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ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

EAU CLAIRE PUBLIC LIBRARY

FOR THE YEAR ENDlNG JUNE

RTIETH, ONE THOUSAND

rNE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN

,~.

I EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

Eau Claire Public Library

FOR THE YEAR ENDlNG JUNE

THIRTIETH, ONE THOUSAND

liNE HUNDRED:AND ELEVEN

Eau Claire, Wisconsin 1911

LIBRARY BOARD, 1910-1911

L. A. DOOLI'rTLE, President

M. S. FRAWLEY, Vice-President

w. AGER, Secretary

w. J. S'l'ARR H. C. PUTN AM W. H. SCHULZ

C. T. EAGLES C. M. MERRILL

W. K. COFFTN R. R. LOETHER

LIBRARY STAFF

MRS. B. S. CRONK, Librarian

Assistants

WIr IFRED COFFIN

H. MARJORIE BEATJ

MYRTTJE DEAN

Janitor

EDWAED JOIIJSO.

LIBRARY BOARD, 1911-1912

w. K. COFFIN, President

M. S. FRAWLEY, Vice-President

W. W. BARTLETT, Secretary

R. K. BOYD W. AGEE W. H. SCHUTJZ

W. J. STARR C. M. MERRILL

J. S. SINGLETO~ R R. LOB'I'HBH

L. A. DOOLITTLE

Executive Committee Finance Committee

C. M. MERIULL W. J. STARn

R. K. BOYD J. 8. SINGIJETON

R. H. LOETHBR R K. BOYD

Literature Committee Rent nook Committee

W. IT. SCHULZ L. A. DOOLI'T''l'TJE

W. W. BARTLETT W. AGER

W. AGER 1f. S. FRAWLEY

Librarian

NIl L A M. OTJSE~ •

l

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

To the Honorable, the _{ayor and Common Council of the City of l·;a'.l Claire: .

The first and llJost obvious lcst of the usdulnes' of a public library is thc volume of ib circulation, but a much betJer test is applied when not only its volume but i.ts charadcr as well is considered. The simplest examination of the charader or quality of the cirCtllation is made b, comparing the nUl:lher of volumes of fiction takcn out with the number of books drawn of all other kind'. This is so because thc amount of lidion read usually greatly exceeds all the reading done along other lines; and while the reading of good fiction, the classes of fiction supplied uy the Eau Clain' l'ublic l-ibrary, is not wilhout educational \'alue, in that it supplies ':01 Ie informai ion, and sur,h makes for cultivation and (.haracter through its presentation 01 worthy idcals and its portrayal of heroic, persistent and succe siul effod·s to attain lhelll) it is not to b(' denicil. that it is read largely for recreation and amuscment, while lllosl rcading of otller books comes about lrom a set purpose of self improve­ment.

The librarian\ classified report of circulation herel\'ilh tends to show not only a gratifying incrcase in thc amount of reading done, but it als') tends to ,:;how, when tried by this test of eflkiency, some increase in spriou",ne. s of purpose, something lOore of Rhldiousncss, on the part of its patronf\: for thev have made greater usc than rver beforc of books that a re not fiction.

All of the librarian's report is submitted as a part of our report, but lI'e commend to you.r especial consiilcration the sLatistical portions of' it. for the reason that we believe it eareful analysis of t.hese will ,;atisfy you that the Eau Claire T'ublic Librarv during the vear just clasen has heen 11'(;11 and successfully administered.

HespecUully Rubmitted, TilE BO.\.RD OF DIRECTORS,

By L. A. Doolittle, I'resideJ1l.

81:1.u Clain" \Vis., June 30, 1911.

REPORT OF UBRARIA

To the Board of Directors of the Eau Claire Public Library:

I have the honor of. submitting the annual report of the Eau Claire Public Library for the ycar ending June 30, 1911.

This year has witnessed a steady increase in the efficiency and us of the library. The resignation of )[iss Smith, under whose able an,! efficient direction the library made such marked adval1ces, and the unavoidable delay in securing a permanent sl1ceessor, has prevented the undertaking of new lines of work. The \l"ork has consisteil mainly in developing those already begun.

ClRCULATIO

The past year has seen the circulation reach a higher figure thall ever before. 62,846 books were issued, of whjch 37,537 were from the main library and 25,309 from the children's depal'tll1l'ut. The increase over last year's circulation was 7,287 or 13 pel" cent, and the increase over the highest circulation in 1909 \\'as 4,065 or ncurly 'I per cent.

