The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-30
MODEL MANAGEMENT.
One Municipal Institution
Which All the Boards
Might Well Initiate.
OUR GREAT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Annual Report of the Trustees
the Most Satisfactory of
Public Documents.
ECONOMIES OF SEVEN YEARS
Nearly $4,000 Worth of Real Es-
tate Bought and $4,000
Cash on Hand.
BOOKS KEPT UP TO DATE
borrowers Number over $4,000
and nearly Half a million
Books Were Used in
the Year.
BOOKS KEPT UP TO DATE

The seventh annual report of the Free
Public Library has just been issued. 1t
shows the library to be in a highly -four.
ishing condition. The main document IS
signed by DR.. Leonard ]. Gordon as Pres
ident of the Board of Trustees, and the
significant portions of it are as follows
The economic management of the Ii
brary during the year ending November
80, 1897, as set forth in the detained re-
ports of the treasurer ana hprarlah' leaves
but little to be added.
The library now owns $500 volumes,
1870 of which have been acquired durlnS
the past year.
About 1000 volumes have been pur-
chased for replacement; a moderate num-
her when the total circulation since the
opening of the library e ,S41,0 So is remem-
bered. There have been lost CURING TINS
year % volumes, valued at Sl1.fS. -
The Free Public Library belongs to the
citizens of Jersey City, by whom 1t is
maintained, and through whom It's de-
velopment must be provided for. Ine I'M
mediate wants of our citizens therefore
must, and nave been given precedence
over all other conditions.
The library has been managed IN strlct
accordance with recognized business prin-
cipIes, and as a result we have to repoft
that our trust is in a most prosperous
condition.
increased use of the library in most OF us
departments, eyincing anew the apprecla-
ton by our citizens of the institution over
which it is the privilege OF the Board OF
Trustees to exercise control.
The Free Public Library has become an
important factor in our educational sys-
tenn. Its cooperation with the grammar
schools through the circulation therein OF
works recognized as classic juvenile Htera-
ture, cannot fail to make its impress upon
the life work of the growing YOUTH, by
familiarizing both the intermediate and
advanced pupils with much of the best
work of STANDARD authors.
That the efforts in his direction have
been appreciated. is best shown by the
fact that continual additions to our sys-
tenn of classics have been necessary IN
order to supply the demand. This system
now consists of So sets, comprising Isl
volumes. all of which are in constant cir
culation through the schools. In addition
to this. IS, 124 volumes have been drawn
on teachers cards. for circulating general
reading of a high standard through the
medium of the schools. This marks an
important change in library procedure, IN
that the book searches for the student
in place of the student searching for the
book.
The many drawbacks to the present To-
cation of the library, such as imperfect
light, heat and ventilation, and noise, dust
and confusion consequent upon the lmper-
feet surroundings as set forthain the last
annual report, have led the Trustees to
purchase additional property for a suit
able and permanent library site.
Permission to use library moneys on
hand for this purpose having been OBJ
tanned from the Board of Finance and
Taxation, the Trustees acquired from
the city by purchase for the sum of
$500 the corner of Jersey avenue and
Mercer street. formerly occupied by the
Board of Street and Water Commission
ers, and by condemnation the adjoining
property on Jersey venue, 20xS0 feet, for
the sum of $4,000.
The site as at present owned by the
city for library purposes is, therefore, 81
feet on Montgomery street, extending 100
feet north on Jersey avenue: 60xS0 feet
fronting On Jersey avenue, and the corner
40 feet on Jersey venue, extending 30
feet east on Mercer street, covering in
all an area of IL 900 square feet. and em-
bracing the entire frontage between
Montgomery and Mercer streets, with an
average depth of 50 feet.
the deeds for which are now held in the
name of the Mayor and Board OF Alder
men of jersey City.
These purchases nave been made with
OUT cost to the city, other than the an
nual appropriations for library purposes
moneys, i. e., arrearages. Interest, fines,
premiums. sales of catalogues, etc, Which
have been passed to the credit of the
building fund since 1893.
1t is a subject for congratulation that
the sentiment of the citizens for the con-
struction of a suitable library building
bids fair to e~ventuate at an early day in
the erection of a permanent home for the
Library: the Board of Finance and Tax
alton having with the approval eff the
Mayor, authorized the issue of Library
bonds for one hundr and fifty Thousand
dollars for this purpose.
That our progress has been onward and
the public may be seen by the following
table,