Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-26
STUDENTS MAKE
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A BUSY PLACE


A BUSY PLACE
With the arrival Of fall and the
opening of the schools and college, the
younger generation and also many OF
the adults turn to the Waterville Pub
lie Library for reference and diversion.
The library although a quiet place is
really one Of the busiest ones in the
city. Those who work there go about
their daily tasks in quiet manner
ever busy and yet ever ready to leave
one bit Of work to help someone else
with other duties
Through the summer months the H.
brary is used mostly by people who
either read fiction as pastime or are
habitual readers OF good books. With
the opening of schools the assignments
In studies bring the student here for
reference work and the borrowing of
books for study.
In this city there are over 5000 peo-
pie who are registered as readers at
the library. large number of the
names will be dropped from the list
when they are checked up in few
years, but these names have been en-
tered since September 16. 1920, a little
over four years ago.
Last year 5S,t2S books were issued
to subscribers and this year there will
be more, as records show an increase
in the number of people who make use
OF the library each year. The increase
I'm the number of books used in the win
ter months over the amount taken out
In the summer Is large. The report for
the month of August this year showed
hat nr he
taken from the library every day. Dur
ing the month of March. which is gen.
orally the busiest month of the year.
227 books were drawn on the average
each day.
The amount of fiction used In the H.
hrary is great deal larger than the
amount of non-fiction. The college stu
dents at Colby use the public library
great deal and most of their patronage
calls for non-iict ion.
The present day is q day of fiction.
The call for this kind of reading mat
ter is very large and librarians state
that the average life Of a popular novel
is only about three months A new
book when placed in the library is loan
cd to persons for Il period of one week
only. SO great is the call for some
books that several are purcha sed to an
swcr the demand. and these books are
nearly worn out at the end of three
months.
One of the most popular fiction books
in this city during the past few weeks
Is $50 Big, written by Edna Fcrber.
There are countless fiction authors
whose works are represented In the Ii
hrary. but among the most popular are
Mary Roberts Rinehart. Conan Doyle.
Harold Bell Wright and Zane Grey. The
works of these authors are constantly
In demand and the librarian states that
their books are out of the library the
greater part of the time.
Non-fction does not have inconsist-
ent demands as the novels do. but
rather a good book is always popular
Waterville people seem to enjoy THE
Amcricanization of Edward Box by
Edward BOX. as we'll as any book under
tho non-fiction list.
Small children make use OF the IL
brary and a delightful little room
where they can read. look at pictures
or study is provided. A reading club
Ia carried on to which about 40 chill
dren belong and these youngsters
devote much time to reading stand
ard books. Later i'm the fall story
telling hour is held every week on
Saturday afternoon in the childrens
room and between 30 and 40 children
attend these meetings every year, to
listen to interesting tales. told by
some person who can interest them.
For some unaccountable reason
there seems to be more gentlemen
who use the reading rooms. than la
dies. During the forenoon OF each
day. there are quite number of
people who come to the library to
read the newspapers and magazines.
The afternoon brings more ladies
who come in quest of good novels to
take home and in the evening. stud
ents fiji all the rooms studying and
using the reference books to cover
their assignments.
There are 17.20e books on the
shelves and a good number OF the
leading magazines and daily papers
are available. Six rooms are used by
patrons of the library, the delivery
hall. two sick rooms. reference room,
adults reading room and children's
reading room. There are also other
second story which contains the
Waterville woman's Club rooms and
the rooms of the Waterville Histor-
ical society.
A good number Of books are added
to the present list. every month.
Through the work and influence OF
DR.. F.. c. Whittemore. chairman OF
the book committee. great many
of the best books have been secured.
DR.. Whittemore Is always finding
good book when on some of his trips
to the large cities and many times
he has books sent to Waterville for
approval. 1t is due greatly to him
that the library has its present nne
collection Of good literature.
The Library was first opened IN |
Nav. 1905. and money was approprt-
ated by waterville citizens to so
with an amount received from An
drew Carnegie to build this institu-
tion.
head librarian, helped to cataiog the
hooks at the opening and later en-
tered the library in 1917 where she !
has worked since. Miss Mary Tooes
Is assistant librarian and Miss Mar
ion Tobey is another assistant.
Through the efforts of these people. !
waferviile people can use the library
for business or pleasure and VIII Al.
wavs and someone who is willing 20
hsin in, selecting reading mater o. i
nv Kind. a. privilege OF whicn any
nerson may well appreciate