SUlIoDAY ATTENDANCE

The Sunday attendance this year showed an incrcaDc. 1723 people used the library the 24 Sundays it was open, an incrrl\se of 24 per cent. over last year.

CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT

Tl1e total circulation of books in the chililren's department was 25,309. Of this number 22,646 ,rere loaned from the children's raUl,! and 2,663 from the schools.

The story hour was held Saturday morning from Jan. 21 to Feb. 25 with an attendance of 330, averaging 55 for each of the six Saturdays. Miss Real told the Dtories, which \Vere Ear the younger children.

During March the game room was open to the children Saturday morning and proved popular. This next year we plan to have a gam~ room one evening a week for the older boys.

WORK WITH SCHOOL

The work with schools ha" been much the same as in the past. Owing t.o our unsettled condition for several months, the work with Sic<

t11<; eighth grade was not taken IIp. 121fi boob werc i sUNl on teacher'" (;aro.. 'l'he number of pichll'es used by tcachers of both the day and SUllllay .'chools rC'llininC'll about the H<lme as last year. 3376 pictures wC're loaned from the library.

'['he 'c:hool duplicate colledion lIas becn very succe 'flll as the work has I lore than dOllhl(~Cl this past year. 230 books were added this year and the ('ollection TlOI\" ('ontains -110 books. A room in the basement has hcell I'd a~ic1c fo)' tlri col !edion anel we hope to see the collection increase materia]]y this COining }CHI:. a;:; this "eems to be the best way or bringing thc librarv to the e:hilorell \I'ho are too far distant from the lib 'ar' io come to tlll' l'11ilcll'lm's room.

~(·hool room libraries 1I'01'e 'l.nt to the "Fourth Ward building 1 inth \\"anl .TO. 1 anCl ;-\0. 2, ano one librarv to the Fir t Ward. 756 books In,)'c ,;en L and the'e ei relilatcd 2()(i3 limes. This next year the work onght to be extenJ<"d ';0 as to inclnlle lhe Tenth and Second Wards.

VACATION CARDS

~'1 \'UC,ltiOIi Cell'd;; w\'re iil>:ued during the summer of 1910 and 368 books wcre i ued on them.

l.JSE OF THE LIBRARY B ILDTNG

This has bepn a bus.\' vear caring for the different organizations \\'hirh usc thc' librarY rOOlllS for their meetings.

'The Connty Medical. 'oeiety>s :Ulnuat lIleeting was beld here in the I::ttl. 'rhe Philhanno lic ~ociety has used the vVoman's Club room at \-arious times. There have been two art e:-;hibits under the direction of the \"oman' Club_ rl'he~c \INe free to the public and were well attended. _-ulllerous rOllllll itLcc8 ha I't.' also held their meetings here.

GIFTS

The library ha l'eceiverl many gift>: tbis year, an of which are !<I'<:,al!y apprecia1 11. )[1'''. IT ..1. :;'I[ Grath gave u" a wood carving of the Lion of Lucerne, \l'hirh .'he pll1'chasod while abroad last summer. \fr. IV. W. Bar1.lett ]irescnted tJ1f> 1ibl'al'y witb an enlarged crayon of Captain Per ·in". This i' 1I1l' work or 11r. Henning, and is in the ['eaCliug room ai prcsent. 1I1rs. C. W. Lockwood gave 75 books which could all be u~ (1. rCbe neutsrbe GeBelh;rhaCt of the High School gave u!' ,[i.00 \\'hich \\-ill be use(l La add books to our German collection. To other friends tha.nks are e:-'ll'ndl'd for books. magazines and pictures.

Seven

To :Mr. Demmler ano ~1rs. V. Nielson we are indebted for plants, which have helped to make t.he libran' more attractive. To the press of the city thanks are due for their couric;;}' in printing library news.

STAFF

There have been many changes in the staff ouring the year. In October Miss f-lmiih and .:\fiRR Dean left us; tho forIJIer io go to }ladison Public Library, the latter La [he Davenport, Iowa, P11blic Library. In De­cember :Miss Shaw wenl to the Madison Public Library.

In February )[1'5. B. S. Cronk was elected Librarian after serving five months as acting Librarian. .J annan- 1, 1911, MisH H. Marjorie Beal came from the ~ew York 1'11blic Library io take c:harge of our children's room. June 1, ] 911, Miss }1yrtle Dean, who had been an apprentice tor several monl hs, became a regular assistant.

'rhe library was repJ'C'sellLod at the meeting of the State Library :\ssociation by }liss ('urtin.

Respectfully submitted, BRATJUCE S. CROKK.

