The herald., 1894-01-01
Los ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY,
A History of Its Expansion and
Its Work.
The Trustees Give Some Interesting
Figures for the Year.
A Statement of the Circulation of Books
and the Roceipts and Expenditures
of tho Institute on--Ths Trustees
Want More Room.

The trustees Of the Los Angeles public
library, in their lengthy annual report
upon that institution, present quite q
number OF interesting comparisons with
other cities. In the course OF their re-
port the board makes the following
statements:
As you will be able to note by an ex-
animation Of the tables contained IL the
librarians report, the use of the library
by the public has steadily grown, year
by year, until now, when we find 49,
405 people enrolled as active members
OF the library. drawing for home use the
past year 2Si.C54 volumes. While the
demands uporl the library by the public
have increased in such astonishing ratio,
The board has not been able, on account
OF the limited space allotted for the use
OF the library, and also on account OF the
limited meane at its disposal, to give
that amount OF satisfaction in the SER
vice which tho public has right TO de-
mand through the assistance OF your
honorable body. Our crying necessity
is for more room and better accommoda-
tions, 1t is fact demanding recogni-
tion that the public requires better
the present cramped quarters and with
the ANAL amount that remains after
Payment of the necessary running ex.
penses. II the library could be Afforded
sufficient space go the books could be
arranged in way that would give con-
venient access to the shelves, the result
would be the greatest accommodation to
the public and also illumination OF the
expense which is at present unavoid-
able. III an arrangement could be made
by which'th library could have more
room in the city hall, or be removed to a
location where better accommodations
could be secured. it would be OF the
greatest service to the public. Or, il
this board had the means at its disposal
fpr he establishment OF delivery eta
tionA in at leaet four OF the outlying
parts of the city, the pressure upon the
central library would Je 20 much de-
creased that il would he a great deal
easier to handle the large crowds that
come to the library daily. For this re-
lief we speak in the name OF the l3,495
members OF the library, and OF tho
many more who would like to avail
themselves OF itsprivleges.
We call your particular attention to
the statement OF receipts and expepdi-
lures contained in this report, and,
while We are aware that the amounts
expended are large. We are eatisfed that
they will not appear unnecessarily go,
| ii they are studied in relation to the
amount of work done and the good ac-
| complisled. 1t has heen the careful
study Of the board in the control of all
expenditures, to see that the library
obtsins value received for every dollar
| disbnrsed, and as this Question OF ex-
penditures has provoked some COM
ment, mcstlv, we admit, OF the un-
thinking sort, we append herewith u
tabulated abatement. she Aing the home
circulation OF thosc puhiic Libraries in
the. United Stntes which issue over
200, 900 volumes annually for "btme
use !" also The number of volumes con-
| tanned in each ench library. the popula-
| ton OF each cify according to the CEN
sus of 1890. and the total ealary roll in
each instance. We have appended to
this list a statement of the principal
San Francisco libraries, none OF which
properly come in the aforementioned
Classification. out for the reason that
com psrisons have been made with such
libraries, and we desire to set forth the
figures 80 as to settle the question Of
relative standing.
The table is as follows:
PUBLIC LIBRARIES CIRCULATING OVER
200 00) vOLUMhs FOR HOME USE.