spacious and light, being devoted exclusively to periodicals, magazines, and newspapers. The list of 100 periodicals is continued, and the completed volumes have been preserved and bound. No binding was done in the first year covered by this report, but during the past year 37 v. have been bound, and 250 more are in the binder's hands. This will bring our periodical literature well up to date, and increase, by so much, our too meagre sources of reference." Chattanooga (Tenn.) L. A. Added 222; total 5500; membership 200. the town. The building was formally presented to Ansonia in June, 1892, and has been described in the LIBRARY JOURNAL (17: 209). It is of stone, beautiful in design, and handsomely fitted, and cost $60,000; it was also supplied with 30,000 volumes by Miss Stokes. Miss Stokes is and has been for some time in Europe, but a representative, speaking for her on the subject, in a recent interview said: "Negotiations between Miss Stokes and the town authorities have been going on ever since the library was built, and the closing is only the result of the town's dilatory action in regard to her gift." He added that the town had exhibited Denver (Col.) City L. The library was opened a decided lack of appreciation, and that during in its new quarters on the main floor of the the two years the library was opened to the pub- Chamber of Commerce building on Jan. 23. lic, at Miss Stokes' expense, the authorities have The removal from the crowded rooms on the collected water rates and taxes on the land and top floor of the building is a most welcome one, building. "Miss Stokes did not stock the and the new quarters afford ample light and library completely; she put in a good many space. The reading-room, reference-room and standard books, but she thought that the towns-delivery-room have been attractively fitted up, folk would take more interest and pride in the and provision is made for future increase and library if it was built up partly by their own exertions. Those exertions, as it turned out, consisted solely of bickerings and political wirepullings among the authorities. It was evident, at last, that the town did not really intend to accept the gift; that they were willing to have the library only on condition of its permanent support by her, and that an essential point with them was the collection of taxes on the land and building. The last straw was the fact that the authorities demanded that they be permitted to appoint a librarian. This man was to be a local politician; his salary was to be fixed by the officials and paid by Miss Stokes." On the other side-the Ansonian side-it is asserted that the library has never been popular; that the attendance has been very limited; that the rules enforced were prohibitively strict; and that "when Miss Stokes proffered the gift of the building to the town the offer was hedged with such restrictions that the officials did not think best to accept it, or even to place the matter before the public, to decide by vote whether the gift should be accepted. It was estimated that it would take an income of from $10,000 bonded at 4 per cent., to pay the running expenses," and this the town did not feel it could afford. Since the library was closed, Derby, a neighboring town to Ansonia, has made formal application to Miss Stokes, asking that the library be removed to that city, and promising to accept the conditions made by Miss Stokes when the library was offered to Ansonia. Asheville (N. C.) L. A. Added 20; total not given. Issued 5714; no. subscribers 481; receipts $916.37; expenses $377.19. Membership fees are $3 yearly. Boulder, Col. Univ. of Colorado L. (Rpt.; p. 14-15 of biennial rpt. of regents.) Added 1145; total 9354. The report covers from Oct. I, 1892 to Oct. 1, 1894. "The necessity of greater space and facilities for the consultation of periodicals and bound volumes of magazines, mentioned in the previous report, has been amply met in the library's new quarters on the third floor; the entire west room, extension. Denver (Col.) P. L. (Rpt.) Added 4277; total 19,021. Issued, home use 150,756 (fict. 42.1%; juv. 24.6%); no. visitors 290,959. "The reading-room files do not include daily papers of Denver or elsewhere, aside from Sunday editions of the best papers of a few leading papers East and West. If daily papers, such as are commonly furnished in reading-rooms, were added to the files, the rooms, already often full, would be frequently overcrowded. "This library has two features which much increase the cost of its maintenance. One is the very large list of periodical literature to be handled, kept constantly in order and made always accessible to the public; the other is access of the public to the shelves, and the accompanying personal attention given by librarian and all assistants to any one who asks it. Without making any deductions for these items of expense present to the same extent as with us in very few libraries in the country — the cost per volume of books circulated for home use is less than that of the St. Louis, Cleveland, Newark, Detroit or Baltimore public libraries, to mention no others. "The monthly journal Books is still continued, from two to six pages of each issue being given to library notes and lists. The slight expense in connection with it would seem to have been justified by the results. The journal has been very useful in popularizing the library in Denver, especially in the schools, and has been largely instrumental in arousing the present library interest throughout the state. It is now rare for a week to pass without a request to the library from some town or village in the state for information about starting or purchasing a library. "The work done in connection with the schools has increased