The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-14

,
looks down from the life sized oil
painting which hangs in the reading
room of the library building where it
has been placed for many years, If 1t
could see at all. would no doubt beam
with the pleasure at the sight before
1t today, the elimination of a hope
which no doubt Influenced Mr.. Nor
risson at the time he made the be-
quest which brought the library into
existence.
Celebration Of Library Week, be-
ginning April %, brings to mind the
fact that the Morrisson-Reeves library,
as it is called now, has a history
which extends back as far as the wear
1864.
In that time, many changes have
taken place in the city. The business
district along Main street has moved
farther to the east, and the library
building itself has undergone a few
changes, although none of them such
as to mar its usefulness. The orig
maj structure of brick has been faced
win stone and the front extended out
closer to the sidewalk
Historic Buildino
The Morrisson-Reeves library is an
historic building. 1t was erected in
1864 in what was then the center of
the city. Since that time the city has
expanded In all directions and the
business section has moved to a point
a Few blocks to the east, but for con-
venience to the city as a whole the H.
brary's present site could not be
equalled at any other point so close to
the center of town.
Much of the library work of the fu-
ture will be done through the schools
and branches, in the opinion of Mrs.
Ada Bernhard, librarian. For this
reason, the location of the building to-
day is not of as much Importance as
far as a few blocks one way or the
other are concerned as it was at one
time.
Need Automobile
The real need of the library today is
for small car in which member of
the staff can transport books to and
from the schools. Thus the library
would serve as a central distributing
agency for the books, and the collec
ton would be put to much more effec
tive use. At present some of the jan
itors of the schools are sent to carry
books to and from the building. This
means waste and less use of the books
Excellent facilities for reference are
provided for the person doing serious
research work. There are separate
rooms in which this work may be done
without interference by other stu
dents.
Many modern library buildings dc
not have the divisions that are pro
vided in this library, and the research
worker does not get the opportunity
for privacy that this building affords
Books Sent Out.
Figures compiled by the librarians
show that over $4,000 books wer;
sent out over the counter in 1921
Reference works to which inquirer,
were referred numbered 9,54S. o.
these, S,256 were for adults and l 20.
juvenile.
4Tiction volumes to the number o.
69423 were loaned These also were
divided into two classes, 54,514 fol
adults and 1900 for juvenile use.
School circulation totaled 5,231, and
adult circulation of non-fiction books
was 10.S6S. Juvenile non-fiction nun
bered 5,997.
New books must be added to tht
library constantly to keep it fresh
and take care of those lost through
natural wear. New books added il
1921 numbered ,4S3 OF these, 81
I were purchased, 147 donated. 169 were
! i'll the form of bound magazines, ant
253 were government books
Fewer Books Bought.
Because of a cut in the tax levy las
year, the library suffered and fewe
books were purchased than in pre-
yicus years. Approximately $4,000 i
provided each year for the institution
by taxes, but this sum is soon eater
up in book purchases, salaries, coaI
light, and other bills, and certai1
proportion is taken up in replacin
the books which have been hopelessl
worn out
That books of modern manufacture
wear more rapidly than those pull
iished in years past. is the statemen
Of Mrs. Bernhard. Eighteen times
the NAHUM number of Journeys til
new book can make before it is read
o be worked over by re-casing or II
binding.
Great Amount of Work.
Few persons realize the amount {
work entering into the placing of
new book into library service. A
each book comes in, it is checke
With the bill. Then each page in tn
book must be gone over carefully, {
make sure it has been properly prir
cd. This process sometimes result
in as high as four out of so bool
being returned TO the publisher f,
replacement.
The price of the volume, and tt
source of the funds from which it W:
purchased are noted inside the cove
Then the book is catalogued. TIL
is one of the most complicated piec,
Of work through which the volun
passes. The title is placed on nur