The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-21
WORK OF The Library
Trustees Report for the Past Year Has Just
Been Issued.
ADDRESS TO THE CITY COUNCILS
There Are Now 1920 Volumes in
the Library, of Which 4,538 Have
Been Added to 1t During the Year.
List of the Persons Who Generous
ly Made Donations to the Library
During the Year.

W maue donations 10 the Library
During the Year.
The trustees of the Scranton Public
librar% have issued their report for the
year 1898, which makes the third an
nual.
The address to the councils is as fol-
lows:
To the honorable, the select and common
councils of the city of Scranton.
GENTLEMEN:-It is with unalloyed pleas
ure and honorable pride in this third an
nual report, the board of trustees can con-
gratulate you, the people OF Scranton, In
having we'll selected working library.
The use Of the memorial building and dis
tribution of books therefrom attest IN ST.
lence more emphatic than words, an APP
probation on the part of the people OF the
gifts OF the building, grounds and books,
and Of the commendaole interest which
you MS councilmen have shown.
Mr. Albright at the inception of his gift
of memorial building pledged an eXpendi-
ture of 10000 and secured the same by
deposit OF collaterals in order to guard
against any contingency. The final cost
of the building and appurtennnces to him
has reached Sl25 900. the vouchers and
payments for which have at his request
passed through the hands Of the president
OF the board.
The reports of the secretary and libra.
riau, with the summary of the eXpendl-
lures for the year 1898, tell their own ben
ehcial story. The rapid growth in the
! utility Of the library may be understood
from tho fact that maximum Of over
| 1000 visitors in one day has been at
tained, that 6,3O1 names haye been regis
tered rs borrowers, and 1858 books have
been out at one time. All classes and ages
of society are attracted to its enclosure
aud receive freely the benefits which self
culture, the best promise OF future
growth, affords.
| Iu our estimate for the absolute necessl-
ties Of the library for the coming year, we
have cut close to the line OF rigid econ
omy. The estimate is slightly increased,
| but we assure the councils and through
them the citizens, that We make no pres
sure on them, which is not made upon us,
by the facts and the hunger of our pa
irons, who are your wards. We sincerely
trust that you will see your way clear to
grant our prayer in this regard. The
building and grounds, if spontaneous eX-
preston of the people and OF all intelll
gent critics, which have come to US, are
any criterion, have more than met all ex-
pectations in their utility and elegance.
COST OF MAINTENANCE.
The amounts for maintenance for the
fiscal year commencing April. 1894, this
monthly date should always be borne in
mind in Judging Of our expenditures, are
as follows:
For books $3.50 90 per month....S 5000 90
For pay roll, salaries and labor,
1870 per month )................ 5, 100 OF
For incidentals, $500 per MONTH 2,4OO OF
| Total. al...................... .SlO, 500 OC
The summary of expenditures for the
past year will be found among the reports
herewith presented.
The accessions to the book department
during the year were 1, 53S making pres
ent total Of IS, 720 volumes.
A great encouragement to the manage
meut of the institution is found in the
spontaneous and unsolicited generosity Of
those who have added their gifts Of valua-
bic books to the library. We trust that
this spirit will grow and be a constant
support and fitting compliment to the
interest which our municipal authorities
and public officers and representative
both state and national, are showing
1 The meetings OF the board have been Of
the most interesting and harmonious char
acter, and the faithfulness Of all the off
GERS engaged in the active work of tn,
library are worthy of special mention. w,
desire to place the future growth and ex
cellence Of this beneficial institution, boil
as TO its incoming supplies and it's Outgo
ing benefits, as a grateful burden on thu
hearts Of all Of our people, young and old
and we invite kind, Intelligent and faith
full examination and criticism, and uni
versal use Of its privileges.
REPORT OF TREASURER.
The treasurer report shows the fol
lowing: Citizsns' subscriptions due
last JanuarV, 1887; collected during
the year, 874l. The total of the citi-
zsns' subscription last year WAS S.. 332
and the expenditures during the yea
from this fund were $3,79lO7. The
city appropriation with balance
was 81 /, 63l, and of this amount $10
G19. So was expended, Tue balance on
hand at this time is as follows: From
citizens subscriptions, $l,54l 90; from
city appropriations, 81 Ol2 ~; from
petit cash account. $4l3 So; total, 81.
067 63 The report is signed by Henry
Bslin, jr.
The following excerpt from Libra
rian Carr's report will be interesting
MANY BOOKS TAKEN OUT.
The number of book takers has proven
large from the first and fully in excess 0
any prior anticipations. From May 20 tt
Dec. 30, 1893 q total OF 6,3O7 names wer
registered and library cards issued to SAM
as follows; City borrowers. 6. 260; non
residents, 80; deposits and special, II
There we're surrendered or cancelled fo
one reason or another, so cards; leaving il
force at the end Of the year, 5,227. OF tn
6, 307 cards issued 2, $50 were to males ant
SAT to females: 4. $50 were to persons age
lS years and upwards and l,6I9 to thost
under that age.
AS to locality in the city no specific
count has been kept. but frequent inspec
tion Of the applications and home address
es recorded shows u good representation
from all sections, even those most remot
from the library.
Particulars concerning the home circu
latlon OF books will appear in summary
appended to this report. Total issues from
the circulating department for the sever
months 40 daysD number 85,02l; u dali
average OF 500. This was exceeded. how
ever, by the daily average In November
which was $50. Largest issue Of any on,
day was LOIS, on Monday, Oct. 2. Larges
daily number out in the hands OF reader
was B. G53, on Monday, Dec. /.
Percentage of circulation from the SOY
eral sections Of the library, other thai
Prose Fiction and Juveniles, has beei
higher than was originally expected ant
shows large class Of reading OF most graf
flying character.
Use Of reference depar tment has not beei
specifically recorded In statistical term
since. of those books, over 1900 are place.
on open shelves for public access and read
ers make avail thereof freely. That por
tion of the library has received pleasing
patronage and the same is true of til
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