Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-02-17

fs sfSfesa aheE fhss eFas II TENTS
III iaif ebsts IS Hay s.lsz Ii; tanus
airy and February; lis, bur book cir.
culatiorf was 5i54. Iii January and
February, 1920, it was 67o7, 1853
books more for those two months
alone
Our library sends books to the hos
pital, the mills, and the jail, not for
| getting the schools and we'll circu-
lated collection of books in Biron vii
/ lage-
| Some years ago we opened branch
| library in Nekoosa and after it was
running smoothly the club women
down there took it over. Now Ne
koosa makes an appropriation to the
library, and it operates under the
State Library commissions
In November, +Children's Book
Week." which was national affair
was observed here. Desirable books
for children were displayed, and the
Librarian gladly gave lists and infor-
nation to anyone asking for help.
Pilgrim Week" was most interesting.
Many towns people loaned their oldest
and dearest possessions to help the
Library make an attractive Colonial
ROOM
But like all well regulated families
we have skeleton in our closet"
Not one but many of them fill the
large downstairs room of our present
library building. This skeleton some
times takes the form of motor cars,
sometimes one, often three of them
rest III the old engine room. And
when one or all three of them chug
away there is still to be old machin-
cry, shovels, scrapers, old lanterns,
chains, and an endless array of ''city
property"
We do need this downstairs, and
about a year ago it was estimated that
five thousand dollars would remodel
the building. But we see no way of
getting this five thousand. The Boy
Scouts have the use of room on the
ground floor, and there is one available
for the Campfire Girls when they wish
20 take it.
The trustees of the T. B. Scott IL
brary are: Mr. F. j. Wood, President
Mr.. Wood has served on the Board
since the library was started, thirty
two years ago. Mr.. E. P. Arpin is
bn Woo To hos ON,
the Board thirty-cne years.
In November, 1900, Mr.. J. D. Witter
resigned from the Board of Directors,
: and his son, Mr.. |. P. Witter, was APP
pointed to his place Mr.. l. P. Witter
: is still serving the Board as Treasurer.
! Mrs. John E. DAILY has served as Sec
rotary since 1906 Mrs G. j. Kaudy
has been member since 1912, and
Mr.. Ben Hanson came to the Board
in 1916. Our City Superintendent of
Schools, Mr. E. G. Doudna, is also
, member.
; The J. D. Witter Travelling libraries
are governed by the same trustees as
: The T. B. Scott library. Mr.. J. D.
, Witter originated the libraries during
his lifetime, and Mr.. Isaac Witter is
keenly interested in keeping up his
! fathers work.
There are Al of these travelling
! libraries with about AZ books in each
case. They are placed in rural schools
. postoffices, country stores or homes,
: wherever asked for The library in
; Vesper is very ably cared for in the
bank by Mr.. and Mrs. Witzig. We
: have not enough of these travelling
libraries, of course; some stay four
months, some six months in a place.
They are housed, when in the city,
in the present library building, and
cared for by Miss Solheim and her
assistant. If any of you have full
years numbers of magazines or
book you would just as soon give
/ away, remember the travelling literary.
, Just those who are deeply interested
realize how much these quiet travel
ers mean to the country districts.
Books are the land where friendly
people dwell,
The happy land where loved ones
never die:
The young stay young, the old con-
tinue WELL
However neglected in the dust they
lie
Within the pages born of human
thought,
We live again the battles men have
fought,
And share their glad romances old
and new,
And though we change, our books
are always true"
Edgar Guest.