Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-01-14
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT
ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY

been the greatest In It's history. Dur
ing the early months. the book Issue
was 4 little above the average ana
the reference work unusually heaVy'
during the summer the issue fell 10
the lowest in several years; while
during the past two months, It rose
to the highest in the full twelve
years. This increase was due parity
70 the reading for credits by the
high school, partly to the incoming
of new books. The result is that the
largest issue of books, issue ana
renewal of membership cards, num-
Der OF county patrons, receipts OF
money and number o; families add
ed mark the year of 1914.
This numerical increase is less en-
couraging, however, than is the char
acter of reading. The majority Oh
fiction readers demand better class
of story, and the wave OF non-lic-
ton reading that has been sweeping
the library world is beginning to De
felt here. Not only current world Is
sues, but past causes are being IN
yestigated, which means the desire
70 read all that pertain to a country
or people, and to trace scientific de-
velopments.
The public schools and public IL
brary work together harmoniously
for the advantage Of students;
teachers and pupils from other To-
calities are frequent users OF our
library; some private students CLUB
members, business men and me.
chanics seek help here, SO that the
reference department Is growing
more and more important. For this
reason, one of the most helpful serV-
ices to the library this year was the
binding of fifty-five volumes OF mag
adines. The scope of work is daily
increasing, and the needs correspond
ingly. What the library most needs
is to be placed on an equality with
most eastern and many western IL
braries by having an endowment
fund from some generous individual
or individuals.
At the present time the library
should have many worn books with
drawn and replaced, more magazines
bound. valuable sets purchased, and
every department enlarged. And 1t
would be we'll, and in keeping with
library usage, to make the assembly
room the cultural center of the COM
munity by the addition OF a gooo
piano. a first class reflectroscope
with pictures of peoples and places
arts and industries, and a V1ctrola
with choice records.
Through the generosity OF the
public, the long desired flag and
pole are now possessed, and enough
remained from the flag fund to pur'
chase a silk flag for the children
room, The interior of the library has
been redecorated, the exterior i'm
proved by paint, and two awnings
added to make the west rooms habi
table during the summer.
The largest gifts Of the year were
sixty juvenile books donated by Mrs
A. B. seelye, set of books by Mrs
c. C. Wyandt and large STANDARD
dictionary. latest edition, by Mr.. H
L. Covert.
other donations: Framed copy O
New York Herald Of April Is, 1865
announcing assassination OF Lincoln
History of the Seal of Kansas, fran
ed pictures of Martha and Georg'
Washington, and of T. c. Henry
books, magazines, newspapers, jar
dinieres, plants, calendars, blottera
pamphlets.
Following is a list of those VIII
furthered the work of the library b.
gifts. by telling stories to children
nv publishing notices and lists, an
by many other courtesies: Mesdame
u. A. hOSST6, D. L' ANOOA' a. -
I've, j. E. Johntz, E. E. Hazlett, H
w. Wilson, c. G. Wyandt, Dais
Rhoades, Campbell, B. N. Gleissne'
J. M. Gleissner, P. H. Halleck, c.
Hubbard, R. Guffin, E. H. ForneN
J. T. Nicolay, X. Riddle, H. D. Bar
lett, ]. c. Ball, F. L. Bingham, f
M. White, o. ]. Peters, S. Kirk
Misses Helen sterl. Elsie Southwortl
Lois Harger, Ruth Harger, Leon
Forney, Edith Fenton, Mary Forne!
Mace King, Grace Peters, GladS
shadinger, Jennie Brown, Nell
Graves, Edith Hopkins, Harriet Pa
terson, Nina Nichols, Matilda Scar
lon; Messrs. ]. w. Howe, H. v