Hagerstown Library (Corner of the Children's Room)

From the 1913-1914 Annual Report of the Washington County Free Library

Children's Room.
(Miss Lawrence)
The circulation for the year, 20,606, shows a gain of 3054 over the one of last year. We are glad to record such a gain but we cannot even pretend to account for it. In a children's room the fluctuations in circulation are due to many slight causes, and cannot be traced to the same conditions which influence the adult borrowers. We feel however that part of the Increase during the year is directly attributable to the two small shelves filled with attractive special collections.

Two story hours have been continued throughout the year, one for little children and the other for older boys and girls. No series have been told, but separate stories suitable for special birthdays, holidays and seasons. When the colored illustrations for "Treasure Island" were used for a bulletin they aroused much enthusiasm, and so many questions were asked, that finally in response to a special request a summary of the story was given for one of the story-hours. Afterward the children pored over the pictures, and our nine copies of the book were kept busy.

Miss Semler has continued the story-hour for little children in Boonsboro alternate Saturday afternoons. A reading club for the older girls was organized but had to be abandoned, because the members had too many rival interests.

Timely and interesting picture bulletins have been exhibited on the walls of the room. Perhaps the most effective were the "Treasure Island" pictures mentioned above, and four large illustrations from Miss Alcott's "Little Women," together with a very pleasing picture of the author herself.