FOURTEENTH
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
THE STATE LIBRARY
COMMISSION FOR THE
STATE OF DELAWARE
FOR THE YEARS ENDING
JUNE 30, 1929 and JUNE 30, 1930
FOURTEENTH
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
THE STATE LIBRARY
COMMISSION
FOR THE
STATE OF DELAWARE
FOR THE YEARS ENDING
JUNE 30, 1929 and JUNE 30, 1930
Star Publishing Co.
Wilmington, Del.
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION
MEMBERS
A. L. BAILEY, Reappointed Feb. 4, 1926 for 5 years.
WILMINGTON
MISS ANNA B. HAYES, Reappointed Jan. 21, 1927 for 5 years.
DOVER
WALTER VV. HYNSON, Appointed November 1929, for 5 years.
SMYRNA
MISS CHARLOTTE MAHAFFY, Reappointed April 23. 1928 for unexpired term of Mrs. Willard
WILMINGTON
MISS MARGARET ORR, Reappointed June 23, 1928 for 5 years.
LEWES
MRS. CHARLES PRETTYMAN, Reappointed Jan. 20, 1927 for 5 years.
MILFORD
Mrs. HENRY RIDGELY, Reappointed Feb. 4, 1926 for 5 years.
DOVER
S.RODMOND SMITH, Reappointed April 20, 1928 for 5 years.
ODESSA
OFFICERS
S. RODMOND SMITH, President
MRS. E. D. WILLEY, Secretary
MRS. BERNICE VV. HAMMOND, 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
Fourteenth Biennial Report
For The Years Ending
June 30, 1929 and June 30, 1930
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of
Delaware in General Assembly met:
The State Library Commission herewith submits the following
report:
The Delaware State Library Commission is a State Department,
established by an act of the Legislature in 1901. It is
supported entirely by an appropriation made by the General
Assembly. Owing to crowded conditions in the State House,
the Commission is housed in an inadequate office at 404 S.
State Street just off The Green.
The Commission consists of nine members, appointed by
the Governor, who serve without salary. This Commission
appoints the staff and directs the program of the Commission.
In June, 1930, Miss Ida V. Culbreth, Librarian of the Commission,
resigned. Miss Culbreth, under happy circumstances
closed a period of loyal service to the Commission, having
been Librarian the entire time of its existence.
In July, 1930, Mrs. Bernice W. Hammond was appointed
Librarian. Hence this biennial report covers one year under
the direction of Miss Culbreth, and one year under the present
Librarian.
PROGRAM
The work of the Commission is varied. Service is its objective.
Books to all who want and need them.
This service is carried on through many channels. Collections
known as Libraries are sent to Schools, Clubs, Sunday
Schools, Granges or any group needing such a collection,
just so far as these Collections are available. It provides collateral
reading for Schools, and reference material for all
types of readers. Assistance is given Libraries already or'-
4
ganized, as well as new Libraries about to be established. It
lends books to individuals for recreational reading by various
means;-The book truck, individual loans from headquarters,
and by mail or express.
The commission cooperates with the Granges in having
suggested books for Grange reading, also a collection of plays
from which copies may be borrowed for reading, when a
selection is being made for production.
Parent-Teacher Associations use the Library for material
in their suggested reading courses. The requests for books,
which have to be sent by mail, are increasing constantly . This
phase alone demands a great amount of time, to be given by
the Staff.
Advisory visits have been made, by the Librarian, to
some of the Libraries in Kent and Sussex Counties, and this
phase of the work will continue and increase as time will
allow. The results of the visits of the Librarian with the various
Town and School Libraries are far reaching. A most
urgent need of closer contact between the Commission and
Libraries in the State is very apparent. More complete statistics
of Library material in the State should be made and kept.
These records and contacts can be carried on only when there
are sufficient assistants to take care of this part of the work.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY FREE LIBRARY
By an act of the last Legislature, it was made possible
for the New Castle County Free Library to become permanent.
This assures fine Library service in New Castle County. It is
an established fact that equally good Library service is desired
by the residents of Kent and Sussex Counties.
ACCESSIONS
From July 1, 1928 to June 30, 1929, there were added to the
Library by purchase 1,059 volumes, 8 by gift and 74 books purchased
with the $100 given through the State Federation of
Womens' Clubs. From July 1, 1929 to June 30, 1930, there
were added to the Library by purchase 547 books, 56 by gift and
73 books purchased with the $100 given through the Delaware
State Federation of Women's Clubs. It was necessary, but
seemed wise, to sacrifice some, in the purchase of books, in order to make it possible to obtain the Book Truck in 1930.
5
TRAVELING LIBRARY
Early in March 1930, a Book Truck was delivered to the
State Library Commission. This automobile is a standard book
truck equipped with shelves to hold about 600 books. It cost
$818.15.
The book truck is used in Kent and Sussex Counties to cover
book routes, visit schools, and deliver collections.
In order to cover as much of Sussex County as possible, the
routes were changed, arranging one route into each hundred.
