Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-14
librarians Report Shows
1@%1-1@%% BANNER Years

To have read all the books in tn,
Great Falls library is apparently tn
stupendous accomplishment of a larg'
number of patrons, according to tn,
annual report of Miss Louise Fernald
librarian, which records a gain in cir
culation of 2O.355 during the year
but which also shows that among Older
; patrons the circulation has fallen off
a decrease resulting from the scarcity
of books in the library. Even with this
handicap, Miss Fernald thai
1921 and 1922 to date have been the
most successful years in the history Of
the library. the total number of books
| circulated having been 179,3S5.
The great need of the library is
books, Miss Fernald states, declaring
that if the interest of the reader who
is constantly demanding new material
is to be held, new books must be sup
piled. There has been a great demand
for technical books on business and for
French and Spanish literature, the re-
port shows. Miss Fernald's report in
full follows:
THE year which has just passed,
the twenty-ninth year of the library,
and the ninth of my librarianship, has
been the busiest and the most success
full in the history of the library; for
in spite of the scarcity of books, and
lack of money to add anywhere near
the number demanded, we have far
surpassed the circulation of any previ-
ous year and given acceptable service
to all. sThe unusual gain was largely
due to the unemployment situation,
though we do feel that as we build up
our library it is constantly used.
Circulation
Never in the history of the library
have we been able to report as great
a gain. a gain which is shown in every
department of the work. One hundred
seventy-nine thousand three hundred
and eighty-five volumes were circu-
lated, with a gain of 20.355; SO, O65 with
a gain of 1923 in the adult depart
ment. 10.OS1 with q gain of 4,779 in
the children's room. and 22.S13 with a
gain of 1925 in the schools, the re.
naming 1926 from outside agencies.
AS heretofore, our great need is
books. books to replace those which we
are obliged to discard and books to in
terest the reader who is constantly
new material. We cannot
hope to hold our own, much less gain,
unless we are able to buy more books
coming year.
The increase of circulation has
an additional person at
the busy hours and the librarian and
have both been called into
service at the desk. a third person be-
ing an absolute necessity at the rush
from 4 o'clock until $50.
The demand for technical books and !
on business is constantly grow
ing. as is the demand for literature. |
of travel are even more popular |
# such a thing is possible. Miss
has had a collection of French
books from supplementary reading the
'ntire year. The demand for French
Is we'll as Spanish books is increasing
Cataioglng Department
For a period of nearly six months
10 books were bought and scarcely no
lew titles were then added. except
'uch things as were in constant de-
1t was most unfortunate to be
hus curtailed at a time when so many
out of work and had the time
or study as well as for r%ecreational
eading.
There have been numerous gifts.
nd we were able TO buy some second
land fiction very reasonably. Two
thousand five hundred and forty-three
olumes were added. 1886 by purchase.
e by binding and 161 were gifts.
hundred and eighty volumes were
Ilthdrawn. One hundred and seventy
inc were burned because of con-,
81 lost outright, 46 lost and
aid for, the remaining 317 being worn
lt There Qya ar tho npnSopS TINA
S,OSS volumes in the library.
Reading and Reference Room
THE library has been open every
ay this past year for reading and
eference. The reading room has been
afternoons and evenings. j.!
specially so on Sundays during the ,
inter months. We subscribe for II
and 81 magazines. 80 of
'hich we duplicate for circulation: ,
lille IL magazines and IL newspapers
re gifts.
There has been a growing demand
debate work and both the high {
,hool senate and the girls forum have I
wanted. The usual work has {
cen done for the literary clubs of the y
ty and for the high school freshmen.
he class numbered $50 this year, each
coming for two lessons. We Il
eel that the knowledge thus acquired S
ten fold their benefit and (
in the use of the library. 1t I
so saves valuable time both TO the h
and the assistant.
The vocational classes have made t
use of the library and at the {
time have had a class room IL il
AIRY of 23 volumes in the high school Y
Several valuable gifts have c
zen added to our collection of local i.
story and we are hoping that in the o
'ar future we can make q start to- Il
ard our museum. +
Registration c
The membership record for the wear l.
somewhat the growth of the G
'rary. Two thousand two hundred n
id twenty-four new borrowers were
cards and $50 re-registered. OF Z
csc, 1856 were adult borrowers and .
4 children. There are in force at a
e present time 1863 cards-7.17O' A
the adult department and $500 in a
e children's room. Many of the old +
rrowers have fallen off because of F
r inability to supply new books, but I
feel that the newcomers to the Z
are making use of the library =