Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-04
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DAYING a visit the other day 10 the Chicago pub
i lie library. ] was cordially received by the IT,
brarian Mr. Henry Il. Legier who asked par
tlculary after the people he had met when out here
last year for the Nebraska state Library association
meeting. The library In Chicago was simply overrun
with patrons that day. In the reading room dozens
standing around waiting for seat 20 be vacated
at the tables, and the files the newspaper racks
we're all engaged. At the circulation windows long
lines of book borrowers were standing to take their
turns in being waited
NO we are not always so busy" said Mr. Legler
but this is busy place all the time, particularly on
Saturdays. Last month we beat our previous records
In every department Of the library, not only here
but at tho branches we'll DO attribute II to the
war? No. only in small part. Although the war has
stimulated reading of military and historical works.
that interest think. is noticeably subsding. The
main reason is unemployment. When people have
nothing else TO do they take to reading and come
here for books and periodicals"
The Chicago library has established special
"ovics room In WHICH concentrated duplicate ref
works along civic matters. and also up-to-
date compilation OF magazine and newspaper articles
serviceable for such studies 1t has also recently in
augurated a circulating library OF music. Which.
cording TO the librarian, is proving great success
You have not got to circulating phonograph rec
ords, have your asked
mot yet" answered Mr. Legler. I'VE have a few
piano records given for that purpose and there
10 no reason why could not handle photograph
records except that they easily marred and
out quickly with hard usage What is likely TO pre-
vent for long time is lack OF funds, could
hardly divert the money at our disposal fer library
a
few librariesEvanston is one-that possess donated
funds for this specific use and informed.
are serving borrowers with photograph records with
satisfaction to all concerned"
While on the library topic of this sad notes to
me returning 10 Omaha Is the news OF the death
OF Miss Margaret OBren for many years assistant
librarian here. Miss OBrien always took special
pride in her long continuous service which unmatched
that OF anyone else in library. During the eleven
years that served the library board I came into
more or less contact with her and her work. and
filled the position Of acting librarian times
She made herself popular with the patrons liz
brary by efforts to accommodate them and was
eager to keep herself In touch with library progress
by attending meetings OF state and national library
associations, realizing that she had gone INTO the
field before the days Of special training in library
schools
Let correct slight mistake in what 1 last
wrote for this column when said the OF the old
Durham home, a block west of us on Farnar, was
now occupied by the Huff auto shop / should have
said the Huffman auto place. The curtament of the
name by slip Of the pen put It block too west
am glad to another old Omaha boy Sherman
Garfield land postmaster at Sheridan, wyo by
grace OF our democratic president The Canfields
constituted democratic family, Shermans father
having once been elected on the democratic ticket
here TO represent Douglas county in the state senate
at Lincoln He was also great friend OF Colonel
w +. Cody. and Sherman travelled all over the world
with the Buffalo Bill show the cooners secretary
and handy