notably in the past year. Teachers have taken a greater interest in the reading of their pupils. In many cases books have been sent to school-rooms on the teachers' request, in lots of from 10 to 50, and have been used in every-day work or lent by the teachers to the pupils for home use. Work of this kind is limited now, as it has been ever since the library opened, only by the library's resources." Detroit (Mich.) P. L. (30th rpt.) Added 9323; total 131,192. Issued, home use 374,976; (fict. 72.90 %); ref. use 293,281 (bound periodicals 20.15%); no. borrowers 27,375. Receipts $79,384 93; expenses $65,183.98. The building fund now amounts to $30,618.75. The use of the reference department shows an increase of 124% over the previous year - presumably the result of the new and attractive reference-room. A special room for children's use is advocated. During the year the supplemental general catalog, of 900 p., was issued, as was a new catalog of English prose fiction; a catalog of books in German is in preparation. There has been an increase in the binding account, due to increased use of books; 6866 v. were bound or rebound, 5834 repaired, and 1682 resewed; the binding is done by contract with local binders, at an average cost of 61 cents per v.; resewing and repairing is done in the library. "The plan of exhibiting to the public all new books two full days before they are put into circulation has been tried with satisfaction. Under this arrangement no new books are reserved in advance of their preparation for the shelves. At the time when they are announced to be ready they are given out to the first persons who apply. This plan seemed to be necessary in order to break up an abuse of the system by which, under the rule, the deposit of a penny entitled the applicant to the reservation of a book, and notice when it is ready for delivery. Certain shrewd individuals who watched the book announcements and reviews were in the habit every week of handing in 10 cents and a list of attractive new books. So many of these lists accumulated that an outsider stood no chance of getting a new book inside of a year, unless a large number of copies was bought. After books are once in circulation they come under the rule, and may be reserved as heretofore. "Though the books given out for home reading are counted from day to day, there are about 4000 library books at all times in the hands of pupils of the public schools. These are in constant circulation from the schoolhouses, and of course cannot be counted from the library except when they are sent out, about four or five times a year." Fall River (Mass.) P. L. The city council has authorized the issue of bonds to the extent of $150,000, to be known as a "public library loan, for the purchase of a site and construction of a suitable fireproof building for the proper protection and maintenance of the public library, and to provide proper accommodations for the school committee and school supplies." Ft. Wayne (Ind.) P. L. The new library building was opened on the evening of Jan. 29, and the work of issuing books was begun on the following morning. The library starts with about 3500 v.; its establishment has been agitated from time to time since 1880, and was largely due to the efforts of the Woman's Club of the city. It is located in the city ball. Mrs. Susan Hoffman is librarian. Grand Rapids (Mich.) P. L. (Rpt.) Added 6441; total 38,214; issued 202,285; attendance ref. room 39,782. The circulation shows an increase of 26% over the previous year, and there is a decrease of 10% in the issue of fiction, largely due to the circulation of the monthly issues of the popular magazines." The total no. of library cards issued is 11,884. 66 "At the October (1893) meeting of the board of education a report was presented for the purchase of some 2000 books, to constitute branch libraries for each of the public schools. In November another list of about 800 reference-books was presented for the same purpose. To these books were added all that could be spared from the main library, making in all 3415 volumes.' " The supervision of books already in the school buildings, some 2923 v., was also transferred to the library. The books purchased were distributed to the schools in February and April. "The plan for the branch libraries, which was carried out, was that a new series of cards called 'Branch school library cards' should be issued from the main library under the usual rules, that is, each card-taker should provide a guarantor, to be approved by the library management. When the books were distributed the librarian visited each school, instructing the principals in the methods of charging and caring for the books. The principals were thus made sub-librarians, and the pupils brought their cards and drew books from the branch libraries under the same regulations that govern the main library. "At the close of the school year an attendant was sent to the branch libraries to gather statistics and to take account of every book, that the condition of each branch may be on record at the main library. 