Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-10

ance was made for the library from the
tax fund OF 1SS9-90, but when that
amount is expended there will yet be a
shortage of about 10 900 volumes, which
must be purchased before there can be
q free circulation Of books for home use.
The library ut the present time 10 practi.
cally free, there being no charge made for
the Use of it, but only small fee of one
dollar per quarter for the privilege OF
using books at home. The board is of
opinion, based on an examination of the
records OF this and other libraries, that
it will be impossible to supply the i'm.
mense demand for books whi h would
immediately arise if the small charge
now made were abolished, and that IL
will not oe prudent to do away with such
charge until the library contains st least
20, 600 volumes for circulation, indepen.
dent of those to be kept in the library
for reference purposes. For the statistics
and general information about the library
since it has been under its present man.
agement, we beg to refer to the able re-
port of Miss Kelso, the Librarian, which
is attached hereto, marked "Appendix
A." and is hereby made part OF this
report. The statistics and information
contained therein are we'll worthy of at
tentive consideration by your hon.
orable body. The board is endesy.
oring to administer the affairs of
the library with such due regard to
economy as is consistent with good re-
turn for the money expended. In study
ing the question of expense it must be
borne in mind that the library, being
open for twelve and q half hours every
week day, and the hours of labor for
each person employed being limited by
law to eight, the working staff neces-
sarily costs something over SO per cent.
above the amount that would be required
it the rooms were only open for day of
legal length. The library is now kept
open every week day in the year from
am. to $50 p.m., and on Sundays the
reading-room is open from | pm. to
pm. The board has made the use of
the library entirely free to all the teach
ers in the public schools, and is glad to
report to your honorable body that the
extensive use made of this accommoda-
ton is an evidence of the benefit it will
become to the cause of education.
Although the present staff of employees
have not been long engaged in working
under the present administration, the
board takes this opportunity to express
its satisfaction with the zeal and energy
thus far displayed. The board has been
greatly assisted in its arduous work by
the ability and experience of the Ii.
brarian, who has shown a capacity and
intelligence which make her remarkably
we'll fitted for the important position she
occupies. The introduction Of the latest
improvements in library arrangements.
and the adoption of the best labor. saving
devices in library economy, are owing to
Miss Kelso's knowledge and good judg-
ment in those matters, She has been
ably seconded by her chief assistant,
whose local acquaintance has been of
great advantage to the library.
In conclusion the board desires to ex-
press that feeling of gratitude to your
honorable body which consists of lively
sense OF favcrs to come. The needs Of
the Public Library for city of the size
and importance of Los Angeles, with its
population of $4,000 souls, have thus lar
been appreciated by you, but much re-
mains to be done in the future. The re.
markable increase in the demands upon
the library during the few months it
has been actively in operation, point
to a larger increase in the i'm
mediate future, the growth Of the
facilities stimulating the growth of the
demand. In the opinion Of this board it
will not be long before the present
quarters, ample as they now seem, will
be too small in which to conduct the
business. We therefore ask your honor
able body to have in mind the necessity
for such provision for Public Library
as will be sufficient for all time, and to
this end the appropriation of a lot and
separate building will be found to be in.
dispensable.
The report of the Librarian will be
found in the HERALD tomorrow.