Miss Mary L. Hopkins of Seaford drives the book truck,
covering the 12 routes which serve as a main line from which
other routes will branch, just as soon as the income will allow.
People who are on the routes are most grateful, and requests
come in continually for the routes to be extended.
The routes starting from the Office in Kent County are
served with the Book Truck. Mrs. Schabinger and Mrs. Friedel
are still covering routes in southern Kent, as it has not been possible
to have Kent County completely served from the Truck.
Two librarians, Mrs. Slaughter and Miss Ellison continue
their routes in New Castle County.
In the following table, showing the circulation, a fair report
cannot be made, at this time, as reports of the circulation of
collections of books, after they leave the Office is not properly
kept. For instance, a library of 60 books is recorded, as such,
but no record is kept of the number of times the 60 books are
circulated in the Community where they are read. A provision
for these complete records is one of the great needs of the Commission.
A scope of the work done cannot be given until more
accurate records are made possible.
6
BOOK COLLECTIONS
During the year 1928-1929, the small libraries were circulated
125 times, going to Schools, Clubs, Sunday Schools, and
Granges. One large collection was arranged for Camp Otonka,
the Y. W. C. A. · Camp for girls.
During the year 1929-1930, the made up collections circulated
107 times. In addition to these so called Libraries many
packages of books were mailed to individuals and schools. This
part of the program is changing, since many definite requests
come in for particular books, rather than requests for made up
libraries.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The immediate and most urgent needs of the State Library
Commission are:
More books to fill constant demands
A new member of the Staff, with some knowledge of Library
work
A second book truck, allowing one to be used in each of the
two Southern Counties
An adequate appropriation for binding
A larger Headquarters, as the work is handicapped by lack
of space.
Respectfully submitted
BERNICE W. HAMMOND,
Librarian.
June 30, 1930.
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FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARY
COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
Ending June 30, 1929
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARY
COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR
Ending June 30, 1930
11
The Rehoboth Free Library is open to the Public even
though it is housed in the School Building. This Library receives
$37.50 from the State each year, when $75 is raised in
the Town.
With pleasure, reports from the Public Libraries of Dover
and Odessa are appended to this report.
DOVER-
The Dover Library contains about 6,000 volumes and is
open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
from three to five 0 'clock in the afternoon and from 7 to 9
in the evening.
In January, 1929 under the efficient direction of Mrs. Bernice
W. Hammond the Library was moved from the second
floor of the Post Office building to the second floor of the
Grange Hall.
The Library was closed for three weeks in order to shelve
the books and take account of stock.
Owing to the expense of moving and increased rent very
little money was left to buy books .
In July, 1929 Mrs. Hammond resigned to become Librarian
for the State Library Commission of Delaware.
From July, 1928 to June 30, 1930 of the 525 books added
512 were gifts, 306 books were discarded. 28,471 books were
borrowed of which 10,548 were juveniles. These numbers include
15,819 fiction, 10,548 juvenile fiction, 2,104 non fiction,
773 juvenile non fiction.
3,770 periodicals have been loaned.
The total expenses of the Library are about $1,000 a year.
The four local papers, the Wilmington Every Evening,
Wilmington, Outlook, Daughters of the American Revolution
Magazine and The Club Woman are donated.
Each year Children's Book Week is observed with new
books for the girls and boys. Through the kindness and generosity
of the Honorable James Pennewill the Library receives
$50.00 a y ear for books. The ladies, of the Century Club gaye
a tea which netted $50.00. The Ladies Library Club gives a
number of hooks every year and many interested friends have
donated books and money.
Respectfully submitted
L. BEATRICE MAST,
Librarian.
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THE CORBIT LIBRARY ASSO., INC.
ODESSA, DELAWARE
The Corbit Library has been very much enjoyed by the
people of this District, a library list is handy for the School
children to look over and see the number of points given them
in ,school for reading. All these books are on the shelves and
waiting their asking.
The lower grades have a reading course and a number of
first to sixth grade reading books have been purchased. Scholars
from these grades come to the library for their books and
look over the many interesting things in the Museum, and write
stories of what they have seen. Odessa school children have
just completed a very good account of Indian life.
The Library has 8.350 books on the shelves all in very
good condition. New books are added every three months.
4.826 books were borrowed from July 1, 1928 to June 30, 1929.
63 new readers cards were added. 4,230 books were borrowed
from July 1, 1929 to June 30, 1930. 45 new readers cards were
added.
Our Neighbors from other States, as they pass through
our State enjoy visiting the David Wilson Mansion, built 1769,
as it holds many antiques and collections from other lands.
The Corbit Library is in one room of the Mansion, the School
Children are brought to the Mansion for history and drawing
lessons.
The Corbit Library and David Wilson Mansion are opened
every Tuesday and Saturday from 9 to 12 A. M. and 1 :30 to
4:30 P. M. Visitors are welcome.
Respectfully submitted
MRS. GEORGE WHITTOCK,
Librarian.
Corbit Library Committee
Daniel Corbit
Henry L. Davis
Frank Davis
Delaware Library Association