2473 cards have been issued to the school children, and 668 cards stamped for school use. The 2558 books issued in February, 1894, have been drawn 15,905 times, makan average circulation of 31 books a week in each school, or an average of 1022 a week in all the schools. Dexter, Me. Abbott Memorial L. The new library building, presented to the town on Christmas day, is the gift of G: A. Abbott, a wealthy mill-owner of Dexter. The building, which is in the Italian Renaissance style, is of light gray brick, with base courses of granite, and ornamentation of terra-cotta. The main portico, reached by broad terraced steps, leads to an entrance-hall and delivery-room combined, 16 x 23, finished in quartered oak; beyond, sep-ing arated by a counter, is the stack-room, 20 x 70 feet, and 20 feet high, with a book capacity of 14,000 V. On the right is the art gallery, 22 x 22, and the librarian's room, 10 x 13; opposite, on the left, are the selectmen's room and cloak-rooms, and in the northeast corner of the building is the reading-room, 15 x 22. The building is tastefully decorated, and wired for electric lighting throughout. "Two objects of great importance are gained by these branch school libraries. The reading of children is not only increased but directed by their teachers, and it places good books in the hands of children in the distant parts of the city who otherwise could not enjoy the privileges of the library. The superintendent, teachers, and library management are unanimous in expressing their satisfaction with the results of this experiment, and a new order for books has been made to increase the libraries next year." Hartford (Ct.) P. L. The "two-books-on-a card" system went into effect at the library on December 1, 1894. Huntington (L. I.) P. L. Added 179; total 3738; issued 3130. Receipts $593.54; expenses $476.37. Jersey City (N. J.) P. L. It has been decided to close the circulating department of the library on Sundays and holidays, the reading-room to remain open on such days from 2 to 4 p.m. Kennett Square, Pa. The Bayard Taylor Memorial Association received on Jan. 30 a charter for the organization of a public library and museum to be established as a memorial to Bayard Taylor. Kensington, Mass. Plans have been accepted for the new library building, to be given to Kensington by Jos. C. Hillard, of Amesbury, Mass. They were designed by architect Tilden, of Boston, and call for a brick building, a story and a half in height and 28 by 40 in dimensions. The building is to be completed before June 1, 1895. Lawrence (Mass.) P. L. The library has received a collection of about 8500 v., for many years known as the "Pacific library" and established in the Pacific mills of Lawrence. The transfer was made by the mill-owners, on account of a demand for increased room. | Lynn (Mass.) P. L. (Rpt.) Added 1635; total 49,616; issued 162,767. Receipts $7,904.28; expenses $7,859. "Two years ago we began to allow visitors to have direct access to several thousand of the best standard works. The plan has worked well, except with a group of small boys who came looking for amusement among some of the illustrated magazines. For these young people a special collection of entertaining books has been planned, which will amply supply their wants, and at the same time serve to preserve many of the reference books, which otherwise would be damaged beyond recovery. "It has not been possible during the year to make any important improvements in the arrangement of the library or in the method of administration. The six rooms in the city hall devoted exclusively to library purposes-four of which are in the third story, accessible only by long and inconvenient stairways-were in a crowded condition at the beginning of the year, and the few changes rendered necessary by the accession of new books are temporary arrangements which, while they have contributed in some degree to the comfort of visitors, have largely increased the labors of the librarian and assistants." The librarian urges the necessity of a new building. Macon (Ga.) P. L. The library has at last had its financial difficulties adjusted and is able to continue its work. For the past six or eight months it has been in debt, unable to meet obligations, and rapidly declining in membership. Various unsuccessful efforts were made to raise the debt by entertainments, etc., but it was finally decided that the library must be auctioned off to pay its indebtedness, and arrangements to this effect were duly made. On Dec. 14, however, a compromise was effected by which the chief creditors were paid in part, and given a life membership at par value for the residue of their claim. This leaves the library free from debt, and it is hoped that it may be practically period of its greatest prosperity it had a memreorganized and effectively administered. At the bership of about 400; it now has but 126 members. The annual dues are $4. Memphis, Tenn. Cossitt L. The library enters upon the new year better equipped to fulfil its purpose than it has yet been. Since the completion of the handsome building, several years ago, there have been constant difficulties in endeavoring to collect books sufficient to form an adequate collection. During the year something over $2700 has been contributed and there are now 7400 v. on the shelves, nearly all of which have been added during this period. The librarian, Mr. Nunnally, has finished shelflisting the library, and expects to have the books ready for circulation early in the year. The library is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and there is a fair average attendance. Feb. 2. building was dedicated on the afternoon of Milford, Ct. Taylor L. The Taylor Library It is the gift of H: A: Taylor of Milford, and is a handsome granite structure, substantial and picturesque, in the Colonial style of architecture, and one story and a half in height. On the first floor a broad hall separates the reading-room and library-room; in the latter are seven alcoves, each with a book capacity of 1100 to 1300 v. These, with the exception of two or three, have been appropriated by various Milford families, who are furnishing them with books. The provision of more shelf-room is already under consideration. There is also a well-equipped reference-room. An interesting feature of the library is the "Colonial alcove," founded by the late Nathan Gillette Pond, an antiquarian and