The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-10
Shows That the Institution Is Grow
ing in Size and Usefulness.
FACTS THAT AXE or INTEREST
Show tho Character OF the Books That
the People Of Scranton Read-New
Hooks Added to the Library
During the Year.

year.
The character of the books added to
the library during the year were as
follows Philosophy. 80; theology, ia:
science, 30: useful arts, 80; fine arts.
81; literature. 165; geography and
travels, 81; biography, 90; history, 109;
fiction. 635: German, 12: photography.
IS; cyclopedias and reference books.
29l: bound periodicals. us: public
documents, 40l. There were i'm the Ii
brary at the close Of the year 25,142
books printed in the English language:
sixteen In the French, one hundred and
seventeen in the German and nineteen
in other languages. Books We're with
drawn from circulation during the year
for the follow causes: Worn out. 16l:
damaged and paid for. ); lost and paid
for, 10; lost and not paid for. 6. '..
The following will show the nature
OF the books taken from the circula-
ing department OF the library during
the year: Philosophy. 1.052: theology,
l,li5; sociology. 2.2l2; philology. 2oa;
natural science, 1,954; useful arts,
Bits; fine arts. 2.76S: poetry and
drama, 1.e50; geography and travel,
e,974: biography. 2.756; history. 3.5Ol;
periodicals, 2,7S6; fiction. 1l?,h6S. Dur
ing the year 1895 412 volumes We're pre-
sented to the library. The report OF
the librarian. Henry j. Carr. which is
given in part will be found of interest.
Re port OF the Librarian.
Registrations Of 1895 were as follows:
New. 2.iU3 re-registered 2,Os2: total. i,lso;
of which l,3sJ were city borrowers. ~ non-
resident and 81 teachers or other special
cards. or the i,4Sj cards of 1885 issue. l.9lv
were to males and 2,J75 10 females: 3.iS
were 10 persons Ii years OF age ana over,
and 127 to persons under that age. There
were l65 cards surrendered or Cancelled for
| one reason of another. in addition to the
so. Cancelled by expiration OF the two
year limit. making a total OF 6.231; leaving.
7,22o In force at the close OF the year.
the usual statistics of circula ton and
other features OF that nature appear in
the tables appended. Summarized. the re-
suit Is as follows: Total issues from the
circulating department (3VG days. number
l53.9l7 volumes; daily average. col. This
daily average was exceeded In five differ
| ent months, that Of March being GoS vol
umes daily.
re largest daily issue was I, l,1s5. on Sat
urday.. Feb. %; and the smallest. 27s; on
Thursday, Oct. 81 Smallest weekly issue,
2.425. Sept. l6-2l; largest weekly issue ), 3d.
Feb 25-March .. Smallest daily number
OF volumes in the hands of readers was
272i, on Wednesday. Aug. rs; and the
largest like number out of the library at
any one time was 3.1sl, on Monday. March
The total home issues were 7,149 volumes
less than In the year 1894. which may be
ascribed partly to the decreased book pur-
chases OF the year. and otherwise to the
| customary falling Off which all new IL
brarieS undergo, to greater or less de-
gree, after threir first two or three years
have passed. From thenceforward. ac-
cording TO usual experience, reasonable
but steady increase may be expected, COM
| mensurate with the natural growth OF :he
city. In the case of this library, the
sag. or dropping off. in circula ton did not
come so early. and was likewise less pro-
nounced than had been expected.
As indicating 4 studious tendency. II may
be noted that the total of books drawn
from the circulating department for refer
ence use In the building, number 773 vol
| umes more than in 1884. Use Of the books
placed on the open shelves for free public
| access. as we'll as of the periodical ma
| terial I'm the reference and reading rooms.
has been active and notable but no sta
| tistical records OF either are made or at
| tempted The seating capacity OF the
main reading room, In particular. has
been fully occupied OH many occasions,
| both day time and evening.
Current issues of 50 weekly. 70 monthly.
| and quarterly periodicals have been kept
| on file; and additions made 10 the sets
| OF bound volumes of periodicals. Consid-
cradle more increase In the latter Is eN-
pected In the coming year by reason OF
| binding those that have been received in
current numbers.
As compared with the preceding year
the purchases were 800 volumes less, and
Appropriations for the year remained the
same as before, while the amounts re-
quired for rebinding, and like increased
expenses due to the wear and tear of a
large circulation, were necessarily great
err. These latter must needs continue to
grow in like ratio. as time goes on. or
else the library will depreciate in value;
and unless its annual book funds are in
creased the sum available for additions
will be still in the future.
Binding bills for 1895 include 90 volumes
newly bound and 1891 volumes re- bound.
| In addition. 4O6 volumes were repaired by
| do so short of actual rebinding.
| The list of gifts for 1895. numbering
| some 800 volumes, and $50 pamphlets and
current numbers. includes also many re-
ports, catalogues. and like articles. re-
ceived by exchange with other libraries
and institutions. as usual.
some Of the locations.
Among the individual dona tions, the fol-
American Bar association. one set OF its
proceedings. u volumes: Henry Belin. jr.
atlas Of Scranton, 1877; Philadelphia Mer.
| camille library, 55 volumes of state docu-
Of documents; W. W. Scranton. 14O vol
umes OF state and other documents: Miss
| Carrie r. Silkman, scarce copy of Mi
ner's History Of Wyoming IS45): Will
pamphlets in German: william A. Wilcox.
| 40 volumes of documents and various
| other pamphlet matter
This library having attained to the re-
| spectacle number of 5000 volumes, prior
| to the close of the year, its application to
| be placed upon the list for receipt of all
| forthcoming publications of the Smith
| sonian institution was favorably enter
tanned and granted. BY further kind fa-
yor. and recommendation of Hon. j. a.
Scranton. NJ. G.. this library has now
| been designated as regular depository
of United States public documents. Like
wise to receive the future publications of
| the United States geological survey, and
of the United States fish commission, as
well as such Of their past issues as can
now be supplied.
| II is hoped that. in course of time and
with a comparatively small expenditure
of money, ii may be feasible to obtain
other of those interesting and serviceabie
scientific publications of the government
departments and bureaus. and thus help
| to place the library on good footing to-
| ward fostering scientific study In this
locality.
| A communica ton was received from tho
| I.ackawanna Institute OF History and
Science. in March last. rendering con-
ditional deposit of its collection of books
| with view to their care and q due oppor-
tunity for public use. A proposition from
| this library was made in response. but
| II was not then accepted; and subsequent
~ measures were taken Tor q resumption
| In case. for any reason. however. 1t should
not continue operations on the present
| lines of effort. II Is quite possible that
| the purposes OF those interested might be
| equally we'll served by a transfer of most
Of the books Of the institute to this IL
| brary.
President Hands Statement.
| The report OF Alfred Hand. president
| of the library. to the councils OF the
city is made a part Of the printed re-
port. 1t sets forth that the estimated
expenses of the library for the year is
S15.SH and an appropriation of that
amount Is asked. Speaking of the ne
cessity OF allowing this appropriation.
President Hand says:
! Every one of the items stated. except
| q. o.. i,~D N a nDad