The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-12
4 WEEK AT THE LIBRARY
Already This New Institu-
tion is Well Patronized.
THE KIND OF BOOKS In DEMAND.
Fiction Of Healthful Tone is Popu-
lar, but Scientific Matter is
Read by Many Studious
Young Men.

The Free Public Library Of Jersey City
opened on Monday last. The results as
closely observed during the week BY the
trustees and the intelligent corps of Ii
brarlan Coles assistants are gratifying in
the extreme.
Jersey City has every reason to feel
proud of its Free Library. To the trus-
tees the lovers of literature owe a debt OF
gratitude-but not whit less to the small
army employed for the past few months
in classifying and arranging the sixteen
thousand volumes that now adorn the
shelves of the library cases.
Some unfavorable criticism has been in
dulged in at the expense Of the trustees
concerning the location Of the library
rooms. 1t is now admitted on all sides
that more convenient and slightly Local
tion could not have been selected below
rhe Hill
A public library shouts not be estab-
lished for the sole benefit OF the leisure
ly saunterer. The library aud its an
nexed reading room are located practical
ly on the first floors Of two of the finest
buildings ia the city, and are more easy
OF access than If on what is commonly
termed the first floors OF these build
ings.
Two stems down from two quiet thor
oughfares In the busiest section of the
city, within a stones throw OF the main
artery from which all other business
thorougnfares branch; within a stones
throw OF car lines connecting directly
with every street car line in the city--a
lew strides. push at screen door, and
you find yourself in large. airy room.
with tables and racks spread with every
Iaudfnn f.Arird5rul and olf ffo ~ irr
newspapers of the day.
This Is what is known as the readin5
room. 1t was opened few weeks in adj
vance of the library, and the manner in
which it has been patronized demon
strates the public's appreciation.
1t was not, however, until Monday last,
when the library was opened for the cir
culation of books, that record was kept
concerning visitors.
This Is the record, with the exception Of
few hours OF the first day
On Monday at eleven o'clock 81 persons
We're counted seated at the tables; at
twelve, 81; at four, 80; at five, II; at six,
ten, 8.
Tuesday, July AT ten O'Clock, 9; az
eleven. 9; at twelve. IL; at one. Is; at two
II; at three. 81; at four, IS; at five, IA; at
six, 6; at seven. IL; at eight, Is; at nine,
is.
w tQuGSuhy, Giy CA tttiy 1Us ~
eleven, 13; at twelve, 9; at one, s; at two,
"a; at three, 80; at four. "a; at five, Is; at
six, 10; at seven. 10; at eight. IL; ut nine,
5; at ten, Z.
Thursday, July 0.--At ten O'Clock. III:
at eleven, 15 at twelve, z; at one. Z; at
two, g.; at three, ~: at four, %; at five. II,
at six, 8; at seven. "a: at eight "a; at nine,
Friday, July 10.-At ten o'clock, IL; at
eleven, IA; ut twelve. 70; at one. 9; at TWO,
IL; at three, II; at four. Is; at i've, 10; At
six, z; at seven, 3; at eight, %; at nine, IL;
at ten, 1S-
Saturday, July 11.--At ten, s; at eleven,
IL at twelve, 10; at one, 6; at two, 9; at
three, IA: at four, IA; at five, Is
'fhe number of lady visitors has In
creased since the library was opened, :"
said the lady in charge Of the reading
room. 1.-THE ladies visit mainly during
the day hours. There have been very few
lady visitors at night. This probably in
dicates that the factory and shop girls
and salesladies prefer an evening OF open
air enjoyment these SIMMER evenings in
stead of reading after day shut up in
stores aud factories.
THE evening visitors are mainly young
boys and young men whose dress and ap-
pearance denote that they are mechanics.
Most of the young men prefer periodicals
of the Scientific american stamp. The
North american ReDielC is in great de-
mand. The boys generally read Banner
Weekly, Outing and Golden Days. Most
OF the lady visitors read the Century and
the fashion ana art magazines"
III accordance with Librarian Coles
suggestion glanced over the racks con-
tanning the hundred aud odd periodicals.,
to ascei tain by the marks of usage on the
backs which had proved most popular
thus far. Looted down this list Of books
OF curled, bent and thumb-worn coyers:--
Dublin Rerielc, with green covers; Wide
Aaod6s. pop'ttGr e., scscnos Monthly NeD
Monthly, Atlantic Monthly. Current
Literature, Belford's Magazine, The
Arefld, Century, Home Mdgdzslte, The
Author, EdtdbuTgh Regielg, InteTnati0n-
al Journal of Ethics.
Walking through an arched doorway
one finds himself in q room about three
times as large as the reading room. 1t Is
filed with two rows of double and single
cases, about eight feet high. with shelves
filled In the majority of instances with
bran new books. An aisle down the CEN
tire leads to the reference and the cata-
loguing departments.
It is not anticipated that the reference
department will be in any great demand
until after the vacation, when the school
children and High School and Hasbronck
Institute pupils commence work on COM
positions, essays. debates, etc.
In the catalogu1ng department.. how
ever, new books are constantly passing
through the cataioguers' hands, and the
list of class books Is being compiled AS
yet only the fiction list is ready. Some
mild criticism has been iudulged in re-
garding the slow progress Of the cata-
loguing and preparing for distribution
the sixteen thousand volumes now on the
shelves Knowing ones, however, say
the record of such work has been broken
by those who have done this work for
Jersey City's Free Library.
The fiction list, prepared by Librarian
Cole. was ready when t he library opened
on Monday. Mr.. Cole has also prepared
and had printed and framed and hung up
in conspicuous places lists OF the perIodi-
cals-one arranged alphabetically, an
other divided into daily. weekly and
issues, and another separating
and arranging alphabetically the various
foreign periodicals subscribed for
Nearly all the leading works of fiction
have been duplicated; and IL a book
called for is not in the library It will
usually be furnished at the next call.
Nearly two thousand books were called
for during last week. Tho borrowers are
about equally divided as to the number
Of adults and children.
had q chat with Mrs. Kate Weylan
and Miss Maria Gilbert, who. assisted by
several young ladies'. have charge OF the
delivery counter. asked what books
had thus far proved most popular
with the holders OF cards.
Mrs Waplau dafflv raz, tnr