The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-12-05
LIBRARY CROWS
At RAPID RATE
At SMALL COST
Institution Increases in
Public Favor; Children
Are Great B 90 k
Users.

An array OF tact speaking lgurcS al
testing the growth OF the Carnegie
Public Library was given by Miss
Lalla Bedford. acting librarian. in a
paper read before the P. T. A. OF
the Lincoln school recently. Believ-
ing that the public is entitled to
know what is being accomplished
along the line OF library work and
what is needed to increase the use
fulness OF the institution, these figures
have been compiled and are here offer
ed for consideration 10 all who have
the communiiy's best Interests at
heart.
"The past four years have not wit
messed a phcnominal growth along
every civic line due largely. doubt
less, to the inevitable postwar deprrs-
sion. Economy OF expenditure mas
been the key-nite in the administra-
ton OF the city's business. Tax pay
ers have looked askance at the
slightest suggestion OF increase in the
tax burden and have shouted a con-
sistent why" at every such sugges-
ton Miss Bedford said.
ITO the unthinl<ing this may seem
a very inopportune time to bring to
public notice the crying needs of the
city's growing institutions. but there
is one Of the municipalities tax-child-
rem whose rapid growth calls for i'm
mediate attention in order to insure its
future usefulness. and that is the
Carnegie Public Library.
Part of School System
Bound up as il is with city schools
it has become an integral part of the
educational facilities OF Caldwell. Not
alone does it serve the schools. for its
influence is felt by the entire reading
pubic-both adult and juvenile-pat-
rons as well as pupils
"The present affiliaiion with the city
schools was effected in 1919, and the
generous patronage from the schools
is forcing the formulation Of plans
to meet the growing needs of TIE I
city in library service.
Circulation Gro-vs
During the school year OF nine
months from 1919 to 1890. D, $50
books were circulated From 1922
10 1928, during the corresponding pc
rcd. 36,l30 books were circulated =
making an increase OF 81 per cent =
The increase for the entire year was '.
20 per cent In ordinary parlance, y
his means that when visitors in the
library in the year 1910 to 1920 Dor p
owed one-hundred books. visitors in o,
he year 1922 to 1923 borrowed one ''
.undrcd and fifty books. m
The circulation for 1922 TO 1923 ID
aggregated 5o,403. over which there NJ
vas 10 per cent increase in 1923 p
o 1924, which means that visitors 'o
borrowed eleven books in 1924 as III
gainst ten in 1922 10 1923. SC
Many to Children Tx
In the TACT that 81 per celt (c,f-
ne-thlrd) of the books loaned dui;..,
ne last school year were to juven
es lies a pertinent suggestion. 1t
Emphasizes the crying need OF juv-
lie library. With the present ar SC
lngemcnt the combination of aduI. co
nd juvenile quarters. together with II
aedquate help, little can be done c.
ward directing the children in Their Sc
fading. The selection OF books is an eff
'cellent one and is carefully arrang rel
as TO grades and subject matter. ga
At children under twelve are not fe,
ialihed judges Of what is timely or to
'propriate in reading. either for OF
udy or for leisure Partly on this OF
cunt as well as out of regard for Sn
e adult reading public, the library we
ard recently made ruling requir- aft