, 1875-06-06
stated thu. Of the tax feYied Of suna apprqprist-
I'd for 1874, there is yat remaining undolleoted

ststed thu: ot tbs tax fsried Of suua appraprist
ID for Y 1877; i. there yet remaining un'o4''Fe'
>''0' S-''''' TIE aoSsrxo z1pESsEs
Of the institution, it tho circulation ct book
be maintained, cannot 20 1888 ,od loa1 oa19
fn1 calcu1at,ou no arc sbfo to make baset
upon tho receipts Of smaller annuas feSeDos
than $50, o00-for expensss,-and S2]. 300 more
to make what we consider indispensable -pur
chases will materially cripple the library, "hl1e
it will efactually put m end to its fur the'
progress.
Even without the addition Of more revenue
to purc,asc books exclusive OF the RAINING o.
pense account, it can readily be seen from the
ratio Of our increase that the time as coming,
and shat spoadlv, when the number o. noos. ts
borrowers will be greataE IN nuinoer tnAa tne
books now OH the shelves.
To your honorable body, therefore,
THIS hoard NOW APPEALS,
- the legitimate ral resentalves OF tno people
OF Cbic4go in behalf Of that people, for the
amount necessary to keop open this institution:
We entertain no shadow OF doubt but tnat
when cur actual condition is properly under
stood, you will do SO. Let there be, II possible,
DO Misrepresentation. For If we are correctly ad-
yised az 70 the reason Of tho limited and lnaoe-
quate appropriation made last year. there Was =
mistake mado in regard to the amount Of actual
resources subject to onr disposal
THE FAIIUEE OF THIS.
tbs first Free Library established in this city Or
in Illinois under tho - Free Library act" would
not, ne respectfully ins1st be crei4table to Chi
cago.. On the contrary it would be Of deplora-
bio occurrence.
The Board during tbs past year have drawn
against aud expended OF tne library fund 358,-
76S.3l, Of which $2s, 40 has been paid on the
purchases made Of BOOKS previously ordered,
prudent to declne all further acquisitions in
view Of the insufsciencv Of our fund. Tho
statements attached will give I'll neces-
asry details Is to the sums paid
out On account Of ealsr7es, newspapers, and peri
odicals, bookbinder!, furniture, fixtures, Sta
houery, heating, insurance, reus and printing.
4 very satisfactory item will be found IN the
fact that the Secretary has received on account
OF fnes from book-borrowers the sum Of
81, 643.7a while We have paid out for 1eblndlng
the books damaged only 81 .99l.80.
Tho Library now contains IS, 236 volumes
Tbs Accessions the past year have heeu 21,053
volumes; 800 Of those have been donations, ard
20, 122 acquired from purchases. Tao total num-
ber OF pamphlets now on hand il I, ,803, Of which
there were received from donations last year !. .9l3
We refor to the Librarians report accompanying
for ail details under this branch Of our report.
The Board call your srecial attention to The
present branch Of this rapport In Which nc are
required to give
TIE SUaBn OF VISITORS
attending aud number OF books loaned out, etc.
The wholo number Of visitors to the reading
room during tbs ysar has reached 2'6, ,02l- The
asues Of perlodicats have been 135, s355. and
books issued in reading-room to visitors, 1884.
The average Of daily visitors has been CAT, and
Lve1sge issue OF periodicals. s71, and of books o.
THE CIRCULATION
IT books loaned out to borrowers baa approx
nated 800, 900 volumes, Or, to bo accurate, $780,
t56 volumes. The largest number OF volumes
ssued in one day (which WAS March 81 reached
}. 452 volumes, wh11e the smallest number issued
a ope f}av was H41 Iha librarian will prva al!
ietails in this branch of the service, and in re-
gard to ali tho facts, which his great experience
ind skill enable him SO well to handle His
7ienn on the progress the Library Itself has
made and is making will be found to have Pc
>uiiar interest.
The Board submit tha aboye facts, Of which
hey are cognizant, not doubling for moment
:hat the strongest argument to be made in favor
II the . Chicago Public Library" IS 10 be derived
rom its own history and progress.