by the ladies, who still have their interest centered in it to a great extent, and who have succeeded in getting together some 1,300 good books of all kinds.

- nis boon of a building of their own comes to the ladies most especially, as a reward for their untiring efforts, and it is needless to state that they are all elated beyond measure.

NOTE. Mr. Marvin is a veteran of the Civil War. He participated in the battles of Shiloh and Stone River, and at the latter place was wounded so severely as to unfit him for further service. His gift to the city constitutes the greater part of the accumulations of a lifetime. He is seventy-six years old, and although still suffering from the effects of his military service, retains unimpaired his vigor of intellect and goodness of heart.

SIDNEY.

SIDNEY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Sidney Public Library was first organized as a stock company, teing incorporated December 5, 1869.

It had a fund of about $1,500 with which to purchase books and magazines, and was opened to the public during the year 1870.

It continued to be operated as a stock company until February, 1879, when its books, property and franchise were turned over to the Trustees of the Monumental Building, under a contract whereby the latter agreed to place the books in the Monumental Building, and thereafter, as soon as the debt of the building should be paid, to maintain the same as a public library out of the rents derived from the building, devoting what was commonly known as Memorial Hall to the purposes of a public library and reading room forever.

From 1879 to 1886 the books were stored in a part of Memoria! Hall, but the Trustees having no funds available, they were not accessible to the public. During the latter year the village council made a small levy for library purposes, and with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Monumental Building took the necessary steps to maintain the library open to the public, until such time as the Trustees might be in condition to take charge of the same and carry out their contract with the original Library Association.

Under this arrangement the immediate management was in the Lands of a committee appointed by the village council, which also elected the Librarian. In the latter part of the year 1897 it was found that the bonded indebtedness of the Monumental Building had been paid off, and that a surplus derived from rents of the business rooms in the building had accumulated to the amount of about $2,500, which sum was available for library purposes.

The Sidney Public Library as an efficient educational agency may be said to date from the beginning of the year 1898, when the Board of Trustees of the Monumental Building organized as a library association. At that time there were supposed to be about 1,500 volumes belonging to the institution, aside from public documents (which heretofore had been regarded as worthless); but after deducting from the catalogue those that were "lost, strayed or stolen," and those worn out, the actual number of volumes available did not exceed 1,200.

The Board of Monumental Trustees, upon organizing as a Library Association, adopted a plan of government whereby the immediate control and management of the library is placed in the hands of a committee of three appointed by the Board of Trustees, which also elects the Librarian and Assistant Librarian. The managing committee is composed of one member of the Board of Trustees, one member of the City School Board and one unofficial citizen of the city.

The first step taken by the new management was to paper, paint and carpet the room, and supply it with a sufficiency of modern book cases, appropriate tables and desks, and comfortable chairs. They also put in the required fixtures for lighting by electricity. They then adopted the Dewey system of classification, together with a new and modern charging system, at the same time taking the preliminary steps toward making a complete card catalogue of the library.

During the two years that have intervened there have been accomplished the following results: The library has grown from a collection of 1,200 volumes to 4,050 volumes, all of which have been classified according to the Dewey system; and the card system of charging has been in successful operation for nearly two years, while the card catalogue is about half completed. This work has all been done by the present Librarian, with the aid of her assistant and a little local help, and without the assistance of any foreign expert. Meanwhile the work of the library, as distinguished from the work in the library, has wonderfully increased

During the year 1897 the monthly average of books taken from the library was 343; during March 1898 (that being the first month the library was open under the new management), there was a circulation of 681 volumes. The average circulation for the year 1898 was 1,094 volumes per month; the average monthly circulation for 1899 was 1,729 volumes per month, while during the month of March, 1900, there were taken out 2,635 volumes.

These figures show a remarkable increase of interest in, and patronage of the library; but a much better test of the value of the work done by a library is found in the character of its circulation. In 1897 at least 85 per cent. of the books issued were fiction; for the year 1898 about 81 per cent. were fiction, while the records for the year 1899 show that less than 72 per cent. of the books taken out were fiction.

During the month of February, 1900, 61 per cent. were fiction, while for the first four months of this year (1900) only 62.4 per cent. were fiction. These figures show that the growth of circulation has been quite largely upon subjects other than fiction.

Another test of the value of a library's work is to be found in the use of its reference department. Figures and averages here are impracticable, but the growth of the use of this department has been much greater than that of the circulating department. The management of the library has laid special emphasis upon this department, seeking to make it as complete as possible with limited means and limited space. Every effort has been put forth to make it of value to the student class, while open shelves, easy chairs, noiseless cork carpet, convenient tables, good light and pleasing surroundings are doing much to attract people who would otherwise spend their time elsewhere.

Sidney is not blessed with a university or college to act as an intellectual center from which educational impulses and influences might radiate. It has been the desire of the management to make the Public Library the intellectual center of Sidney, and the efforts put forth to that end have received a hearty response from the people.

University Extension lecture courses have been so planned and conducted as to create a demand upon the library, a demand which the library management has taken great pleasure in supplying to the utmost. Study clubs and reading clubs of various sorts have been encouraged to organize, relying upon the library to supply their needs. Then, the teachers of the public schools have been encouraged to go to the library themselves, as well as to send their pupils there, for books to be used in a supplementary way in all of the grades, and upon all subjects.

This has been found a very effective way of introducing the library to the young people, and thus getting them into the habit of relying upon it as a place where they may seek for information upon all subjects. What in the foregoing sketch has been called the "Management" of the Sidney Public Library is composed of the following:

SOUTH SOLON.

STOKES TOWNSHIP LIBRARY.

The history of the Stokes Township Library is brief. The idea was first suggested by a little surplus accumulating each year from our township high school commencements, an admission fee being charged, the receipts slightly exceeding the expenditures.

This sum was invested in books, the school board kindly purchasing a nice case. Soon there was felt a need of more books and a greater variety of authors. In order to secure the necessary funds the schools of South Solon gave a literary entertainment at the town hall and charged a small admission fee. Happy to say, there was a packed house and a neat sum was realized, which was invested in books. By this time we were in a position to use our best judgment in selecting new books, and it is declared by good authority that we have a well selected set of books for our library.

On December 19, 1896, it was opened to the public. While it was established mainly for the benefit of the schools, yet it is free to all the public. A list of the names of the books and their numbers is kept, also the price of each, so that if a book is lost it can be replaced by the person who lost it. When a book is taken out the name of the person, the number of the book and the date of issue are recorded. A book can be kept for two weeks and then renewed for two weeks. Otherwise a fee of two cents per day is charged for over time. By this record it is easy to see who is most interested in books and what class of literature one is inclined to read. We have a list of names of all those who have taken out books for the past four years, which is now an interesting record. The books are kept in the school building and each year in charge of some one of the teachers. We have now about 225 volumes including some works of nearly all standard authors. Having taxed the capacity of our book case to the utmost, no additions have been made to our library recently.

D. J. SCHURR, Superintendent.

SPRINGFIELD.

THE WARDER PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Warder Public Library is the outgrowth of an institution organized under an ordinance of the Council of the City of Springfield, April 2, 1872, which had been adopted in pursuance of the State law, authorizing and providing for the establishment and maintenance of public fibraries. According to the provisions of this ordinance a free public Library and reading room is supported by the annual appropriations made