Circulating Collections for Libraries 27 



photographs and specimens. In all, 26,802 children and 2,578 adults 

 have studied the exhibits. 



Cooperation with the libraries has not been limited to the loan- 

 ing of special collections. The school exhibits of birds, mammals and 

 butterflies have been borrowed by the libraries; slides from the 

 Museum files have been used, and several lectures for children have 

 been given at the branches by members of the Museum staff. 



Excerpts from the reports of the librarians give the clearest in- 

 dication of the value of the loan collections and the method of their 

 use. 



"The exhibit [Small Mammals] was used in connection with 

 school work. Animal stories and legends were told at the Saturday 

 afternoon story hours during October." 



"This exhibit [Indians of the Southwest] which was used in the 

 reference department, added much to the attractiveness of the room, 

 and stimulated interest in our students." 



"The exhibit [Indians of the Southwest], which is the first ever 

 loaned to this branch, has proved of great value to the neighborhood 

 and has stimulated an interest in visiting the Museum itself; through 

 it the branch has been able to popularize many books on travel, 

 western life, Indians, pioneering, and United States History." 



"The basketry [Indians of the Southwest] was of special interest 

 to girls looking for designs for that work. The pottery was also used 

 by children looking for conventional designs for drawing. The ex- 

 hibit has been used in connection with the story hours and picture 

 book hours, and in instruction to classes visiting the library from 

 schools in this district." 



"We found the exhibit [Japan] attractive. The letters, ink-well, 

 and combs particularly appealed to the children. We had a special 

 collection of books on Japan which was much used." 



"Almost all of the second and third grades of the schools of the 

 neighborhood saw the exhibit [Indians of the Plains], and the teach- 

 ers agreed that it was a great help to the children studying Hiawatha 

 to see the Indian things mentioned in their study. We had Indian 

 pictures and kept our easy books about Indians on the shelves near 

 the exhibit. The larger boys were very much interested, and one 

 club of big boys from a near-by settlement came with their leader 

 to see the exhibit. We had sent notices to the settlements advertis- 

 ing it." 



Following are the year's statistics for the library loan collections: 



Library Date No. Children No. Adults 



Aguilar 



Eskimo Jan. 24— Mar. 1 4,605 26 



Birds Mar. 1— Apr. 13 850 50 



Indians of the Southwest Sept. 10 — Sept. 29 6 70 



South America Oct. 3— Nov. 9 100 300 



The Philippines Nov. 12— Jan. 8 2,748 20 