Eight

FINANCIAL REPORT OF SECRETARY

RECEIPTS

RaJallr' on hand July 1, 1910 :Ii 264. ~ City <ilJpr-opriation ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6000.00

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6264.72

PAYME TS

Books 818.05 Furniture and fixtures 30.1(i Print.ing 34.00 Building 72.31 Periodicals 2::;:1.80 Water 52.05 Light 222.76 Janitor 687.50 Telephone 12.00 Fuel '" 420.M Binding 38S.GO Salaries 2307.07 LnSUl"anCe 298.99 Balance on hand July 1, 1911 669.59

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6264.'( ~

FINANCIAL REPORT OF LIBRARIAN

RECEIPTS

Bnlanec July 1, 1910 " . Fees I"rom non-residents . fines . n('posit~ by non-residents . Hrnt books . LosL books .

aid for reserve postals . Other sources . (Ii rt from D(~u Lsell e GesellschaH Hent of building

.

)feilical society Rusilll~ss J11l'n's association \liss Xourse Woman's Club

Total . PAYMENTS

'I'elephone Books Periodicals J anitol' Furniture and fixtures Stationrl'y and snpplies Printing Postnge, express, freight and dray

r/~i~;:'~a~c~' \\'aler Building Dpposits repaid to non-residents ::\1iscellaneous Balance on hand July 1, l}Jll

Total. " Ten

. . . . . . . .

: : ~ : :~: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : . . . . .

$ 76.43 14.75

239.52 16.00 55.65

9.32 9.13 8.38 5.00

4.00 4.00 2.00

60.00

504.18

12.00 11.27

7.25 28.60 13.05

8.77 2.00 4.85

17.20 3.63 4.35

25.00 16.00

1.1.'5 139.01

" " " . 504.1~

GENERAL SUMMARY, 1911

Number of days the lilJTary was open for circulation of books. . .. 30(i :\ umber of Sundays library wa open........................ 24

\'urnocr of volumes loaned from the library 628..J.(j

.\veragc monthly circulation 523.

Total numhcr of day' library was open to the public. . . . . . . . . . .. 330

_~ umbel' of fHl,;tures loaned from the library , 3376 :i.verage daily circulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 205 Largest daily circulation, Feb. 11, 1911....... . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. 490 Smallest daily rirculation, June 29, 1911. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Largest monthly circulation, Nov. 1910 6 'mallrRt monthly circulation, June 1911 3708

"umber of people l'cgif'tered for the first time. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. 109·1 Total number of people registered Julv 1, 19] 1 6312 _'umbel' of people who camE' to the library on Sundays 11:3

• Elevf.."n

---

CLASSIFIED LIST OF BOOKS Circulating Reference

CLASSES

Department

<: ~

I ~:;

::"1""< :;:: u

69 3

348 8 767 64

Department

~

~ I ~ "'0 ::::-< .<:

I U

2331~ 2155 I 52

5 33 I 1

1330 185 6il 2

667 351 741 86 6{1 59

1364 717

1033 1161 2304

151 18

161

223 329 21th 238 981

90 32 22 19 21

124 65 45 84

4 2 1

31 38

I 9

161

BOOK ACCOUNT Number of books in the libra.ry July 1, 1910 Number of books add8d by purchase ){umber of books added by giJt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Xumher of magazines and books bound ~

Total 20938 ~i[lIl1lber of books withdrawn during the year ' 52'(

~umber of books in library July 1, 1911 20411 Twelve

1925.') 1001 598

CLASSIFIED REPORT OF CIRCULATION

Classes Adult General works 50 Current periodicals 969 .Philosophy . , 183 Religion .. . . . . . . .. 244 ;'ociology 517 Languaae 43 . -atural science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 328

seiul arts 882 Fine arts . . . . . . . . . .. 659 Literature 1249 IIistory 532 'Travel 664 Biography 374 Fiction 27867 German '.. 1739 _ ol'wegian 1237

Total 37537

REGISTRATION

Adult ~-umber of borrowers July 1, 1910 . 3972 . umber of new borrowers registered . 590 .·umber of borrowers l'e-registered . 290

Total . 4852 Sumber of cards withdrawn . 755

~umber of borrowers July 1, 1911 . 4097

Children 134

3 3

528 3293

2494 515 305 819

1741 1837

695 12942

25309

Children 2019

504 93

2616 371

2245

Total 184 972 18h 772

3810 43

2822 1397

964 2068 2273 2501 1069

4080~

1730 1237

62846

Total 5991 1094

383

'/468 Jl26

6342 Thi'"te ....