The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-05
LIBRARY BOARD DECIDES TO
STAND BY THE LITTLE
CHILDREN.
ALL AGES MAY DRAW BOOKS,
AND THE YOUNGER THE BETTER,
If THEY ARE READ, THEY
SAY.
NO POLITICS IN THE REPORT.
Preface to the Library Annual Is to
Be More Carefully Proof-Rcad
This Year.

The question as to whether the by
laws of the public library should be
amended so as to prevent children I'M
der the age of twelve years from
drawing books came up at the meeting
Of the board Of directors yesterday
afternoon. DR.. c. E. Bean, one of the
directors, at the last meeting raised
the question, and it was made a special
order for yesterdays session Of the
| board. The matter however, was prac-
tically killed by a motion to lay it on
the table.
Present at the meeting were Direct
ors Ramsey, Bean, Monfort, Auerbach
and Peet. Mrs. McCaine, the librarian,
read to the board number of letters
she had received from other cities in
relation to the prohibiting of children
under certain years from taking books
from libraries. The librarian at New
ark, N. J., stated that the age limit
was in force there, but would be aboI-
ished within a year. At San Francis
co only children over twelve years were
allowed to take out books, but the rule
was to be changed. At Omaha chill
oren over ten years only were allowed
TO take out books, but the rule was
soon to be removed, and the librarian
stated it was the desire to have as few
rules as possible. At Cleveland there
mad been an age limit the last summer.
FWhen 1T had been abolished At Mil
Wdukee ana Chicago there was no age
AHih. AT Minneapolis the age limit
was ten years, but this was practically
VI no account, as any child in the pub
TIC schools could secure books by hay-
ing the teachermake a request on the
librarian. Mrs. McCaine gave statis-
tlcs showing that there were fourteen
children under eight years receiving
books; forty-two under nine vaors.
nineteen under ten years; 1T under
edeVeh years; 276 under twelve years:
sOo uhoer thirteen years; 176 under
iourteeh years; 1877 under fifteen wears:
eighty under sixteen years; twenty I'M
oer seventeen years, and sixteen under
eighteen years.
MIS-. McCaine Informed the hoard
'nat she had never noticed anv had
ELECTS from allowing children vounp
III years to receive books.
Inc standard Of books In the library
was Kept very high and the eanoro,
- Gnu III aii libraries in the country was
- ~ more instead of less for the chill
- Al the Pratt library in Nov
IN, pictures were furnished for the
young children that were unahIas 10
t 80 ana they We're allowed to take
t len nome. She was of the opinion
lhat the age limit, if enforced Tvo1,1d
work against the best Interests Of 49, tba
children. e''S OIL the
u sean called attention to the fact
, 1Idt oy the figures submitted bv the
librarian, there were 332. children I,nda.
T, years of age taking out books
Inc expenses of the library were in
oieaslhs each year and, while the
amount expended in p1rchasinp ,an.
books in 1896 was S4.037. s. the a7,,o NY
expended for the same purpose in 1907
was but S2,967.06. This was undoubteo.
~ Que to the increase in binding e~.
PenseS, winch was increased by havine.
chlldren handle the books and espscia1,
~ children under twelve years of age
he questioned if the children under
That age were not harmed bv baine
allowed to draw books and cbanee
them daily if they desired. During the
school term, he thought, the plan work
ed an injury to the school children
director Peet said if the plan pro-
posed by Or. Bean was carried it would
require a change in the bylaws. Dr.
rector Auerbach said the tendency In
| an cities was to do away with the age
iiinlt, ana ne saw no reason for adopt
ing 1T in st. Paul. The increase in tbe
binding expenses, he said would in
crease each year, owing to the books
becoming old. On motion of Director
Monfort the matter was laid on the
table, DR.. Bean explaining that he had
no personal feeling in the matter
Inc board decided that it would be
advisable to print several hundred cop
les OF the report of the librarian and
secretary in order that the general pub
lie might have an idea as to the affairs
OF the library. Director Peet called ar
tention to the fact that the report OF
the directors which prefaced the report
Of the librarian for 1896 mentioned
something about the silver question.
He thought before the reports were
sent to the public the preface this year
should be scrutinized by the directors.
President Ramsey suggested that in
| order to be up with the times the re-
! port might touch up the Hanna affair.
| DIR. Bean thought Hanna was being
touched up all that was necessary lust
at present The board ordered 600
copies printed and in order that moth
| ing. touching on the financial question.
at least so far as it related to silver,
should appear, the directors will re-
wise the proof of the preface before.
| the report is printed.
The annual reports of the librarian
and secretary, which are given here
with, were read and approved.
Helen J. McCaine, the librarian, sub
mitted to the board the sixteenth an
nual report ending Dec. 81, as follows:
! From the statistics of the public
| library, which follow, it will be seen
| that, except in the accession of books.
the work Of the past year has been
fully equal to that of any previous
year. The most notable change has
| been the setting apart of a room for
the use Of children, by which they have
| been better accommodated, and other
| parts Of the library greatly relieved
| The number Of volumes in the library
has been increased from Il, 800 to A, $50.
| There have been added during the year
| 3,1O2, of which 1929 were purchased and
| 173 donated. The number Of volumes
worn out and discarded was 1881, of
| which 662 were juvenile books, 5O7 prose
fiction, 4S history, biography, 81 trav-
| els, poetry and 90 in other classes.
| The number of volumes lost and paid
| for was 81. The annual inventory was
taken during the month Of May. The
result shows 13 volumes unaccounted
| for.
In the following table Is shown the
classifications of the entire accessions
of the year and the net increase and
| extent of each class:
| .51zI x