TWELFTH BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR THE YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1925 and 1926
TWELFTH BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR THE YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1925 and 1926
Capital Printing Co.
Dover. Del.
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION
MEMBERS
MRS. JAMES W. ANTHONY Reappointed Feb. 4, 1926 for 5 years.
SMYRNA
A. L. BAILEY Reappointed Feb. 4, 1926 for 5 years.
WILMINGTON
MISS ANNA B. HAYES Reappointed Jan. 21, 1922 for 5 years.
Dover
MISS MARGARETTA MILLER Appointed Feb. 4, 1926 for 5 years.
WILMINGTON.
MISS MARGARET ORR Reappointed June 28, 1926 for 5 years.
LEWES
MRS. CHARLES PRETTYMAN Reappointed Jan. 21, 1922 for 5 years.
MILFORD
MRS. HENRY RIDGELY Reappointed Feb. 4, 1926 for 5 years.
DOVER
S. RODMOND SMITH Appointed Jan. 5, 1925 for 5 years.
ODESSA
OFFICERS
A. L. BAILEY, Acting President
MRS. H. C. TSCHUDY, Secretary
MISS IDA V. CULBRETH, Librarian
All correspondence relating to the work of the Commission should be addressed to The State Library Commission, Dover, Delaware.
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION OF DELAWARE
Twelfth Biennial Report
For The Years Ending
June 30, 1925 and June 30, 1926
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware, in General Assembly met:
The State Library Commission begs leave to submit the following report.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
In the death of Mrs. Charles R. Miller of Wilmington, Delaware, the State Library Commission has lost one of its most esteemed and loyal members. Mrs. Miller was one of the original members of the Commission, always interested in the work and ever ready with able and helpful advice. The members of the State Library Commission have heard of the resignation of Mr. Henry P. Cannon as a member of the Commission with the deepest regret. Mr. Cannon's faithful services will long be remembered.
The increase in the appropriation of the State Library Commission made by the last General Assembly for the years ending June 30, 1926-1927 has made it possible to extend the work of the Commission in its different activities, the most important of these being traveling libraries and book wagons.
ACCESSIONS
From July 1, 1924 to June 30, 1925, $358.63 was expended for books. Five hundred and five volumes were added by purchase and fifty-seven by gift.
From July 1, 1925 to June 30, 1926, $1,214.56 was expended for books and magazines. One thousand and sixty five volumes were added by purchase and twenty-one by gift.
In March, 1925, and in April, 1926, the Commission received from the State through the Delaware State Federation of Women's Clubs the yearly appropriation of one hundred dollars worth of books.
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TRAVELING LIBRARIES
A recent number of the Library Journal states that there will be shown at the American Library Association section of the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition, "The model of an ox and cart, taken from a Chinese tomb and made a thousand years ago. It is a representation of the 'oldest traveling library in the world' as this kind of cart was used to transport books."
We have been asked the origin of traveling libraries in this country, and we are taking the liberty of quoting the following from the Maryland Library News of March, 1925. "In 1893 Dr. Melvil Dewey introduced traveling libraries in the State of New York, in order to supplement local libraries already in existence. To Wisconsin belongs the distinction of having inaugurated the traveling library in its wider sense, by sending cases of miscellaneous books to places that had no libraries. In 1895 Wisconsin appointed a Library Commission, having been preceded in this movement by Iowa and Minnesota. The system established in Wisconsin formed the model for other states and has changed but little with the passage of time. Maryland followed in 1902. At the present time almost every State in the Union has traveling libraries and endorses them as indespensible means of circulating information." The Delaware State Library Commission was established in the autumn of 1901 and within the next eight months eleven traveling libraries were arranged and sent to schools and associations in rural districts.
Previous to this the Century Clubs of Wilmington, Dover and Milford had had a system of traveling libraries which were circulated in the state, but this work was later given over by the clubs mentioned to the State Library Commission.
CIRCULATION
From July 1, 1924 until June 30, 1925 the traveling libraries were circulated one hundred and thirty-seven times, of this number one hundred and twenty were sent to schools, and seventeen to other organizations, with a total of 7,773 volumes loaned during the year. These numbers include 1,481 volumes loaned to individuals who came to the office of the Commission for their books.
From July 1, 1925 until June 30, 1926 the libraries were circulated one hundred and thirty-one times and 7,548 vol-
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umes were loaned of which 1,493 volumes were borrowed by individuals.
We frequently have requests from teachers for books for their own personal use and from individuals pursuing special lines of study.
Other organizations than schools and Church schools using the libraries during the past two years include the following: Bridgeville, Delmar, Harrington and Georgetown New Century Clubs, Wyoming Round Table Club; associations at Camden, Edge ,Moor, Felton and Millsboro; Milford and. Lewes Granges; Rehoboth Beach Free Library,
Young Women's Christian Association Camp on Indian River, a "shut in" in Lewes and the Rest Room in Dover.
