The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-12
Tim THOUSAND VOLUNES.
The Pioneer Library Now a Great
Institution.
KIRMESS FUND ADDITIONS.
Interesting Facts Concerning the
Work for the Last Year.
Great Many New and Valuable Works
Added to the Llbrary-Books Read
During the Year-WorKs of
Fiction in Demand.

Among the institutions in Salt Lake
that are constantly exerting an influence
for good is the Pioneer library and read
ing room, situated in the Board of Trade
building. 1t was established by the Ma
sons in 1877 and until about two years ago
existed as the Masonic library. The Ma
sonic fraternity turned it over to the Pho
neer association and since then it has ex-
panded rapidly.
The Kirmess held last summer netted
large sum, which has been wisely ex-
pended in the purchase of new books, and
up to today the committee having the
important matter in hand has purchased
about 300 volumes, bringing the total
number of books now in the library up to
about 10, 900 volumes.
NEW BOOKS PURCHASED.
The new books were selected with great
care, and include upwards of 500 works
OF fiction, a fine line of Juveniles, the
civil war series, complete set OF lives OF
generals of the late war, and Nicholy
Hays ttLife of Lincoln
In the line of history, works on Rome
and Greece have been added, together
America, in eight volumes. This latter is
new departure in historical writing and
is the work of specialists.
The complete works OF Professor John
Fisk, including his life of Columbus,
have been secured. The works of
Browning and Ibsen, Lowell's works
complete, both prose and poetry, and
many valuable miscellaneous books have
been placed on the shelves.
In the lines of biography, travel, phil
osophy and religion numerous additions
have been made and some particularly
valuable scientific works, representing
the best and most advanced thought of
the times, have been ordered. This
committee has added an entirely new
feature TO the library in the way of fine
selection of musical works. In the selec-
ton of educational works valuable advice
and assistance was received from DR..
Millspaugh.
The committee did not stop with
books, however, but has added
to the list of standard periodicals
formerly received, the Critic, the Cosmo-
poLitGn, the Builders Scientific Magazine,
the ArgOndut, Harper's Bdzdr, the CoIana-
| bidn Exposition, Current History and the
ReUieio Of ReUieWS. Then some 1853 vol
umes OF periodicals which had accumu-
lated were bound and placed on the
shelves.
BOOKS READ LAST YEAR.
During the past year 1884 books were
taken from the library, and it is interest
ing to note the increase after the new
books were added.
The works circulated during the year
were divided as follows: Fine arts, 1872;
useful arts, Al; biography, 1877; ancient
classics, 81; foreign classics, 10; literary
miscellany 102; fiction, 1884; geography
and travel, 225; German, %; government
publications, ID; history, 337; journals
literature, Is; natural science. III; phi
lology and literary, 81: philosophy and
ethics, So; poetry and drama, 179; religion,
SO; sociology, 81; Utah literature, ga; wit,
humor and satire, So.
The number OF books circulated during
each month was as follows: January,
$50; February, S12; March, 1852; April j,
61S; May, 556; June, 606; July, 635;
August, 626; September, 664; October,
$40; November, 1858; December, /, 312.
The new books commenced arriving in
October, and the business of the library
has been increasing eyer since.
THE LIBRARY RECEIPTS.
The receipts from dues and fines on
books were as follows: January, $34. 10;
February, $33; March, S31 IS; April
$2O.55; August, S31. 80; September, $50. 45;
October, $40; November, $63. rs; Deem
Der, S52. 80.
To sustain the library, there was re-
ceived in addition to this SS3. 33 per
month from the city council. and 1910
from fifteen life members at S25 each. A
life membership secures one share in the
association and all the privileges of the
library. These memberships now num-
Der fifty-seven, in addition to those held
by members OF the Masonic fraternity.
PROSPECTS FOR THE YEAR.
The library is in charge of Miss Chap
man and more capable librarian could
not be found. The institution starts out
this year with bright prospects for in
creased usefulness, and it is to be hoped
that some plan for putting it upon firm
financial basis may be devised. The
officers have for some time cherished the
idea OF making the library a part of the
public school syetem SO that it would be
entitled to portion OF the school tax.
The place is much frequented by univer-
sity and public school students and is OF
great assistance to them.
Besides the books circulated out of the
library as given above, great number
of works of reference have been con-
suited in the library, and the number OF
visitors in the reading room during the
past year has averaged about fifty day
The success of the Pioneer library is
due in a great degree to the interchangeable
efforts of Mr.. Christopher Diehl, the
secretary of the association, who has de-