, 1874-07-05

The Chicago Public Library opened its crcu.
lating department. Oh tho lat Of May, 1874. Thia
circulating department. had, therefore, been iu
operation two months ut the close Of thu official
Library year, June so. The progress OF tho in-
stitution in public favor is shown by tho facts
stated in tile report OF Mr.. Poole, tho Libsarian.
Tho total number Of books in tho Library May
was J., ,955 volumes. OF theao large number
are books Of roforence, which aro consulted by
the visitors in tho roading-room; this included,
also, tho costly collection presented to tho Lii
brary by it's friends in England, The number Of
volumes availablo for use III tho circulating DO
partmcut was about $4,000. During tho nine
weeks In which the Library has bsen open tho
daily average number Of books given ont was as
follows: First, 1888; second, 26O; third, 397;
fourth 4s7; fifth, 655; sixtb o71; seventh,
7a0; eighth, CTS; ninth, BOZ. During tho
eighth wook occurred tho coruor-stono halt-
day, whom the Library waa supposed to have
boon cloacd. But few books wero taken out on
TINT day. Tho Boston Public Library, ut tho and
Of its fifth year Ind 81, ,896 volumes, uut report
I'd 4 daily avorage Of $40 volumes loaued at tho
ond OF the sixth year this average had increasoa
to 983 volumes. Tic number of volumes aud the
daily circulation increased until, at the end Of its
tonth year, With 105 0a4 books, its daily circu1a-
tion was 62G. In 1879, the twenty-frst
year Of the Library, with over 1870, 900 volumes,
its daily average circulation was sG4 volumes.
This Cincinnati Public Library, at tho oud Of its
fourth year, in 1871, had 81. .95s volumes, md an
average daily issue Of SIT; in 1873. with &c, ,G95
volumes on tho shelves, it Ind daily avorago
circulation OF 49, Tho New York Marcautilo
Libyary, with 10000 voIunaes md OYER 10000
nombere, reports daily average for tie ycar
ending April, 1874 OF G54 volumes.
Commenting upon these figures, Mr.. Poole ia
Justified in saying:
It will he Seen from these statstica that tho Chicago
Inhlfc Library, with s collection haf completed
and without printed catalogue has, In tho first two
months after its opening, taken rauk for liz crcul-
lion, with the largest mud most successful public
libraries Of tho country. Tha position, there In every
reason to bulloye 1t will hold aud improve upon,
With no competing library IN the city, anl with pop
uatton Of nearly looking to 1t fur rpainy 1t
seems now impossible 10 NJ any limit 10 Tue ,se wlc,
will be made Of its books wAou the shoYes aro fully
; supplied.
It is true that il Boston and New York there
are othor libraries from which the public d.aw
books. but, nevertheless, the figures Of tho first
nina woekB Of our Library are mono tho less u.s.
toulshing. TO large portion Of our population
= the Library ia atil} unknown, and tho mode Of
procuring books not understood The number
OF books is 10 limited TINT many DO not apply
under conviction that they cannot get what
they want, Or that when thoro Ia hut aingla
sopy Of book the chances Of getting 1t ara
ANAL. What ia needed Ia moro hoolsa Un-
fortunately thore III but very nmaii fund
available for that purpose this year, but thorc is
hi admirable opportunity for thoao wno have the
! mesns to enlow the institution with liberal
surn to that end. Had tho Chicago Public
: Library the menns Of providing 5o.000 volumes
: for circulation, tloro IL no reason to doubt that
;: It would In very short time have registry Of
: a6, 900 book-borrowers, -thorcby contributing
pleasure, entertainment, aud instruction to M
mxnJ families, the larger Number Of ws,oua hare
probably no other msans Of obtntning boohs at
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