Current Item Information

Title

Record of Proceedings Relating to Howell Carnegie Library Howell, Michigan Pages 128-129

Description

Howell Carnegie Library board minutes and ledger entries approved by the board.

The Howell Library Board met November 19 at 7:00 o'clock in the library.

The minutes of the October 15 meeting were read and two corrections were made. One concerned a raise for the janitor which could not be approved by the board because the budget would not permit it. Mr. Krieger asked that this statement be inserted: 'there had been no overall raise for city employees' The other correction was by Mrs. Hight who said the cost of the pamphlets she was giving out during Book Week had been $3.50 rather than $1.50.

Mr. Baldwin told about his conversation with Mr. Tholen concerning leaks in the roof Mr. Tholen and other city employees had been in the library a few times when no leaks were discernable and it was decided that they would have to try to come at the exact time the leaks are occurring. Mrs. Hight will try to notify them.

Mr. Baldwin next told about his inquiry into the possibility of having the cemetery equipment used for the removal of leaves in the library yard. It seems that this equipment has been built by the cemetery employees and because of its rather delicate construction they are reluctant to have it used by others. The leaf situation is taken are of for this season so the matter stands here to be taken up possibly again next year.

Mrs. Hight gave us the following reports: the clock is working having been cleaned by Mr. Shindorf, possibly all that it needed. Then she gave some figures which she had sent to the state in her annual report - last year the circulation of adult books and magazines was 15,176 and children's 10,008 and for 1957 adults were 31,630 and children's 12,495, an increase of 16,454 adults and 1,587 children's. The overall total increase was 18,041. She attributes this increase to good advertising, in the newspaper, the work of the 'Friends of the Library' and also the capable committee composed of who read suggested and recommended books and help her in the selection to be purchased, making better books available in the library. Mrs. Hight makes the final selection. Also she has incorporated a 7-day table of books which seem to circulate faster and while they may be renewed there are few request. Too, she has more help and the longer they are in the library the more efficient they become and consequently more work is accomplished. Adults have become more interested through work done with the children, namely the story hours and the Reading Club. There are more and more requests for story hours. Possibly too, Mrs. Hight believes with the tightening of money people may be reading more. It was also reported that there was no increase in the number of rural patrons but 660 more adults and children in Howell.

A very interesting discussion followed on the type and kinds of books in demand in the library and the kinds being published. What should the library do about books that should really be on the shelves but are rarely requested.

Present at the meeting were: Mr. Krieger, Mr. Paul Baldwin, Mrs. Hoch, Mrs. Hight and Mrs. Calvin Gatesman. The meeting then adjourned the next regular meeting to be January 21, 1958 on Tuesday evening at 7:00PM in the library. Respectfully submitted, Lillie Gatesman, Recording Secretary.

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