The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-03
THE BRANCH LIBRARIES
SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES THE PLAN
NOW TO BE CARRIED OUT.
Four Locations in the Outlying Dis
tricts-A Night school to BE Es-
tablished at No. %.

Last night the School Board took up the
question of branch libraries, which had
been made the special order for the even
ing, and adopted the report of the library
committee without modification. This re-
port recommends the establishment of four
branches to the main library, to be located
in the northeast, southeast, southwest and
northwest parts of the city. The cost of
maintaining the four branches is not to ex-
coed S., 800 a year. In anticipation of the
adoption of this recommendation the IL
brary committee had already secured OPP
lions on buildings Tor the branches and to-
day will close contracts for them. They
are located at No. 52S South Meridian street,
corner of Linden street and Woodlawn ave-
nue., No. As Clifford avenue and in the new
Rhoades block in North Indianapolis. The
rent of the last named room will be 5000 a
year, while the others will cost $12, $3.50
and $13 a month, respectively, making the
entire cost $3.50 a year. This will leave
81, $50 for the other expenses. The cost of
attendants at the four stations will be
about 81, 400, leaving $3.50 for lights, heat and
incidental expenses.
These rooms will be fitted up to contain
a number of volumes of standard works
besides a. number of reference books for
use in the room. The other books may be
taken out on cards the same as from the
main library and kept at home for the
same length of time. Ali rules governing
the use of books at the main library will
apply to the branches.
The contracts for the use of the rooms
selected will be closed to-day and work will
begin Immediately in preparing them for
the books. There will be considerable pre-
liminary work in preparing these branches,
and the date for their opening cannot be
announced just now. This branch system
does not include the plan for substations,
which has also been discussed. These sub
stations are to be established III drug
stores IL different parts OF the city, the
plan being to have borrowers leave their
orders for books at the SubStatioIaS. These
orders will be collected, together with re-
turned DOCKS ana taken 70 the main IL
brary, where the orders Will be hlled and
the new books delivered TO the substation
either the same day the orders are received
or the next morning. InlS would be with
out expense to the city except for collect
ing and delivering the books, for in other
cities it has been found that druggists and
others are glad to take charge of the sub
stations for the patronage ii brings them.
This part of the Recommendation Of the IL
brary will be considered later.
The report of the secretary showed that
the warrants dra wn during September
amounted to 1874, 366.0S for all purposes.
Superintendent Goss reported that the at
tendance at the schools is now Is, $50, which
is Utmost 2,lO more than at the same time
p. W. Barnett, of No. 3s Douglass street.
asked to be allowed to rent a room in
school No. 40 for a night school. He wants
to teach the common school branches and
civil government. The request was referred
to the judiciary committee.
A petition signed by forty-five residents
of the neighborhood asking for a night
school in school No. % was received and
granted. Superintendent Goss was in
structed to act accordingly. The school will
be conducted Monday Wednesday and Fri
day nights.
The contract for the stone foundation for
the new building to be erected at Park ave-
nue. and Fifteenth street was awarded to
Koss a. Fritz for 81. 13S. Three other bids
were 81, $50, 81, 500 and 81, 1886.
Miscellaneous bills amounting to 81. 772 50
were ordered paid. The committee on build
ing reported that James Tobin, who had
been awarded the contract for the new
building in North Indianapolis at Sc. 972.
failed 10 file a bond and accept the award.
The committee then forfeited his check of
500 for liquidated damages and awarded
the contract TO William KraSS for $40, SIS.
Mr.. krass was the next lowest bidder. The
members of the committee think this is a
reasonable price for the work.
The committee On teachers
the appointment of Louise Stanton at 1856
a year, the appointment to date from the
beginning Of the school term. This was
Concurred in.
The report of the librarian for Septem-
added during the month, 543 were con-
demned and three were lost and paid for
The home circulation was ISL; reading
room circulation. 2,455: total. q. 266: increase
the rules q contract was awarded to San
der q Rocker TO build new counter in the
library for Sl72. This is necessitated on ac-
count of some extensive changes which are
TO be made in the arrangements of the Ii
brary for the convenience in handling