times the popula-
ton OF that community. For the
year 1914 the circulation of books
from the Wauseon Public Library was
1858, more than four times the DO
pulation of Wauseon and it's special
school district as given by the 1910
census, but falling considerably short
of the proportion according to the es-
timated population at the present
OAAllCs, oo bIIC POoO N ulICCGOIX
shows a population at the present
time, of 5000 for the munich
palitv alone. However, it must be re-
membered that the circulation receiv-
ed a serious interruption at the very
beginning of the year because of the
outbreak of an epidemic and that the
library was closed for circulation of
books for fourteen days during a
month that in other years has shown
a large circulation.
Fortunately, the time during this
interruption was not entirely lost to
the library as he books in the fiction
and children's sections were fumigated
under the direction of the village
health officer. a very desirable pre-
~cautionary measure. even without an
| epidemic, because of the constant use
of the books. Then, too, the library
was open for reading and reference
work during five OF the days that it
was closed for circulation.
Durirs the year the library was
open 231 days. making an average
dailv circulation of 81 hooks. For the
1853 books in circulation borrowers
cards were used tI.557 times, thus
making a daily average of so persons
-akinr 81 hooks. The total number
of borrowers cards in force during
| +ho wear was 10A7. co chat averaging
again we might find that each person
using the library -uok eleven books
during the year. Such a statement,
however. does not clearly represent
the facts as some cards were used
0nlv once or twiee while others, es-
ueciallv those of children, who usually
~nad very rapidly, were used nearly
100 times.
The cards issued to new borrowers
numbered 1913. About September 1st
an exneriment tn increase registration
was tried nv mailing application cards
20 go residents who were not using
the library. ACCOMMODATING each an.
| ~plication was an explanation of the
purpose of the cord and an invitation
70 use it. Only three of these cards
however. were returned and no more
were sent. out. But a ~weekorsolater
after the opening of the public schools
cards were given tn Superintendent
NJ, L. A1tstetter to be distributed by
the teachers among the pupils. Th'
response was immediate end marked
manv. especially younger children
coming for books. And not onl1
children. but several parents, as well
| became borrowers, while many delin
nuent card holders again appeared
at the library. Naturally the circula
ton also increased, the high waite
mark being reached in November wit
q total circulation for the month o
1903 books. On the second Saturda,
Of this month 1873 books were taken
, which was the record circulation TO
a single dav. Sixty-nine of the Dor
rowers' cards were issued to Boxwell
!; Patterson students in our high schoo
while the cards issued to out-of-tow1
borrowers numbered fourteen of whicI
/ one was for six months, nine for thre
: months and four for two weeks. A
| the end of the year CT cards wer
: cancelled because they were no longe
| in force, making a net total of $50 Dor
: rowprs' cards in force at the beginnin'
: of the year 1915.
A detailed examination of the cir