geologist; it contains a valuable collection of biographies and other books relating to early pioneers of Connecticut. The librarian is Wallace S. Chase. Minneapolis (Minn.) P. L. The following recent inventory of the books, was submitted to tabulated statement, detailing the results of the the library board at its November meeting by Librarian Hosmer: "Books unaccounted for at Central, 850; books unaccounted for at branches, 75; total, 925; volumes likely to 'be found (150 estimated net loss, 1894, 785; loss per year or 200) leaving 725. Known loss, June, 1892, 60; Chicago (no free access) loss per year, 170; St. (five years), 157. Comparison with other libraries: Louis (no free access) loss per year, 140; Cleveland (free access) loss, 403. Recovered from past losses, 144; net loss, 258." In order to guard against such loss, if pos New Bedford (Mass.) P. L. The public school teachers recently presented a petition to the library board, asking that they be given special cards allowing the issue of 10 books at a time to be kept a month for school-work. At a meeting of the board it was decided not to grant the petition, but instead to issue special teachers' cards for teachers in all schools, public and private, entitling the holder to three books which are needed in actual school-work; all books withdrawn on such cards to be presented for renewal once a fortnight. For teachers needing more than three books, the trustees have decided to issue blanks of application for more extended use, to be used by teachers exclusively. These are to be filled out by the applicant, presented to the librarian, and forwarded to the library committee for action. New Hampshire. LIBRARIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; open regularly to the public. [Reprinted from state librarian's report.] Concord, N. H., 1894. 16 p. O. New York F. C. L. Sunday opening was recently adopted at the Harlem branch as an experiment, and the trustees have decided to continue the practice permanently. On the first three Sundays an average of 15 books were drawn, but on the fourth Sunday, after a placard announcing the opening had been hung in the window, 40 books were issued. All the other branches of the F. C. L. are open on Sundays. The Sunday hours at the Harlem branch are from 4 to 9 p.m. New York. Lenox L. The complete series of phototype illustrations to Edward Muybridge's cured by the Lenox Library. They are in II work on " Animal locomotion" have been selarge folio volumes. New Utrecht, L. I. An association has been organized for the establishment of a free public $600 by subscription, to start the library and library in New Utrecht. It is hoped to raise carry it on for one year, independent of any aid erable proportion of the sum desired has been that may be obtained from the state. A consid subscribed. Newark (N. J.) P. L. (6th rpt.) Added 5074; total 44,413. Issued, home use 321,533 (fict. 78.4 %); ref. room attendance 19,146, no record of ref. use is kept. No. borrowers 44,528. Receipts $53,953.87; expenses $38,556.25. the circulation of fiction, "which may be attributThere is a decrease of about one per cent. in ed to free access to shelves. It is a significant fact that ever since readers have been permitted to go to the shelves and select their books the percentage of novels read has steadily decreased. When the Brookline system of issuing two books to the same individual is put into execution by this library the difference between the use of fiction and of other books will be reduced." Free access to all shelves except for fiction was continued during the year with gratifying results. The total number of books lost is 51, of which 34 have been accounted for, leaving a net loss of 17. A tabulated list of all libraries in New Hamp-list shire regularly open to the public or to some portions of the public. The libraries are diIvided into five classes: 1, libraries owned or partly owned by the town, excepting school libraries; 2, libraries owned or controlled by associations or individuals, excepting school libraries; 3, public school libraries; 4, libraries of schools and colleges owned and controlled by private corporations or individuals; 5, libraries owned by the state. The libraries are arranged alphabetically by location and the list gives date of foundation, terms of use, no. vols. in 1894, name of librarian and amount of annual public appropriation. It was compiled by A. R. Kimball, late state librarian of New Hampshire. The University Extension work undertaken during the year was successful; three full courses of 12 lectures each were given, and there was a membership of 476. 64 sued a 'Manual of instruction and course of Early in the fall the board of education isstudy for the public schools,' which contained a of books for parallel reading. It proved an excellent guide and aid to teachers, and was the direct means of greatly augmenting the circulation of books among teachers and pupils." The most important improvement to the library was the installation of a new steel stack in the summer of 1894; it gives a shelving capacity of 60,000 v. Librarian Hill closes his report with recommendation for better reference accommodations, a repairing-room, and an independent electric plant. The president of the library board brings up the question of a new library building, and urges that it be definitely settled in the affirmative. Newport, R. I. Redwood L. and Athenæum. (164th rpt.) Added 2530; total 40,759. Issued, home use 11,544 (fict. 64 %); ref. use has "considerably increased." Receipts $9671.56; expenses $9260.09. The library has received a noteworthy gift from Fairman Rogers-the majority of the books of his private Newport library, amounting to 1740 v., and 103 maps; Mr. Rogers also