The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-01-19

Tho central library Is located in
Ontario which already had n build
ing when the county system was
started This is the only library
building in the county. Ontaro Is
the largest town, 203S population,
on the main railroad from Chicago
to Portland, and only mile from
the Idaho state line. II In the center
OF population. less than one hours
automobile ride from Vale and Nys-
ga, though about 150 miles from the
lower end OF the county.
Tho libraries In Vale and Nysed
both located In the rooms OF the
commercial club, have increased
their circulation 1877 per cent In
1891 and their number OF new bor-
rowers "a per cent. The book con-
dltlon of these two libraries is very
poor, tho shelves are filled with worn
out books, and there has not been
enough book fund TO restock them
1877 books have been sent TO the
Vale library from the county library
and 100 10 Nyssa. Vale does very
fine work In supplying the needs OF
tho community by frequent special
requests 10 both the county library
and state library. The increase In
reference work in Vale has been "a
markd that II should have special
mention IN this report. In Nyssa
tho work ia stlll confined TO the cir.
culation OF books. but thero with the
library open only ono afternoon q
week, 1853 books have been circulat.
cd az one tlmo. "As long as the
people SEQ light" they Como in
and tho volunteer librarian often
stays In the library until soyon OF
eight In tho evening. From a con.
Hignment OF SO books from tho State
library TO Nyssa, 400 circulationB are
reported. Since Il 10 impossible be
causo OF delinquent taxes 10 send
enough books to Vale and Nyssa, the
librarian has n schedule whereby she
visits each library twice n month, ono
visit being devoted to organizing
and the other visit being whom the
library IN open to tho pubic.
Tho library. In Jordan Valley has
been moved TO the print shop OF the
local paper. The books are beinH
widely used, though some difficulty
In finding one custodian 10 take
charge OF the collection has served
10 confirm the old adage too many
cooks spoil the broth" No daily.
report has ever been received so that
the circulation statistics could not be
added 10 any report.
Station libraries including 239e
books have been sent TO 27 conters,
is OF these In school houses, for. re-
loaning TO the people In the COM
munity. Two deposits have been
sent 10 schools for the use OF the
school alone. One deposit has been
made 10 the county agricultural
agent. No record OF circulation has
been made from these stations. one
hundred books sent 10 Bonita where
are 81 borrowers. were nearly all on
the shelf at one time, The books
from Fangoliano station, ranch
house post Office 40 miles from a
railroad, are found In all the homes
from Skull Springs TO Crowley, a
distance OF about 40 miles. Juntura
one OF the largest small towns In
the county, presented a highly sue
cessful farce on November gath for
tn benefit OF the library. A civic
club was also formed whose dues
are 10 pay their librarian for her
services. The books In the West
fall station, upon being moved from
a short distance out OF town 10 the
center OF town, have all been read In
two months. The most instrumental
means OF increasing station libraries
apart from the county librarians
visits, ;1as a short talk given By the
librarian at the Teachers Institute.
r. a.. .....k laAIakAA nAfnta uhAFa
little outside educational Influence
has been felt. the books are receivd
with qualification. However, II Is
noted that they are most In demand
In good Farm Bureau centers. Where
the county agent, one OF whose pro
jects Is the county library, has done
his best work. there the greatest
number OF books had 10 be sent.
The librarian took two long trips
with the County School Superinten-
dent in the fall. On these trips
the central and southern parts OF the
county were fairly well covered.
These trips brought fine results, and
also many questions about school
libraries, most Of which are deplor-
ably duplicated, used up, worn out,
and not kept In good order. The
county library has no jurisdiction
over school Libraries.
The chief success OF the Central
Library is the acquisition OF an ex-
cellent experienced janitor who has
taken exceeding pride in renovating
the building and grounds. The park
ing in front OF the library has been
transformed from clump OF weeds
TO a beautifully kept lawn. The
library building has been thoroughly
freed from dirt and is now kept
warm and comfortable as well as at
tractive and clean. This, with the
addition of a bulletin board and ta-
BILE for special collections in a cosy
corner, and some plants and pictures,
has changed the appearance OF the
library to such an extent that there