The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-26
HELENA PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Annual Rsporlof the Trustees Shows
the Institution TO b Flour
ishing.
How the People OF the City Have
Awaited Themselves OF It's
Advantages.
suggestions By Trustee Fuller - 20 thu
Heating and Also a. to Closing
Hours.


Al the meeting Of the city council on
Tuesday night the trustees Of the public
library submitted the follovina report;
The public library was created By or
dinanee No. 70. OF ths oity OF Helena. IN
1886, and by that Law the support Of ths
library is derived from IAN annual tar Of
one-half a mill on the dollar Of all taxable
properly In ths city" This revenue
amounted during the year 1893 TO 80. $50 81;
and during 1894. on account Of the Teduo-
ton In the ASSESSMENT. the financial re-
sources OF tho library will be approTi-
nAtsiy $500.
''Of the total amount received during the
yea. We are required By ths ordinances 10
spend A. least ons-third for new books AMI
periodicals. In the Last twelve months
1883 volumes have bsen added to the
library besides large M mbsr OF public
dooumsnts aud mseazines) an inc ease
Of 30 per cent-by far the areest Ia the
history of the institution. There n now
2l4 reviews. magazines aud newspapers fo-
osivsd by the library.
The use Of ths library has increased very
rapidly in the past year; 80. Pos books have
been loaned 70 home use; 3lls5 psrsoOs
have visited the references room; and about
1900 have visited the news room. In
other words, the people Of our city have
made over one hundred thousand Visits 10
the fountain of knowledge in the period Of
Whish We spear. All of which means, az
every one who frequently visits ths library
will ses. that the rooms al our disposal are
often uneomfoftablV ovsforowdsd. These
figures represent growth In the use OF the
library daring the past year Of spproIl-
uaatoly 80 per cent
when Ws consider she work involve In
giving out. receiving. examining. cleaning
and returning 90 the shelves ths $4,000 VOL
umsa loaned; the work necessary in order
ing. eAtaloRuinR, marking and preparing
for circulation about 1900 new books to
Rether Wan the printing Of monthly
bulletin new and invaluable aid to
the reader, q work which requires
the work necessary in preparing psTioIi-
Gals and cid books for the binder and also
In preparing them for the shelves when
bound; when We oonaidef the time and AZ
tsntion given by the library stan 10 gem
efal readers and especially 10 teachers and
pupils In our schools In aiding them in
their educational duties, IL 10 clear that the
librarian and bis assistants have before
them . larger task than IL evident 10 the
casual observer. The varisd and exaotinR
duties here indicatsd explain the fact that
library management has in recent years
become q distinct profession. So far ~
the members Of the board have bsen abls
10 observe the EN- ployes of our library have
been very diligent in their duties and very
successful in serving she public effioisntiJ.
intelliaently and oouTteously.
The librarian, Mr.. Frank Q. Patten, in
hia annual report for 1888, made the follow
ing recon ations: The size 20 which
the library has grown aud It's increasing
use make o0mprehensiae Reorganization n
necessity. The sooner this ID accom- lished
the less will duplioation OF work and use Of
temporary expedisnts be required. To re-
OiRanizs With adequate provision for the
future in suoh q var that the work will not
have to be done over again in few years is
possible, and, considering that library 10
one OF the most permanent Installations OF
civilized life, Is wise. IL Is large and costly
undertaking. however, and without much
larger meas than the library new com
manda can only be accomplished grad
uAlly.' In carrying out the policy here
recommended, Which upon mature investi-
CATION the board decided 10 be eminsntly
wise, a large amount Of work has bsen done
which places the library upon q better basis
and makes 10 far more useful TO the general
public. Having nov nearly completed
certain part of the work, We shall In the
near future be able 10 reduce the number Of
assistants. made necessary while this vas In
progress. Aud While much more In
the lins will be needed 10 prevent vsstsful
duplication Of work In the future and to
bring the library to It's highest efficiency,
and while 10 IL unfortunate that We are
obliged &c step where We do, still We reso9.
niEs that present condition compel rs 20
use az great economy as possible In the
management of this Institution.
"Durine the year now closing the total
sxpsnditsrs was $40. 774.39 Of which one
third, g. 59l.Ss, as required by Ordinance
70, was spent for new books and periodicals
and binding. 10 must be borne in mind /
that various itena included IN the years |
eI lenses came over from the previous year !
especially large bill for furnishings which |
were not npls,ed until the present hsesl
yea"
Chsirmsn Fuller. of the counsel COM
mites on the library, Also made report |
In which he said;
~ be use OF stoves for another winter has
again shown that that method 10 made |
Quate TO keep the room comfortably warm |
In cold weather, and the library is still |
eonpsllsd to endure the dust aud SCOT 10 /
the oct imsnt OF the books. IL 10 unfor-
delay the introduction of a complies steam /
heating plant IL should be uut In st the /
earliest possibl time. The library ia a we'll |
managed place, suitably quiet aud orderly. !
IL 10 also a very busy place. and ate over |
crowded condition 10 matter Of frsqusnt
remak. 10 10 a mistake not Co have the /
librarT open a. least an hour longer az
night % nov closes At nine p. IN. and |
open on holtdays when many cOuid use u /
who cannot a. other times.
The trustees have spent much Tins and |
thought together With ths librarian In or /
der 20 plan their work wisely and tconom- |
ically. lie book oomnlitter has taken
great pains to buy coed books only. All /
the en- .ioyss OF the library ere working
faith ullY aud snthuslaaiioaiy. Ever do.-
lar IL made 20 do Its full SO vice Tor the |
benefit of the whole people. No money
scent W the city ~ producing larger or /
more widely extended results. With this /
Justiy pspulaf institution the city c0unoil /
should deal literally"