Abilene weekly reflector., 1922-01-19
PUBLIC LIBRARY IN 1921
Miss Romig's Report As Librarian
Tells the Story

tremely heavy during 1921, OWN
largely to increased use Of readin
rooms and reference department. Nc
only our own people. but Outlyin
towns and country districts are tax
Ing more and more advantage of Il
brary privileges.
Classes Of students were brOugh
to the library for training In use o
reference helps. Many student
quickly grasped essentials and nov
work admirably. The knowledg
gained will always be of value Il
them as 1t will enable them to keel
in touch with the latest thought II
their line Of activity.
High schol students did much O.
their credit reading through the pub
lie library, hence donations Of pros,
classics and standard poetry were
and are very acceptable. Teachers
graciously facilitated work by send
ing promptly to the library lists OF
books required.
More bu:..ess men, mechanics and
other wOrkmen used the library than
during previous years, and would use
1t still more If the library had suffi-
cient money to buy books needed.
Notwithstanding the fact that only
only 17S books were purchased, and
that at least fifty of these were en-
cyclopedias or replacements, 4,473
more books were issued this year
than last The issue could be doubled,
however, II the library were furnish
ed adequate funds for the purchase
of books. The library tax has never
been sufficient to more than pay run
ming expenses. Books have always
been supplied from proceeds Of rum
mage sales and outside sources. Dur
ing 1921 the tax was increased one
tenth of mill, but the resulting
amount was needed for repairs and
current expenses, and many repairs
are still needed; so there Is still no
dependable fund for book purchases,
other than the little interest on the
small permanent book fund. Both
this fund and the tax are s0rely In
need of substantial increase, and
would surely receive it, IL the COM
munity fully realized the place occu-
pied by the library in the education
al and recreational life Of Dickinson
county. Many children and adults
neither have nor can have many
books in their homes, and are de-
pendent on the library for both
and pleasure.
Story hours conducted by talent
ed and charitable patrons drew
crowds of little ones through the
summer, and the resulting interest
in reading amply repaid all effort.
Book week, during November,
again showed the fine community
spirit prevailing in Abilene. Every
call for aid was cordially met. Min
sters at our request gave from their
pulpits talks on the need for reading
better books, Rev. c. L. Hovgard
talked to high school students, c. M.
Harger talked to Junior high, and
Mrs. P. II. Roger talked to mothers.
Business men and newspapers dis
played advertisements of the activ-
tiles of the week, and teachers CO.
operated in choosing pupils for the
feature of the week,
Of Stevenson's poems
by twenty one children directed by
Mrs. P. H. Roger, who had drama
lied the poems, and planned the set
ing Of the stage. Mrs. B. G. Hurd I
furnished the music. Patrons were
most generous in loaning properties.
Following are the names Of those
Who took part: Aileen Davis, Janet
Hurd, Doris Valentine, Elizabeth
lane Keel, Catherine Gleissner, Carl
Bath, Jack Geoffroy, Lola Cole,
Vivian Biesecker, Sylvan Sidesinger,
Tohn Michael Rugh, Wilma Taylor,
Covert Simmons, John Dieter, Elva
yenger, Dale Leonard, Morris Beam
r, Mary Olive Forney, Charlene
schiveley, Sterl McClintock, Jane
CASE; and the names Of those who
oaned properties or otherwise helped
n the success Of the play: Mesdames
!. Il. Johntz, w. w. Davis, G. A.
Case, P. H. Royer, B. @. Hurd, A. L.
A Hurd, II. w. Wilson, o.
A. Sterl, G. A. Rogers, G. L. Hub
bard, M. HI. Malott, III. r. Ackers,
Misses Mace King, Mary Giles, Eliz-
abeth wyandt, Betty Shearer, w. II.
Burnham, III. p. Kilbourne, Billy
Ralph Anderson. the
Racket.
This dramatization drew two full
houses, and resulted in great demand
for Stevenson's "Child Garden OF
Verse" for Christmas, and in in
creased interest in poetry generally.
Indeed, mothers report children
poems in their play.
All during book week, books and
lists of books suitable for Christmas
gifts were on display at the library,
and many people came to consult
about Christmas purchases.
Following are comparatively sta
tistics for the years 1921 and 1920:
Membership tickets issued 1901, l.
eos; receipts from sale OF tickets,
pay copies, gifts. etc., $26O.So'
$232.s8; expenditures at library,
$500, $35.41; callers, 1850,
44,197; books, magazines, pamphlets
issued 27,714, 23,321; books pur-
chased 17s, 227; books donated,
a