The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-08
GROWING EVERY DAY
Two Profitable Years For the Butte
Public Library.
FIGURES THAT TELL MUCH
a Steady Increase From the Day
the institution Was Opened
Cooks Added by Pur-
chase and Donation.
FIGURES THAT TELL MUCH

The Butte free public library yester-
| day completed the second year of its
active existence and the friends of the
/ institution are very proud of the record
! that IL has made during that time. AS
/ the regular library year does not end
until April, no detailed statement will
| be prepared at this time, but some fig
/ ures which were compiled for the
standard yesterday by Librarian Da-
vies, show that from the date of its
opening the library has had a steady
! growth In use and popularity, notwith-
! standing the unfavorable conditions
which have existed for the last months
as a result of the defalcation
OF the last city treasurer and the de-
pletion of the library funds During the
two years that closed yesterday morn
ing 1913 92S books were issued for home
use, the issue for last year showing a
gain of 1905 over 1S94-1ss5. The library
issue for the last year was 40,7S9, and
for the first year 36.0s9, an increase of
400 During last year the attendance
In the reference department was II ,73S
which Is an increase of 2,54o over the
first year. There were 1923 books in
the hands Of patrons of the library at
/ the close OF the second year OF this
number 80 were overdue, but only five
were more than six months delinquent
When the library was opened two
years ago there were 14S04 books on
hand, and IT contained 1851 volumes
yesterday. OF the books that have
been added 2.263 were purchased and
2,os6 were donated. The books have
cost very close to 500 900 but their list
value is easily $4,000. The library dis
count would not average % per cent.
so that at ordinary library prices the
COLLECTION or books as II now stands
could not be bought for less than $50
COO The difference between the cost of
the library and the actual value is due
10 donations and bargains that have
been secured by Librarian Davies
whose previous experience in buving
books has resulted In an immense saw
ing 20 the city Mr.. Davies has saved
the city more than he has been paid in
salary by the great bargains that he
has secured in the purchase of books
through knowing how to buy them.
'berhaps the great need of the libra
~ during the year." said Mr.. Davies
last evening, has been some means of
keeping the public informed Of the new
books added to the library. About 3. 500
books have been received. While the
daily papers gladly printed lists of
them as they have arrived, as well as
frequently printing lists showing the
contents of the library on popular sub
1ects, the need has not been filled. At
the last meeting of the trustees, how
ever. II was decided to issue a library
bulletin. This will be a 16-page pamph-
let issued quarterly The size and ty-
biographical makeup will follow the
plan of the printed catalogue. Four
pages will be devoted TO recent addi-
lions and 10 information of interest TO
the patrons of the library. The other
u pages in each issue Will be devoted
to u complete supplement containing
additions from July 10, 1895. where the
catalogue ended, and will also contain
I'm their appropriate alphabetical places,
entries, giving the full resources Of the
library on numerous subjects. The bull
letin will be sold at 10 cents a number
or subscriptions taken at 80 cents
year The yearly price of the bulletin
has been placed above the figure at
which IL can be regularly bought in
order to urge its purchase at the libra
ry. and so that they viii go there after
it."
Mr.. Davies has just received a notifi-
cation from CHM * co. Of Chicago that
they have sent the library complete
set of their educational classics to-
gether with copies Of all the text books
that have been recommended for use
in the public schools of Montana by the
state board of education This duna-
ton is regarded as an evidence of pub
lie spirit on the part Of the firm, as
well as n lnng-headed advertisement
dodge. for the value Of having their
tional center such as Butte cannot be
overestimated. Mr.. Davies is hoping
that other book publishers viii follow
CHM < Co.'S lead.