The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-22
LIBRARY PUBLICITY.
Is An Essential Part of Library
Work.

Is An Essential Part of Library
Work
That library publicity is an essential
part of library work is the declaration
of DIR. j. ID. WoIcott, librarian of the
bureau of education of the department
of the interior. 'In order to bring the
reader and the book together" declares
DIR. Wolcott, sit is necessary to make
known to the community the resources
OF the library and the services which
it is prepared to render as public
institution. The American Library as
ISOLATION mas given official attention to
the subject of library publicity since
| 1905, when a committee on library pub
lefty appointed by the association out
lined program for action. The commit
tee has been renewed from time to time
since that year, and has continued to
study the problem To the committee
on publicity for 1916 the executive board
of the American Library association re-
ferred all previous American Library as.
ISOLATION reports on the subject OF pub
licity, and also instructed the commit
tee to study out and report compre-
hensive publicity plan for the American
Library association, the state library as
sociations and commissions, and local H.
braries.
"A number OF Libraries have been con
spicuous for effective publicity work dur.
ing the past year. The library commit
taa of Tho al I,,k
designated the period of seven days be-
ginning March /, 1915, as library pub
LEFTY week, during which the uses of
the public library should be brought
in every practicable way to the general
notice OF the citizens. The undertaking
was officially recognized by proclamation
of the mayor OF Toledo. During the |
week articles and advertisements about !
the library appeared each day in the To-
cal newspapers. Appropriate cards and
other library material were displayed in
show windows in various parts OF the {
city, and the street cars carried posters [
relating to the library. Similar posters (
were placed in many OF the large factor
les. Other methods of advertising en-
ployed were the distribution of folders I
and the inclosure OF slips regarding the
library in 10000 laundry packages After
listening to library talks at the schools.
the pupils were taken on visits to the
public library and its resources explained
to them. A result of the campaign has
been a marked increase in the number of
registered borrowers and of books lent
from the public library.
"A similar campaign for the esta blish
ment of business department in the
public library was carried on in st. Paul,
Mimi, in June, 1915, by the Town Cri-
srs, an association of local advertising
men. On June IL, which was reeog-
nized by proclamation of the mayor as
Town criers' library day, special IL
Drary edition of the st. Paul Daily News
was issued and circulated In July a
business mems library centrally located
n store was opened to the public by
he city library, and means have since
,een taken by the Town Criers and 9th
II organizations of business men to bring
he services of this library to the at
ention of those interested.
"Other cities in which noteworthy pub
icity work has recently been accom- :
'lished by the public libraries are Seat
lie, Wash; st. Joseph, Mo-; and Utica,
I. V
I'm Wisconsin during the past year
'ublic library books were frequently
dvertised through window displays.
his method of publicity was first tried
y the larger libraries of the state and
now being adopted by those of the
mailer communities. For the most part,
ierchants' windows on the main streets
re borrowed, since few libraries have
nitable windows in their own buildings.
is reported that these window displays
ring good results when made by libra