The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-20

ditions of the past, It will be yet greater
when the ample accommodations of fine
building are among It's chief features.
The library's finances are or firm basis
and with the ample fund allowed by the
city there will never be time when the
institution need sink into debt. The in
come this year will be between $1,000 and
$1,000. while the regular running expenses
viii not be over $500.
The surplus viii be invested, as hereto
fore. in new hooks. The cost of moving
to the Yesler residence will be small. tudg-
ing by what was paid at the last removal
Increase of Membership.
The urgent necessity OF more commodi-
ous quarters has long been manifest 10 Lii
brarian c. w. Smith, who has seen the
circulation steadily growing in the last
three years. at the rate OF 20 per cent. a
year. over 1900 borrowers have cards and
the circulation of books for home use is
over lo,n0 a month. An idea OF the popu-
larity Of the institution can best be gain
ed by visiting the reading rooms on a
pleasant afternoon. Librarian Smith said
yesterday that on an average there are
ZOO visitors daily. while often he had
counted 200 or more in the rooms at one
time. on Saturday, November 70. there
were loaned out @1 books. The circulation
yesterday fell somewhat below this be-
cause of the rain.
Since early in 1896 the number Of volumes
In the public library has grown from l.. 900
10 II 500. These are kept in excellent con-
aition. all rebinding being done by the H.
brary bindery. in the basement Of the Rial
to. at small cost. The books are classified
under ten distinct heads. according TO the
Dewey system, as follows;
biography, philosophy ard religion. 1850
hooks; soc ology. 2,(tJ books; ph loiogy .s1
books natural science. 1850 books: useful
arts and free arts, $40 books, literature
2.s'a books; fiction. > $40 books: travel bior~
raphy and history. $500 books Aside from
these are the bound periodicals, NUMBERING
about l,so volumes
Bnying New Books.
In September 1885 was expended on a9-
dtions To the library. History IS one OF
the principal lines now being emphasized
ana particularly United States history. An
attempt is made 10 keep up on all new
hooks 0f travel as fast as they come out.
Considerable demand X felt also for works
on electricity ana natural science In the r
relation 70 the mechanical arts All the
best new fiction Is bought, selection being
made on the recommendation of patrons
of tie library ard the judgement If the IL
btary commission. Ta.s body Of men e
made Up az Chairman Alexander r. Nc
fwan. Charles r. Shepard. Charles A.
Tay.or. Robert IL. Lindsay and Julius A.
S5fafton.
Study clubs ard university extension
CASES are allowed 20 &s,1 for the purchase
az hooks needed ~ sho!r work Real pecss-
stiles IL these Ines ara furnished In a
reasonable time \ special attempt Is mad
20 keep abreast Tho 1--we issues u the aAv.
During the VAR wi.h SPAN all the f-ast
known TorkS relating 70 military ana naval
Affairs, - Spain ARA Cuba and Ssanssh Ill
eIature, were purchased aBa ccusp!cslousIy
listed This same plan VAS followed nv
the arst class libraries al over The United
States.
Periodical literature
There are row on The way here 30 VOL
un2es ~ periodicals. hound and In nurn.nsyx.
T3sse VIII build up the reference library.
TIE library regularly receives over 30
periodicals 81 a cost o. S6oe yea. Papers
q this s,g.e are given tTes IS are also A
r4sr0er y Periodicals
The library mas t~aeu IN the Rtaito build
ing since February. is.5. having moved az
tina, time from TIE top aoor OF ;ne Collins
building BY this Grange the library rsasse
a saving OF 500 the first year and In
circulation aaa extent gradually fncreas
10 jts ursss2c. standing The quarters IN
tie Ratio are m more Saaxea4en. than
iaaSe before occupied
\ special detr.nient- las been ;ha lnaae-
duate facilities fer entrance ar6 exit TIE
library officials have been occasionally AZ