The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-07
OUR LIBRAY GROWS
Trustees Make a Highly
Satisfactory Fourth An
nual Report.
A PERMANENT HOME NEEDED
Valuable Additions Made to the
Collection Financially Suc-
cessful. Too.
A PERMANENT HOME NEEDED

The Trustees of the Free Library
have lust issued their fourth annual re-
port to the Board of Aldermen. showing
the receipts, disbursements and general
management of the institution committed
to their charge, a perusal of which Will
convince the public that great progress
has been made in this essential depart
ment of the city. and to which the citi-
zens owe many thanks to these gentle
men who devote SO much time to the
care of the Library:-Messrs Leonard j.
Gordon, NJ. D., Stephen L. Harvey, Chas-
S. Haskell, Nelson ]. II. Edge, Michael
Murray and Hon. p F. Wanser and
Henry Snyder. ex-oficio Trustees.
The report in full is as follows
Gentlemen-In compliance with the act
authorizing the establishtlle OF Free
Public Libraries. in caies of this State.
passed April !. 1854. it is my privilege to
submit on behalf of the Board of Trus-
tees their annual repors o fog the year far END
mat.oa relative to receipts and dispurse-
merits. library mana2emenE. etc., Will De
found on reference to the respective re-
ports OF the Treasurer and Librarian.
herewith silbmitted:- .o
During the year 51qs books and 1850
pamphlets have peen ADDED TO the L.,
br2ry: 3S4.3s5 volumes have been delivered
fer home reading; 12,9 $50 volumes nave
been consulted in the Reference Room;
Reading Room to consult the 2sl pefIodl-
calls and newSpapers therein placed at
the. Gtgposal Of the public. without any
res trictonS whatsoever.
The con1s antly increasing interest on
the part of the cltize1ls of Jersey C.ty,
In the advantages of the Library. while
a source of gratificaition to the Trustees,
has taxed their resources to the utmost t.
The circulation of books for home read
over the year ending November 3d. 1898,
while the records of ri1e Reading Room
show an increased attendance of l0.406
persons during the same period.
The limited space at the disposal OF
the Trustees. for Reference Room dur
ing the years 1928 renders a eompara-
tive statement of IT'S use of little value.
During The past year. increased space
and, facility for consulting the many many
has been followed by a much larger at
tendance.
As consequence. however. of this
change the space now allotted to the
catalogue and work room IS necessarily
cramDed and interferes greatly with the
detailed work necessary to properly care
for a. Library with a circulat ton as large
as OUTS.
While it IS true. that works of fiction
@ beSei that s u FREE Pubic ds Library al fI IS not
essabiishad at the expense of the whole
pe2ole solely for the benefit Of students
- 1pp,y recreasion and enfoYnaenI TO many
& 5Sopss who would. were Il not for works
sof fiction. be at q less for reading matter
the best literature of the day IS pub
aised IN this shane. we feel satisfied In
view of the great care exercised in its
selection. that no reasonable objection
can be made thereto.
During the year Just closed the build-
Ing fund has reeeiysesSe y sez from interest on
S2tt.45. and from Miscellaneous sources.
the find at this time s2s.S7s.74 ali IN
ye-ted in SECURITIES of Jersey City.
The growth of this fund depends solely
on. IS interest earning capacity, monies
collected from fines for overtime books.
sales of catalogues. etc.
For economic reasons, It has been
na1.snent of the Library on Sundays and
EG'idays. the Reading Room remaining
open as usual
Whcn the extremely liberal provisions
tire Library are considered. 1t IS a pleas
ure 70 note the. aDprecfatior Of Library
PRIVILEGES and the sare ef Library prop
Gt the 3S4 3S5 volumes c.rculsted during
the year. but 4S volumes valued at s29. e5
ere missing from the shelves. being less
than ls volumes in each 100000 books de-
Eyered for home reading.
Among the most valuable additions to
the Library during the past year, would
mention almost complete files of various
1895 to date. in all 31a volumes. fun par
tsculars of which VIII be found in the
re7ert of the Librarian.
sum me Of sfsS seoo pAaeS Agn Is ntTFsd IN sps
upon the increased success of our Free
Public. library. and tr1,s.inE that in the
rear future. q permanent home. COM
mensurate with Its Importance as a
factor of educstfon may be secured for
the citizens OF our city.
Very Respectfully.
L. J. S1o+fIYNN.
President of Poqrd of Trustees