The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-12-13
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
Report of Administration Committee
During Year Last Past.
improvements and Exten'
sion Made to Building-Satisfac-
tory Work of the Librarian.

report or matters III thell ucPoi ehcb
during the year last past.
During that period there has beer
no material change in the genera
routine or methods OF internal admin
istration, and the same employee:
continue to perform their respective
duties with intelligence and efficiency
that are entirely satisfactory to the
committee. The librarian has, how
ever, made certain alterations in the
manner of keeping the records of the
circulating department, which she is
confident will be of material assist
ance in several ways. The introduc-
tion of any changes while keeping up
the current routine of work necessi.
tates, of course, considerable extra
labor for a time, but it is believed
there will be saving of time and
trouble in the end. The librarian
will explain the matter in detail if
desired.
The most important event of the
year for this association has been the
extension to our premises. The need
for such an extension has been increas.
ingly evident for several years, but
| the matter has been deferred until the
association seemed to be in position
that would justify the necessary ex-
penditure. That position having been
at last fortunately reached, the under
taking was duly authorized at meet
ing of the association in June last,
and the details agreed upon and the
plans adopted at meeting of the
trustees in the month following.
1t was decided at the same time that
the whole building should have a
thorough overhauling and various re
pairs and improvements be made, the
most important of which, at least 80
far as the comfort of the members is
concerned, is the putting of wire mos
quito netting in all the windows and
doors.
In view of the peculiar nature Of the
work to be done and the probability
that intending contractors would al
low very liberal margin of profit in
making their estimates 50 as to cover
the uncertainties inherent in work #
this kind, ii was recommended by the
architect that it be done by days
work under the superintendence of
some competent and reliable foreman
to be selected by him. This advice
was followed and Mr.. Wilhelm ell
gagged as uperintendent.
AS the work progressed it was found
that much more had to be done than
was originally anticipated. A por-
tion of the old structure, which it had
been supposed could be utilized as part
of the new construction, was found to
be unfitted for the purpose and had to
be demolished and entirely rebuilt.
The overhauling of the old building
constantly brought to light unex-
pected defects that had to be remedi-
ed, sometimes at considerableexpe
The result has been that the total cost
has very much exceeded the original
estimates, and the internal fitting and
furnishing has still further swelled the
aggregate.
We have, however, the satisfaction
of knowing that the work is well done
and that the practical accommoda-
tions of the institution have been
largely increased in just the depart
ment where the additional facilities
were most imperatively needed What
has been done need not be described in
detail. The work shows for itself.
Attention may be properly called,
however, to the greatly improved
lighting of the circulating library, due
to al additional skylight of the same
size as the original one, and the cut
ting of narrow windows in all the al
coves above and below on the street
side. Instead of the external appear
aEce of the building having been in
jured. as was feared by some, the sub
stitution of windows for an uninter-
esting stretch of dead wall must be
regarded as decided improvement.
The substitution of open, iron skeleton
book cases on the main floor for the
solid wooden cases that have now all
been removed to the gallery is, in the
opinion of your committee, decided
improvement. About two-thirds has
been added to the area OF the circulat-
ing department and about the same to
the shelving capacity. The improve
ment in light, airiness and general ap.
pearance, to say nothing of the COM
fort and convenience of both librarian
and visitors, cannot be expressed in
percentages.
The Administration Committee
having been constituted building
committee for the purposes of the
work now under consideration. 10
separate report of operations in that
line will be presented. Appended to
this report will be found a statement
of the total cost OF the additions, alter.
ations and Improvements made, with
the cost of earch part of the work
shown separately.
All this work has been done; the
roof shored up, the rear and one side
of the circulating library entirely re-
moved, foundations laid and the new
portion built and Joined to the old,
the entire interior of the circulating
department rearranged, involving the
moving of all the books, some of them
several times, without the current
work Of the institution being inter.
rupted for single day. For this re.
markable result the credit is due first,
to the architect for the admirable way
in which he planned and arranged
the details of his work; and second.
to the librarian for her very complete
OrGer and system as well as painstak-
ing and laborious personal service
without which the results obtained
would have been impossible.