The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-08
There ARE TWO Sides
Public Library Agents Help
Their Trade by Their
Work.
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE PAY.
What 1t Costs to Supply the People
of Jersey City With Books
Interesting Information.

Druggist George Macs, In whose store
opposite the Court House one of the Pub
lie Library delivery stations is located,
raised plaintive wall last week for In
creased compensation. Mr. Macs claimed
that he and his clerks are overworked by
the demands of the patrons of the library,
and he announced his determination of
giving up the station unless paid "at
least So week" for his services. He said
also that Mr.. Pfngsten, of station F,
Central avenue. was of the same mind.
Librarian Cole was interviewed by q
NEWS reporter this morning in regard to
the alleged dissatisfaction among the Ii
brary agents. He said:-
I'VE have seven stations. and have had
no complaint except from Messrs. Macs
and Pfngsten. who do not handle as
many books as do the other agents.
TWO SIDES TO 1T.
THE Trustees, in adopting the station
plan, took into consideration the fact
that the agents, who are all
engaged in other business, would
derive a benefit by having the
stations located in their stores. AS
matter of fact many people drawn to the
library stations purchase articles of the
benefit as an advertisement IL nothing
else. The Trustees pay one third of a
cent for each book returned through the
agents, sum small in itself, but calcu-
lated to pay for any expense connected
with the handling of the books.
"At the several stations, there were
handled, during January, 12, 742 volumes.
about 40 per cent OF the total circulation,
which reached 29, ,295 volumes. Since the
stations were opened. 40, 1856 volumes have
been handled by them. Last
week Station A, sLafayette, handled
367 books; Station B, Greenville,
All; Station c, Jackson avenue, s03; Sta
(Maes' drug store). 302; Station f (Pfng-
sten's), Central avenue, roo; Station .,
Hamilton Park. 214.
MR.. MAES' WORK.
"Mr. Macs returned last week an aver
age OF f1fty-seven volumes per day. Sew
doesn't looK as though he ought
to be greatly overworked, or
that he would require extra clerical help
to handle the books. Five out of seven
OF the agents are satisfied with the sys-
tenn, knowing that it attracts customers
to their places of business. lam satisfied
that the trustees will not entertain any
proposition looking towards an increase
of compensation to the agents. Plenty OF
business men can be found who will be
glad to take charge of the stations.
"The station plan is an important fea
ture of the library work. II the annual
appropriation for library purposes is cut
down, as proposed, the delivery system,
which is at present vast public convent
ence, and which is conducted on an eco
nomical and business like basis, will
naturally be the first expense cut off.
The library circulated 90, ,295 volumes last
month, the largest number of any similar
institution In the State, and at less ex-
pense.
THE LIBRARY STAFF.
"Our staff. outside of the station agents.
is made up of twenty-five assistants. of
whom only six receive over $3 80 per
week. Our salary account last year
was only 1880, against $4,000
in Newark. The delivery system. putting
ular library work, gives full and active
employment to every assistant on the
staff. The delivery system costs only
| $175 month, of which the carrier. who Is
obliged to make the rounds over vast
territory twice day. gets $l25 per
month. He earns his money
"Our expenses this year, including
| S., 900 for rent $1,000 for light, $4,000 for
salaries. 81 200 for newspapers and period
| icals, 81 500 each for the stationery and
supplies and the printing accounts,
will foot up to $4,000, leav-
| ing about one-third only of the
appropriation of $27, 600 for new books
| and rebinding. The latter is an import
ant item, $50 volumes being sent to the
binders last month. AT $4,000 annual
expense, the cost of main
| tanning the library is less than
any of the neighboring libraries
of equal circulation and with more
money to spend. The expenses cannot be
reduced without Gripping the service,
and the one-uhird Of the appropriation for
new books is small enough. The delivery
system, cut off as consequence OF q re-
duced appropriation. would naturally be
keenly felt by the public"