At the close of the school year there are always some expressions of the appreciation of the use of the books, their help to the teachers as well as the pleasure derived from them by many of the pupils.
A teacher who received a package of books says, "'I assure you they were most welcome. The children are enjoying them, and by-the-way they are learning something about keeping a record of the books loaned. We have a ‘library committee' to take charge of the work, and at the end of the term we will report to the Commission the number of borrowers and how many books were read."
Another teacher says “Our school wishes to express a deep appreciation for the use of these books. We found the selection wonderful and we could have spent more time on the library, but our school is being repaired, and is open part of the time and we did not wish the library to be subjected to any risk of loss."
A report from the sixth grade of one of the schools shows that in a little over three months, time the books from one of the traveling libraries were read two hundred and ninety times.
BOOK WAGONS
The first book wagon in this countr was established in Washington County, Maryland, about twenty-five years ago.
The book wagon in Delaware has been in existence nearly fifteen years. The plan was first tried out in Sussex County and met with such success that later routes were added in
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Kent and Sussex counties. There are now thirty-two book routes in the State, each covering about twenty-five miles, and they were visited once a month for six months during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925. The increased appropriation made it possible to increase the number of visits to eight months during the past year. The Commission has recently provided a real "book wagon"-a Chevrolet truck, which has every convenience for carrying books and magazines to rural districts in certain sections of Sussex County.
New Castle County has five and a half routes in charge of Miss Ellison, Mrs. Slaughter and Miss Maloney; Kent County has twelve and a half routes with Miss Mast, Mrs. Slaughter, Mrs. Schabinger and Miss Richards in charge; Sussex County has fourteen routes in charge of Miss Hopkins, Miss Morris and Miss Hall. The work in this field has been so faithfully performed by those in charge that we quote the following from a few of a number of letters to the Commission expressing the appreciation and pleasure of some of the patrons, and the desire of other rural homes to have the book wagon visit them.
"For a year I have resided on a farm on the route of your 'Book Wagon' and I feel it time I should express to the Commission my appreciation of this bit of public service. My time for reading is limited, but a book in the evening is a great relaxation to me as I am sure it is to many tired housewives. I hear the children of families in the neighborhood discussing their books and note they wait with eagerness for Miss .......... to come again. It is a great worfl!
"This is my first opportunity to thank you once again for the rural library service. I must not be selfish but I do hope the Library Commission will select this route another year. Wishing you great success in this wonderful work "I thought you might be interested to know that the patrons of the bookmobile routes do appreciate very, very much the service you render them, and especially the routes from. . . . . . . . .. The demand for the books is greater than Miss .......... can supply.
"As the season is drawing to a close I would like to express my appreciation of your 'Circulating Library.' I am an invalid confined to a wheel chair and about my only pleasure is reading. Although I take a goodly number of magazines, I shall certainly miss the kindly and efficient
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Miss …… bringing good literature to ones very door every month. I think the whole community enjoys this privilege almost as much as I do. I shall look forward to resuming this pleasure next spring.
From July 1924, to June 30, 1925, the book wagons made one hundred and seven trips, 3612 visits were made and 10092 volumes loaned.
From July 1, 1925 to June 30, 1926, two hundred and thirty-six trips were made, 7785 visits were made and 21399 volumes loaned.
A conference of the book wagon librarians was held in the office of the State Library Commission on Tuesday afternoon, May 5, 1925.
Mrs. Brown's splendid 'work with the Boys' and Girls' Library Club of Milford has been discontinued owing to her change of residence. It is therefore gratifying to report the progress of the plans for a free library in Milford, Delaware.
The Rehoboth Beach Free Library is temporarily closed owing to the unsuccessful attempt to secure a suitable room.
Through the State Library Commission subscriptions to the Christian Herald, American Magazine, and Popular Mechanics have been renewed for the keepers of the six Life Saving Stations on the Delaware Coast. St. Nicholas Magazine is circulated on several of the book routes, and the American Library Association Booklist, and the Library Journal are on file at the office of the Commission.
During the past two years the Commission has been the recipient of a great many magazines for distribution on the book routes, from friends interested in the work.
Reports from two of the free libraries in the state are appended to this report.
The State Library Commission of Delaware is a member of the League of Library Commissions.
June 30, 1926.
Respectfully submitted,
I. V . CULBRETH,
Librarian.
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FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
Expenditures of State Library Commission Funds for Year Ending June 30, 1925.
SALARIES AND WAGES.
Miscellaneous
OFFICE EXPENSES.
Freight and Express
Office Supplies
Postage
Premiums
Telephone and Telegraph
Rent
TRAVEL.
Miscellaneous
OPERATION.
Heat and Light
Automobile Expenses
REPAIRS.
