, 1874-06-07

1uent to April i, 1878. only s5,a54 The Board has
the year ending May 81, 1s74 s3c maxi
from the Treasury Of organization. the sum OF
f33 o3i which includes the Of ST. QUO paid for
looks furniture, and fixtures If new rooms nearly
81 0Oo a.ld newspapers and periodicals. 199, leaving
than oue-haf Of the whole amount Ihe details
Of all the other items given III tho papers accom-
panying the finance report, Library CoE1m!ttee report
report ct the Committee on Buildings aud Grounds,
betides the Librarians and Secretary statement. It
will he therefore th4t the total amount expended
aud drawn fru1n the Library fund will leave only
balance available resources Of $I357t, including
S3v 0Go to bs yet collected the ta1list Of 1873.
LIABILITIES.
Now Against this sum Of supposed resources
We have 10 pay the running annual expenses, which
have mainly been assumed since it was decided TO
open the Library to the public On the 1s day Of May,
1874.
And first, without giving Items. the aggregate Of al
necessary running annual eSpensss from aay 1914,
sums up to aggregate Of s!7,500
It will thus be found that in eighteen months the
nua expenses Of this service a: this rate bringing s
erable money Iva realized the Tux Of this year.
we will have expended, in current expenses, with
out the addition Of volume to the Library, except
tho amount now ordered, 81, 100 out OF the sum Of
s4s57l leaving the small balance Of 81 81,
which would be barey sufficient to hold for contingent
cies.
But there is still serious and embarrassing
difficulty which, independent OF all others involved.
needs that there Shall be nlurs money the Library
Is to be run while tie Of 1874 is being collected.
The Board, in view Of the necessity which existed
to satisfy the public demand, by opening the LhrnEy
lures paid, but which present liability upon
the resources Of the Library fund, and must bs
paid-
some four months ngo by the Librarian to be pur-
chased and now daily coming forward, to be placed
moss on M s3s to cur
And the contract pIlce with Ball i Co., Of London,
for binding British Pa:snt-otice Reports will cost
about $3, ,O00- Total present liability, S38, 900.
Thus this Board respectfully submit th.: i'll view Of
the amount Of running expenses to carry the L.
brasy, to pecc1e 81 o9o IN one aud one-la!f
years. by the fall OF 1885, and the s33 U00 present
liabilities, for binding abroad the pateut-OMce Re
ports, and rurcaas,ng nsarly 2ooo volume. 80 nex s
availabls resources Will only leave the triae Of
shout S., 900.
But the City Comptroller proposes to raise $4,000,
being lesa than half Of Whist tie law authorizes the
Common Council to raise for tho purpose. pay any
expenses, and inc1ease the efficiency Of the Ibrnry
We respectfully represent that in view Of the fact
That expenses ,so3 annually, and that there
will probably he deficiency in collections on the
90 with probable balance Of s7,ooo there viii still
I've $500 short Of actual expenses. and not single
volume work added to the library.
Now the Library Committee, III their report to this
Doard estimate that Of $4,000 annually should
b. set apart and held for tho purchase of the
annual publications, aud to supply the increased de-
mAn1s Of borrowers, which, in one month Rfter
opening increased to the number Of 2,573, and tbs
books loaned out to 1869 volumes!
The Board make this showing Of tho fnancia1 con-
di.ion OF tho trust they managing from desire
to appear in conflict with the policy Ut retrenchet
that may be wisely and necessarily urged somo
branches Of expenditures Of our municipal govern
uent, but from Of duty towards tho trust
they we're appointed TO guard HetrencAment, applied
to cutting Oh abuses where they exist, may be the
most sanitary of correctives, restoring vtgor and
health where dtseaeo making progress agaiuat
the life IT the subject But where, in infancy,
abuses Of habit hare cgept IN, and the Of
tenance barely sufficient to develop progress and
growth, the normal condition Of infan: life retrench-
ment then Of the means Of support may cud in paral
yss and death.
This Kind Of rctrenchu1ent applied to the Library at
the present period Of its early existeuce-ndced, aay
ungenerous treatment may. fear. bo attended with
like results, which We greatly deprtcate.
The Board has not been guilty of e1ravngance nor
ANTICIPATED its actual On The contrary, this
Board hes repeatedly complained that tbs Library bill
the Library shau be kept seplrate and apart from
other moneys Of such city, and be only drawn upon
by officers Of the city wien authenticated vouchers
Of the Library Fund IRE furnished. has been violated
by former administration, in suffering this fund,
tim Of tho defalcaons overrafts, and deficiencies of
other municipal departments.
LIBRARY.
The numbe Of boois low hand s 10 016 volumes,
Of which there have been adel during the past year
12,174 volumea We had hand before receiving the
books ordered to open tho Library 1896 volumes,
Of which number 500 volumes wcre received by
tries, and $40 volumes from citizens.
The British Patent-otce Reports will increase tho
received bu. will not be available for circulation and
general reading.
The total number Of volumes ordered in ant1ctpa-
volumes. neary 1900 volumes Of which haze t,een
put on the shelves. These nearly oil the American
Cooke ( Co. Of this city. The whole nu.nl;ar
Of volumes, when .lf the works now ordered
ore qe to 5 and not ys; ncang IL aet f.
British Office Reports, $500 volumes, swelling
au to IN aggregate Of nearly 10 90 volumes.
The number Of periodicals received and put on
the shelves from all countries 10 32, and of resGpa-
pera SO, and these include nearly every leading
paper and periodical published the globe. These
cost us an expense Of some 81 l9o annually In this
item the COMMITTEES Oh Finance recommend reduc-
ton, and that the List Of newspapers bo reduced in
number and cost
The number Of visitors 10 the reading-room up to
April 81, being for eleven uon'hs liz {47 The
eraga weekly number 2717, and The daily visitors
were 36l. The number OF sunday visitors was
40. Tho particulars the whole number Of peri
odicals rcalers viii be found On reference to
accompanying reports Of Committees OF Administers
ton and Library aud reading room.
Tho number Of viRitors tho Lbrary, and number
Of books Issued and number Of borrowers registered,
esn oal ~ 10 s gEsa from the lst ay Of May ss 70 Tue
month since tho Library IVES opened.
uooEs DRAWN.
The report OF the Secretary accompanying this
port shows that since the opening Of the Library Nc
h2yo registered 113 borrowers-i 9G1 11Hes and 6cs
females. We hare issued Csc books to taders aud
tho circulation for the week eadg May 49, 1s74 vas
2c23 younes-about ouo-uinth of the whole NUMBER
Of yo1umes On our shelves.
The circulation OF fiction and juveniles literature s
probably 10 Per higher than it would ba If the
other departments Of the Library complete
this.
Books sciruce and art and books Of higher char
acter Frequently called for but, being abseat from
shelves, borrowers TAKE works Of fiction instead.
Your honorable body will observe. from ths figures
extracted from tie detailed reporta OF thu readjng
Foo1n md Library this report. that in
one month since the opening Of the Library to bor
rower1 the number already registered is IND that
1t this rate Of increase 1t would 1T tha end OF twelve
months bscome Al aggregate OF a,,s7G,-about 10000
IN excess OF the nunaeer Of vo.urnea tho Lii
brarT Shelves In Boston they have 600 borTowc1s