New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-23
HOOP BOOKS FOR THE ASKING
WHAT THE FREE LIBRARY IS DOING.

III
MEANS.
little more than year ago meeting of those
snterested In extending the work of the New-York
Free Circulating Library was held in THE hall of
Shs Union League Club. Many prominent citizens
were present and 1t was announced that vigorous
effort would be made to raise fund
large enough to place the library upoL
firm foundation. In order to ascertain how
Ear this effort had succeeded and learn the present
condition and prospects of the library TRIBUNE re-
porter made some inquiries this week of Frederick
W. Whitridge chairman of the Committee on Ways
and Means and William W. Appleton. chairman OF
the Committee on Library and Reading-rooms; ana
also visited the rooms of the Free Library Assoca-
tion, at No. SO Bond-st.
Mr.. Whitridge SAID that the committee made
strenuous efforts to raise 100000 for the library
but succeeded In obtaining only about $4,000.
This sum. boweyer had been used to such advan-
tage as largely to increase the usefulness OF the
library. The trustees have been enabled
out of this fund to purchase building at
No. 40 Bond-st., and are now making snch
alterations as will render it suitable for library
purposes When this building is occupied by
the association there will be. undoubtedly,
great gain in the circulation of the books on its
shelves. The chief difficulty which the members OF
the association meet with is that of procuring suff-
cent funds TO maintain the good work that they are
doing; the expense is now met wholly by voluntary
contributions. The annual begging by the friends
of the library to MAINTAIN it during the year is
unpleasant harassing, and likely at any time
TO prove ineffective. The present running expenses
of the library are about $4,000 a year, which in
cludes the purchase of a moderate number of new
books There Is now about $4,000 in the hands
of the treasurer, but the expense OF moving the
library and fitting up the new building has to be
met this year. there is urgent need of increasing the
fund for immediate use.
The reporter found the rooms in BOnd-St., now oc-
cupied by the ASSOCIATION, busy place. They are
comparatively small but the readmg-roOm and
that in which books given out were well filled
with boys girls and adults Although 1t was
bright day outside, such day would naturally
attract boys TO play there were not less than thirty
of them, between the ages OF twelve and eighteen,
who were evidently unable to purchase books for
themselves, busily reading newspapers and maya
zines and waiting to get volumes from the library.
number of those present had apparently just
come from school, and thus the library is made an
adjunct to the common-school system.
Mr.. Appleton. chairman of the Library Committee,
said that il was often noticeable that the boys and
girls would make use of the library to secure infor
nation in regard to subjects for compositions, es-
saws, etc No trashy books or periodicals are pur-
Miss Coe, the librarian, and her assistants make
a special effort to guide the young people
who make use Of the library in
course of reading that will be useful
rs well as entertaining Persons calling for novels
by lola and other writer's whose works are not kept
in the library induced TO take those written by
Hawthorne or Howells or some standard author,
and they almost invariably show that they have
been well pleased when they return the books.
THE librarian has been constantly instructed"
said Mr. Appleton, "to aid al readers in search of
information however trivial may be the subject,
and while the readers are to have free scope In the
choice of books, those in charge have attempted,
when they properly could do SO without seeming
ociousness to suggest books of the best character
and induce the cultivation of good literary taste"
Bulletins Of new books and of books special
topics of the day were posted about the room with
other information in addition to the catalogue that
would be of assistance to readers Although the
library is open to all who come from a. IN to
D. m. except on Sunday, hen it is open from p m /
10 0 D. H. and is in charge of women, yet there has
never been any trouble disorder. 1t Is visited
largely by poor and some of those who come
are ofrather rough appearance; yet the services
OF the janitor who is always near at
hand, have not been needed to secure proper OBJ
servance of the rules. The Sundays use of the
reading room and library has been such, in the opin
ion of the librarian fully to justify the wisdom of
the trustees in opening the rooms on that day.
1.-THE result" said Miss Coe, "seems to answer
every objection which can be made to Sunday
opening. The reading room Is filled with quiet,
orderly readers among WHOM are many ADULTS
DOUBTLESS many more would come III there were
ROOM"
A REMARKABLE CIRCULATION WITH VERY SMALL
loss.
The library now contains about 1900 volumes.
During the last year many books necessary to the
library were added from special donations for this
purpose, while large number of valuable volumes
were received as gifts Among the latter was a
gift of over thousand volumes in German, adm- |
rably selected which already in extensive crcu
Iation set of Sir Walter SCOTS novels in French
has been so constantly in circulation as to be worn
out large proportion Of the books in the library
have been contributed by its friends. Probably one
third of the wholenumber have little present value
or interest. and rarely used by the patrons of |
the library Nevertheless the whole number Of vol |
umes circulated during last year was ab9It ISooo:
the library was 5000, each volume was circulated |
over fourteen, tunes. This perceptage. when
be pronounced extraordinary. The Mercantile Ii
brary with Its 200,0 600 volumes, issued TO reeiers
last year only 10000 voinmes-2,O0O less than the
number issued by the Free Circulating Library, |
which has only one book to every twenty-elght
owned by the Mercantile Library. Out of this extern
circulation only eleven DOOks iO5l
loss WIS the fact that having the books
were called suddenly away from The city. When
il is considered that the books given out TO
one liyiI in New-York over twelve years Of ago
who can be properly identified at the place of resi-
dence given, this small percentage of loss speaks
highly Tor the honesty and intelligence OF the
patrons of the library as well as for its management.
i'm the Birmingham Public Library of England,
which ia considered one of the best conducted the
,rrrcntaee OF loss is about one volume out of every
4 900 issued Ia the Apprentices Library in this
cIty the loss last year one volume out OF every
q $50 issued DnIIng the last six months the loss
in the Free Circulating Library has reached only
three volumes out of the 10000 issued. -, /.
Another gratifying fact IN connection win tne
work of the Free Library Association ~ the tend
ency of the readers toward the more instructive and