Miscellaneous Repairs
EQUIPMENT.
Books and Furniture
Appropriation
AGNES G. WILLEY,
Acting Secretary.
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FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
Expenditure of State Library Commission Funds for Year Ending June 30, 1926
SALARIES AND WAGES.
Fees
Librarian
Assistant Librarian
Bookwagon Librarians
Janitor's Wages
OFFICE EXPENSES.
Freight, Express and Drayage
Office Supplies
Postage
Premiums
Printing and Stationery
Rent
Telephone and Telegraph
Dues
Light
TRAVEL.
Officers
Bookwagon Librarians
OPERATION.
Fuel
Motor Expenses
REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS.
Furniture and Fixtures
Office· Equipment
Motor Vehicles
Books and Maps
EQUIPMENT
Furniture and Fixtures
Office Equipment
Books and Magazines
Appropriation
AGNES G. WILLEY,
Acting Secretary.
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DELAWARE LIBRARIES
DOVER-
The Dover Library contains about 6,000 volumes, and is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from three to five o'clock in the afternoon and from 7 to 8:45 in the evening.
From July, 1923 to June 30, 1926, of the 650 books which have been added, 300 were gifts. 344 books were discarded.
40,729 books were borrowed of which 12,882 were juveniles. These numbers include 25,403 fiction, 11 ,403 juvenile fiction, 2,444 non-fiction and 1,479 juvenile non-fiction.
The periodicals of which there are 57 on the tables in the reading rooms prove a strong 'attraction, 5,744 having been loaned in the two years.
The total expenses of the Library are about $1,399.00 a year.
The five local papers and the Wilmington Every Evening, Greater Utica, Wilmington, The National Humane Review,
Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, The Dearborn Independent and Revue Internationale de la CroixRouge are donated.
In the summer of 1924 Miss Lilicrantz, a Librarian sent out by Gaylord Brothers, gave us, free of expense, a day's instruction in repairing books by the Toronto Method which has proved invaluable.
Each year Children's Book Week is observed with new books for the children. In addition to those purchased by the Library there are always some dnoated by the Ladies Library Club and individuals interested in the Library.
In 1925 the Dover Century Club arranged a play presented by the girls and boys at the Club House, during Children's
Book Week, emphasizing the need of having the Library open every day. Later the ladies of the Century Club repeated a play half the proceeds of which were given to buy books for the Library.
Respectfully submitted,
L. Beatrice Mast,
Mary E. Fulton,
Librarians.
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ODESSA-
Our school children have found The Corbit Library a great help with their studies, they were the largest percentage of readers last year. The boys find our history books a great help and enjoyment.
July 1, 1924 to July 1, 1925-4391 books were borrowed, 131 new books were added to our shelves.
July 1, 1925 to July 1, 1926--4462 books were borrowed, 140 new books bought, 52 books donated, 13 books given to Taylor's Bridge School, making a total of 7474 books in our Library.
We have 320 borrowers cards, children below the sixth grade use their parents card.
The David Wilson Mansion that houses The Corbit Library is also used for education, the children are brought by classes, the contents are explained, then they return to the school and write letters and compositions on what they have seen, memory tests have been given to see how much they could remember.
We have had visitors from 34 States in the United States, 2 from Scotland, and 3 from the Canal Zone.
Number of visitors from July 1, 1924 to July 1, 1925-353.
Number of visitors from July 1, 1925 to July 1, 1926-354.
We have been using a typewriter to catalogue our books and find this a great saving in time and an improvement in the looks of our file.
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. George VVhittock, Librarian.
Odessa Library Committee:
Daniel Corbit, President
Henry L. Davis, Secretary
Mrs. George Heldmyer
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1924-1925
Trips Visits Made Volumes
Book Wagons' Loaned
Mrs. Slaughter 12 273 1182
Miss Maloney 8 169 257
.Miss Mast 24 476 2091
Miss Richards 8 303 900
Mrs. Schabinger 7 248 1090
M iss Hopkins 20 925 1969
Miss Morris 10 422 993
l\Iiss Hall ' 18 796 1602
Travelling Libraries 6292
fndividuals 1481
Total 107 3612 17865
1925-1926
Trips Visits Made Volumes
Book Wagons Loaned
Miss Ellison 16 258 642
Mrs. Slaughter 24 527 2352
Miss Maloney 9 218 249
Miss Mast 40 740 3224
Miss Richards 16 615 2084
Mrs. Schabinger 24 725 2779
Miss Hopkins 47 2363 4800
Miss Morris 24 884 2028
Miss Hall 36 1445 3233
Traveling Libraries 6292
Individuals 7493
Total 236 7785 28947
MRS. CHARLES R. MILLER
MEMBER OF THE
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION
OF DELAWARE
OCTOBER 1901-JANUARY 1926
Delaware Library Association
