The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-15
OPEN. AGAIN TODAY.
Hard Times Of the Public Ii
brary Are Ended.
The FEE SYSTEM IN FORCE.
with Reduced Expenses and Increased
Income the Commission Decides
TO Reopen.

AZ special meeting Of the library corr
mission held yesterday afternoon wish
Eben Smith chairman DR. Kihhe ard
Mrs. -. r. Esckus members ard Secretary
J. - Atkinson prssesas. IL waa decided 20
open The library AZ 3 o'clock this morning
under the rs1nsEiy fee system.
JOHN Collins offer 20 resgssce The rem, OF
fhe library. FOR six months. from szss 20
si5s a month. was accepted with many
expressions Of appreciation from the
members. especially in THE faca Of tae
fact that Dir. Collins had originally con-
traefsd an additional espense OF ss,oog IN
fitting o. the hall for the use OF the H.
Drary.
After a Iengfhy discussion the board
passed resolution hy which the library
will far the present he closed every even
Ing al O'CLOCK. This WAS done because a
great ma iority Of tie readers were ln the
habit Of bearing at that hour. ard :hs
extra hour fEasIs Eayed will materially re-
dlcs the biiI for eIectric lights.
The commission. generally, expressed
Itself well pleased =tfh the present
position OF the library and every MEM
Der feels that It's darkest days are over
Dr.. ki5es was appointed eomHsiitea
TO investigate the cost OF the necessary
machinery for binding and rebirding
hooks the work to be done at the library
by the employees. The commission estl-
biA<Ss t4taN tats VIII De q SAVING "a the IL
brary OF from Is To 80 month. The cost
OF such plant is estimated a, not over
81
The commission decided 20 leave with
the library committee the matter OF Sc
curing advertisers on book slips and
other printed forms used In the library.
The library will be reopened at Q o'clock
this morning under the new system
recently adopted by the commission by
which a charge of 10 cents q month. or Is
cents = quarter. viii be made to all pa.
irons OF the circulating department; in
other words. 10 cents a month for the priv
iiege OF taking bookss home The reading
rooms will remain open to the general
public free OF cost TO any and ALL both
as to books. magazines and papers The
library has been opened the last two days
for the return OF old cards and the Is
suing OF new ones
Many people have already taken adj
vantage OF the new system and paid their
fees In advance. while the general verdict
appears TO be that the new plan IL a good
practical measure that viii insur. the
life and success OF the library
The pay system, Mr.. Atkinson, the H.
hrarian. says. may have "a tendency 10 re-
duce the number OF patrons. but those
taking out books and paying their fees
VIII be the more desirable patrons az
better appreeiatfng the use and value of
books Aaother advantage Is that II will
enable the librarian 10 give better service:
In other words. having more books at his
command, he can more promptly respond
10 the daily calls for them.
II Ii estimated that the money derived
from these membership charges will al
most entirely go into new books, as ex-
penses have been 80 reduced that the
Install income from the city. namely one
tenth OF fines and licenses. will pay the
running expenses. especially with so re-
ductfon on the rent.
The commission has succeeded In bring
Ing about reductions that will make to-
tai saving OF SIS per month. made up as
follows: Salariese reduced 500; saving on
rent. $50. electric light. SIS: book binding.
II. on cost of printing by securing adver-
Users for book slips about Sss a MONTH