The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-09-13
increased another 1900 and the
number of loans increased 5000.

increased another 1900 and the
number of loans increased 5000.
The people who visit the library
consist of children, students, resident
adults and transient adults. Child
rem enter in large numbers as they
leave school, and early In the even
ing during the study hours. There
are more visitors on Saturday than
on other days, and especially people
| from the country. Many of those
who go in from the country stay and
read while other members of the
family do their shopping. A good
many of these are boys and young
fellows at the age when they are
choosing associates.
The figures given above show
nearly a thousand books not ac-
discarded, some become dirty and
are discarded even tho they are not
so badly worn, and good many are
given to other libraries for two rea-
sons-because we happen to have
two or more books or sets, dupli-
Gates, given, perhaps by people who
could spare them, and because we
need the space for others that are
needed to round out the library. The
books given away go to other
libraries like Aberdeen, Shelley
Mackay, Salmon and to school dis
tricts in this county that provide a
place and apply for them. Two sets
of encyclopedias may be donated,
and all are accustomed, (recorded)
and one set sent to some school or
other library. In some instances,
books are sorted out and given away
to other libraries because they have
been pretty well read by the patrons
here and can be replaced by others
that will have greater value.
AS the library grows, the number
of it's friends grow, and new dona-
lions come in. Boy Scouts may be
rung up and sent in with express
wagons loaded with books from
homes where the books have not
been doing much service, and stu
dents seeing them listed in the news
papers, go in and borrow or study
them. AS people come to know how
constantly such books are used when
placed in the library, they note how
little they are used at their own
homes, and ring up a Boy Scout and
send them to where real service
begins.
In the present library, there are
seats for fourteen persons to sit and
study, and room for few to stand.
Next month there will be standing
room only, from the time school is
out until students gather at their
homes. At that time new rule will
be put into effect to give as many as
possible a chance to read and study.
Adults will be asked to make their
visits during school hours. Students
up to the age of the junior high, up
to 7 O'Clock in the evening, and the
juniors and up after O'Clock. III
the public knew how many young
people desire to sit in the library and
read, are barred out because of the
standing room only" they would be-
more interested in getting larger
quarters. Most people on being told
that more room is needed in the
library, think that more room is |
needed to stand books on shelves. On
going in to look around, they see
empty shelves and think the need is |
not urgent. But the empty shelves
are all occupied, in the sense that
the books are out temporarily and
when returned, must go in their own
positions till borrowed again. Other
wise there would be no order and no
system by which to find books when
wanted. A well patronized library
always has a large proportion of
empty places in the shelves, but the
empty places are always shifting to
correspond with the records kept
right up to the minute to indicate
books out or books in and ready to
be loaned again. One means of get
ting room for books now is to lug
the duplicate magazines out and into
the city clerks office where they are
stacked on the floor to be carried off
at random by all who want them.
When you read or hear about the
library needing more room, it means
room for boys and girls to sit down
to read or study, out of school hours.
A number of years ago this county :
voted to close all saloons, and a good
many thoughtful people said that If
places of pastime were to be closed, :.
other and better places of pastime
should be opened or we might not
3dlu ny IL. Every hluu VI pdSIlIuo VI
that has been opened or
developed or maintained during that
ime has been questiond or objected
o or was at times and seasons i'm
PRACTICAL excepting the public library.
t stands alone unchallenged as
,lace that is safe and profitable to
,atronize, and it is of such a nature (
hat it is operated at low cost, is
'esponsible for no crimes, leads to no
wills, and has outgrown its quarters
every time it has been en-
arged
The Blackfoot library has seating
for fourteen persons. The
lext most accessible place of pastime
hat is open to the public. seats
several hundred each, and the next
Of pastime that is al
Ways open to all seats few dozen {
ZACH The smallest institution, the {
me that is endorsed by verybody,
las the smallest seating capacity,
md Is worked to capacity nearly all
he time as to goods or seats or both. '
The Blackfoot library was founded