The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-17
NEWARK'S READERS
Years Circulation Of the
Public Library Shows an
issue of 364, 728 Vols.
LIBRARIANS ANNUAL REPORT
Novels of Course in the Greatest
Demand-What the Children
Like.
ANNUAL REPORT

81
The annual report of Frank P. Hill,
librarian of the Free Public Library, was
submitted to the Board of Trustees last
night, says the Newark Evening News.
Mr.. Hill first told of the annual art ex-
hibition of the library on october 10,
which was very successful, and OF his at
tendance at the international conference
Of librarians at London, July 1916 last, as
the representative of the Newark Library.
The accessions during the year were out
of the ordinary, and the amount spent LOT
new books exceeded that expended the
year before by 800. Some OF the nole-
worthy additions were The Catalogue OF
the British Museum Fairbanks Book
of C~rests.'' Houghrs American Woods.
Fletcher's Foreign Bookbindings IN the
British Museum" Glib & Hopes "Royal
House. of Stuart and Brodix's American
and English Patent Cases" During the
year 2.043 volumes were added to replace
wornout and lost books and for dupli-
Gates.
in this connection it is interesting to
state that of the twenty-eight copies OF
Quo vadis' owned by the library, salo
Mr.. Hill. mot one has been on the shell
since they were placed in circulation. ow-
ing to the constant demand made by read
ers."
In regard to the rule allowing access 10
shelves on the part of the patrons OF tie
library, Mr.. Hill says
Every one loves to handle hooks anu 70
make his own selection OF reading IL IS d
fact that one of mature years prefers TO
RELY on his own judgment for ordinary
reading matter than trust to the OPINION
or suggestion of even a good authorfy.
The desire for investigation is SO strong
in the American mind that we like to ma
ont for ourselves rather than to accept
the word of a disinterested party For
five years this library has affordeo Tree
access to all books on the shelves, except
those of fiction, and it is a source OF great
satisfaction to report that the arrange
ment in the new building allows OF Tree
access to all books, and that praceleahy
the resources of the library will be at the
direct command of all who wish TO aVai
themselves of the privilege.
Then the report goes on to say that our
ing the year the library lost forty-one
books. nine of them charged to iHdivlduals
who have left town ard from %whom no
return is expected and thlrty-tWo, ~
number actually taken from Ine snelses.
The total value of the books lost OF iils-
sing is S44, Last year the NUMBER report
ed missing was forty-four, and OF ms
number five have been returned; since
the library opened, in 1889, Zi5 DOCKS navy
been lost and not returned -
The library was open every DAY durlii5
the year excepting Sundays. holidays ana
the afternoon of December ~, When y Was
closed on account of the death OF POST
master agnes for seven years presiueht
of the Board OF Trustees.
The percentage of circulation IS SHOWN
as follows: General works, IL; PHILOSOPHY,
&. religion, 3; sociology, l3; phliology, Z
natural science, Is; useful arts, l!s, me
and ABSORPTION. %; biography, p; ipve-
nile. 1871: fiction, Gil; total, 1000. The elIse
culation of books by classes were as f @
arts and sciences, 30,S90; total, 364,12S-
During the year the circulation was lar
ger than that of the previous year by o.
$50. and showed an increase over any othef
year of 32,650. , 1Y;,,
IN speaking of circulation MI. Flll
says ho+ eot;o, largely
predominates in circulation. This is quite
natural and is not to be depiored, mas
much as many of our best writers are 70
be found in this class: Some CRITICISM
has been made in other cities on the
amount of Juvenile literature OF the
Optic, .Alger' and 'Castleman' order, ana
librarians who keep a severe censorship
over the reading. Just where the lnss
should be drawn is more dlff1cult TO aeclue
saints. but if the 'Alger' and Optic books
are to go out of the library 1t IS q cues
ton where to stop, for there are Wrllers
who write poorer books and have a worse
influence than those writers, who, Tor SO
many years, have delighted hosts OF
readers. To be sure their style, perhaps,
Is NOT of the best, but the tone and gen.
eraI character of the books, IS not naria-
full. and it is certain that, there are poys
who read these books and go from them
10 better literature who would not be
gin with books OF travei, adventure oi
history. no+ bave a
nerniciol1s influence and is enjoyed by
readers it seems as though we might al
low it shelf room. There is more harm
than bv those Writers themselves, be-
cause Of efforts o>make a little different
book which usually. results in WRITING a
poorer one. The trouble with Juvenlle NJ
erature is that there is too much OF II;
too much straining for effect, ana TOO Mt
Et1e effort made to present 70 the lyo ~
one the hest literature in its fuIness. Ihes
mind surfeited with extracts from great
writer's is no better prepared Ior. the
study of the complete Works OF an auihur
than one started on after CONN, Appot.
Nansen. etc. Readers who begin With the
much despised often advance TO nlgasr
and better things IN novels travels nus
The work of the delivery stations show
an increase, according to the report. Inc
daily average was 23 as cOHfpdIeu with
sIe in 1896. The largest circulation was
through Station B, Orange street ana
Roseville avenue, 1S,201. The total circu-
lation through the stations was 1891. me
reference department was used by 1885
nersons, a decrease of 734 from the pre-
yious year. Various changes in the de-
partment are told OF and also new regu-
iations governing the ISSUANCE OF BOOKS
to literary Gibbs and school work for
scholars. On the tables OF the reading
room may be found Ala periodicals. The
bindery bound 3,765 volumes during the
wear at a cost of $~1,795.67..
From reports sent in by captains or
fire companies it is evident, the report
saws. that the fremen's libraries are app
preciated by the men. In conclusion Mr.
HiIl recommended that a larger appro-
priation be asked for from the city for
the book fund, and an effort to secure
donations from individuals toward an en-
dowment fund for the purchase of books
in special departments sent as art, sci
ence and travels.
The annual report of Edward H. Dur
wee, as treasurer, showed that the bal
| ance was $50, 330.S9 the receipts during the
year having amounted to $yI,yt8-5S, ana
the expenditures to So, SAG. 20.
Requests from FOL r. Hardin, secre-
tary of the new" Board of Directors OF
the Newark Library Association. and
'old's board, for the payment of the first
| quarters rent for the library building,
amounting to $875, were received. II. was
decided to withhold the payment of the
rent until the legality of one of the