The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-13
LIBRARY OFFICIALS
ANNUAL MEETING

lating department (3O6 days. number l5g ia
volumes; daily average $40. This daily
average was exceeded by that of five diff
ferent months; the highest being that
of February, 620
Largest Issue of any one day was LOGS,
on Saturday, April 4; smallest daily issue,
2Tl, on Wednesday, Dec. %. Smallest
weekly issue, 1922, June S-13; largest week
ly issue, 4,15O, Feb. 2-29. Smallest daily
| number of volumes in the hands of read
ers was 2,59l on Wednesday, June II; and
| the largest like number out of the library
at any one date was 1874, on Thursday,
| March 49,
TOTAL HOME ISSUES.
The total home issues number 5957 more
| than in the previous year, and hence con-
! firm the opinion expressed in the report of
1895 that, according to usual experience,
| a reasonable, but steady increase may be
| expected, commensurate with the nat
ural growth of the city"
A like condition appears in regard to
| the total of books drawn from the circu-
| lating department for reference use in the
| building, number 654 volumes more than in
1895. and 1,427 more than in 1894.
Percentages of circulation in the several
| general classes of books, shown in the
accompanying tables, exhibit no very
marked changes from those of the two
or three years preceding.
| The moderate number of extra books
drawn upon the 2l0 students cards has
had no very appreciable effect in the in
crease of home circulation herein report
ed; there may, however, pe more definite
results shown from that cause in future
! years.
Any attempt at a statistical record of
the use of the nearly 5000 volumes, placed
on the open shelves for free public access,
would necessarily interfere with and re-
| strict such use. The same Is true as to
| the current periodicals in the reading
| room.
The constant, and oftentimes crowded,
attendance of persons making avail of
| those parts of the library has been a mat
| ter of great satisfaction: although, to just
ly serve them, has frequently taxed both
/ the room and the limited assistance at our
command for those purposes.
The regular issues OF 81 weekly. Il
| monthly and quarterly periodicals We're
| received during the year. Slight increase
in the sets of bound periodicals was posi-
| bic, owing to want of means from appro-
| priations. Several hundred volumes of
such material await binding and the lack
of them is becoming felt to a considerable
| extent.
At the close OF last year there were %, ,294
volumes in the library. Accessions of 1896
numbered S,157 volumes, of which 1876 We're
by gift and exchange 2,l63 by purchase,
and 500 of United States documents depos-
tied.
Nol-l M fS DISCARDED.
During the year, 4S2 volumes were dis
| carded because of wear and tear, 10 on ac-
count of other damage or loss, and others
Cancelled or withdrawn for various causes;
a total of sos deductions. Balance on hand
al the end of the year being 27,9i3 volumes.
| (See table appended for detals)
Additions by direct purchases were not
| quite 200 volumes more than in 1885; and
but limited number thereof We're in the
nature of requirements of books worn out.
| For the coming year it will be desirable TO
use considerable portion of the book
| funds in that direction since it is the most
| popular books (and in some senses the
most useful one), that first wear out and
need replacing.
However gratifying 1t may be to report
q large and increasing circulation, it re-
mains to be borne in mind. no less, that
| such facts carry with them the corre-
! spending necessity of additional expendi-
lures for maintenance.
| The binding account for 1896 includes 12
volumes newly bound and 1856 volumes re-
bound. In addition 39S volumes We're re-
paired at the library, 80 far as possible
to do so in lieu of actual rebinding.
Bulletins No. and 6, in form similar to
| these preceding, We're printed and issued
| for free distribution. Each one included
the additions to the library for a period of
six months, and they We're confined, to
that purpose. Press of other work pre-.
vented the inclusion of certain special
class lists, that We're planned, but it is
hoped to do so with the bulletins of the
coming year.
The appended list of gifts and library
exchanges received in 1896 numbers some
700 volumes and 800 pamphlets and cur
| rent numbers.
Chief in point of quantity among the in
| dividual favors We're the following items:
From Henry Belin, jr., 266 pamphlets and
| numbers Charles II. Welles esq, S74
numbers; William A. Wilcox, esq, and
Patterson & Wilcox, AZ volumes and SO
pamphlets and numbers. of documents
reports, etc; Colonel Henry NJ. Boies %
volumes of documents; George A. Fuller
ll5 volumes of documents; Delaware
Lackawanna and Western coal depart
ment, 1856 volumes of state and other docu-
ments
FILES OF DAILY PAPERS.
Files of the current daily issues of the
Republican, Times, Tribune and Truth
have been received by favor of their re-
spective publishers: the library undertake
ing to bind and preserve them for histori-
cal reference, as usual. Also, as like gifts
from their publishers, the Colliery Ensi-
neer, monthly, and Diocesan Record,
weekly.
In September the librarian as a delegate
and representing this library as in pre-
vious years, attended the annual meet.
ing of the American Library association,
held at Cleveland, o. Before and after
that date, also he was able to be present
at some meetings of the Pennsylvania
Library club and other local library asso-
Citations and occasions to which specially
invited.
The only change among the working
force of the library for the year 1896 was
occasioned by the resignation of Miss
Lula James lowing to her marriage), and
the advancement of Miss Hardenberg
from substitute to assistant in success
sion to Miss James.
The library staff at the close of the
year consisted of Misses Cora NJ Decker,
Jessie G. Keefer, Josephine Hawley, Anna
Edwards, Myra Il. Millet, Bessie Harden
berg and Emma A. Thompson, all on fun
time Miss Maud Estell substitute; and
Samuel human as janitor.
l feel that naught but words of COM
mendation are called for, regarding those
employees in their several positions; and
take pleasure. therefore, in here express
| ing sincere appreciation of their faithful
| o. la