gave $100 to be used for binding. "With the exception of the fortnight during which the library was closed, the cataloging has gone on without interruption, though the progress made during the latter half of the year has not been as great as during the earlier portion, due chiefly to the fact that the subjects treated latterly have been more troublesome-law, government, and administration having been particularly difficult." The number of books cat aloged since the last annual report is 4000 v. and 1398 pm., making the whole number thus far cataloged 34,811 v., and 1398 pm. The librarian recommends better lighting, more shelf-room, and the disposal of duplicates. Niagara Falls (N. Y.) P.L. The Niagara Falls Public Library was duly organized on Jan. 25, and a librarian and assistant librarian were appointed. The librarian will be unsalaried, a.m. Norwich, Ct. Otis L. It has been decided to discontinue the library Bulletin, because it can no longer be published, as heretofore, free of expense to the library. To continue the publication, it would be necessary to take money from the fund for the purchase of books. With the increasing use of the library, the continual need of new books is so apparent that it has been thought unwise to encroach upon the ited book-fund in any way. It is hoped that the lack of the bulletin will be, to a great degree, compensated by the means already employed to bring new books before the public, viz.: the posted bulletins of new books on the library walls, the lists of new books on the catalogtable, and the card catalog proper. · Philadelphia. Byberry L. "The sedate old Quaker suburb of Byberry," says the Philadelphia Record, "boasts of one of the oldest libraries in the United States. The stockholders of the Byberry Library held their 100th annual election in December last, in the quiet sedate way in which everything is managed in that Quaker settlement. The old stone building, the lower floor of which is occupied by the Friends' School, has undergone but slight alteration since the library was started just 100 years ago, and many of the original volumes still remain intact. From the original minutes it appears that, At a meeting of a number of respectable inhabitants of Philadelphia and Bucks Counties, held at Byberry school-house, pursuant to aplim-pointment, on the eighth of the 12th month, 1794, it was 'resolved that the citizens now met use their influence to promote an institution under the title of Byberry Library, to be first opened at the dwelling-house of Ezra Townsend, in Bensalem.' Four years later the library was removed from the residence of Ezra Townsend to the school-house. An article of the original by-laws says that no books shall ever be admitted into this library that have a manifest tendency to corrupt the morals of mankind, such plays, romances, or any other that in any wise as atheistical or deistical publications, novels, contradicts or derogates the truths of the gospel, or is prejudicial to the Christian religion.' The shelves contain but 3000 volumes." | Ohio State L., Columbus. According to the 49th report, recently presented by Librarian J. P. Smith, there have been 1760 additions made during the year, the total number of v. being 67,010. The total expenditure for books was $2269. Several of the books added are of his toric value and interest. No volumes were lost or stolen during the year, although there were more readers than usual, and there were more visitors at the library than in any year of record. It is the aim of the commissioners to popularize the library by increasing the number of its readers, so far as the laws permit. The building is divided into two distinct departments—one for executive, the other for library purposes. The former contains the offices of the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary, attorney-general, auditor-general, and state treasurer, and is admirably complete in all details. The library is 55 x 147 feet, with a handsome separate entrance. A gallery extends around the sides, one story above the first floor, and there are 52 alcoves, each enclosed with an iron railing, supplied with chairs and tables, and lighted by electricity. The state librarian and his assistants have separate offices, located on the first floor, and handsomely fitted up. In the basement are the newspaper and storage rooms. The stack room, connecting with the main library, contains steel shelving for about 500,000 v. In addition, the building contains a museum and a flag-room, which will fittingly house the state's collection of relics. The entire building cost $487,000. Pennsylvania State L., Harrisburg. The new state library and executive building, work on which was begun in October, 1893. was finished on the first of December last, and the library is now in the midst of removal to its new quarters. This cannot be carried on as promptly as was hoped, for the reason that the shelving which, according to contract, was to have been completed and in place by October 15, has as yet been only partly delivered, Philadelphia F. L. The first exhibit of the library in its new rooms on Chestnut street will be held during the last week of February. It will consist of a representative collection of bindings, showing examples from the leading binders of Italy, France, England and America, in chronological sequence. Some of the books have been on exhibition at the Grolier Club, New York, and are shown by arrangement with Mr. Robert Hoe and Mrs. Avery. The exhibit will be conducted under the auspices of the Philobiblon Club. Plainfield (N. J.) P. L. It has been ordered by Chancellor McGill, of the state court, that the Schoonmaker collection of Japanese pottery |
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