Evening star., 1898-12-02
First Annual Report Of the Board Of
Trustees.
DONATIONS RECEIVED
The Educational Value of the lnsti-
tuition Set Forth.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR

The first annual report of the board OF
trustees Of the Public Library of the Dis
trict of Columbia was today submitted to
the District Commissioners by the presi-
dent of the board, Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes.
1t is as follows:
ITO the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia: Thc idea of Iax-sustained
pu0lic library of the modern type for Wash
tngton, Il supplement of the public schools
for thc bencii; of $500 school children,
peoples free university, open at night for
the local worpincmen. was first suggested
and discussed in III local newspaper press,
ana in lS;i4 was ;aken up and strongly ad-
vocated by ths Board OF Trade. The Com
missioners III. school trustees. the work.
ingmen's organizations and various ci.4-
Zens' associations cO-op-:atad to promote
the public Iinrary movement and finally by
act of Congress. approved June ,, 1896, the
library was established on the basis de
sired
Quoting tha act in fun. ;he report de-
careS it carried no appropriation, and the
frs maintena nc" provision for the library
appeared i'll the act making appropriations
for the District Of Columbia, approved June
81. 1888 as follows:
Free public library: For librarian,
81 Gao; frs assistant librarian, S'0J; second
assistant librarian. $40; and for rent, fuel,
light, fitting up rooms, and other contin-
gent expenses. S9s.3oa; in all, 6.12o.'
Trustees and Organization.
In pursuance of the law of June 3, 1896.
the Commissioners appointed the board of
trustees therein described and the trustees
organized and selected a librarian as there
in directed. The library organization is
now as follows:
Board of trustees-S. W. Woodward,
term expires 1900; b. H. Warner, term ex
pires 1900; ]. b. Larner. term expires 1890;
A. R. Spofford, term expires 1872; j. I. Du.
Bois term expires 1892; K. r. Perry, term
expires 1892; T. W. NOyes, term expires
1901; c. ]. Bell, term expires 1904; r. H.
Thayer, term expires 1904.
"OfficerS-PreSident, Theodore W. NOyeS;
vice president, Brainard H. Warner; Ii
brarian. secretary and treasurer, Weston
Flint; first assistant librarian. Miss Irene
Gibson; second assistant librarian, Miss
Emma A. Spilman.
Committees-Books, Spofford, Thayer
WOODWARD; employees Dubois, Woodward,
Warner; rules. Perry, SpoffOrd, Larner;
building. Warner Dubois, Thayer: finances,
Larner, Bell. Perry; bookbinding, etc,
Thayer Spofford, Larner; legislation (spe.
ciaD, Bell Warner, Thayer; donations (spe-
ciaD, Woodward. Warner, Bell.
The trustees have recommended, and the
Commissioners have designated, as the To-
cation of the library No 1926 New York
miraby located, in close proximity to
street railroad center and easily accessi-
bic 10 the people of all sections of the Dis
trict, has been materially altered and re-
paired in order to make II more suitable for
library purposes, and is now reasonably
well adapted to this use. 1t was occupied
by the library early IN November. and VIII
be opened TO the public in December.
Private Donations.
The books constituting the present IL
brary are entirely private donations There
are now on the shelves 1000 volumes, and
the number is increasing every day. The
largest single donation is the collection of
the Incorporated Washington City Free Ii
brary which transferred to the Commis
sioners all it's books.
"A list of the donations of books and
money up to date is appended to this 1e-
port.
The largest cash donations for the pur-
chase of books have been made as follows
Crosby S. Noyes. $1,000; Woodward & Lo-
throp, $1,000; Charles G. Glover $3.50; John
r. Mclean, $3.50.
Mr. James 7. Dubois has donated to
the library the sum of 5000 which he
agrees later to increase to 5000, provided 1t
be known as the Henry Pastor memorial
fund, the annual interest of which is to
be devoted to the purchase of scientific pc
reodicals for the library, upon each of
which is to be placed the following imprint:
fund This collection. which will be of
special practical value to the local work
ingmen. now offers, and when the full fund
is available will, to even greater extent,
supp.y an Instructive and unique reference
collection. The list of periodicals purchased
for the first year with the interest upon
this fund is appended to this report.
Among the donations of books, that of
Loo valuable volumes from the estate of
Mr.. Anthony Pollok is deserving of note.
The executors of Mr.. Pollok in present.
ing these books to the library have at
tached to the gift the following conditions:
L The collection shall be known as the
Anthony Pollok collection
''2. Each book shall be supplied with a
suitable plate which shall bear the in
scription, Anthony Pollok collection.
THE donations committee of the trustees
has outlined a systematic pan of canvass
ing for subscriptions to the library. and
the prospects are excellent that the library
will in the near future enjoy further large
and valuable accessions.
Possible Additions.
There is possibility that the legisla-
ton may be secured from Congress which
will turn over to the library the miscel
laneous books not necessary for reference
and official use in the departmental libra.
ries. Those number between 10000 and 80
900 volumes. Their withdrawal from the 3oJ
ttS volumes of the departmental lbrarie:
VIII not injure the latter as technical refer.
ence collections for official use, but woulC
cause the Washington Public Library to be
come general departmental library for The
| enjoyment of all the clerks in all the depart
| ments. These books. accessible in the rnair
| only TO the clerks in three of the depart
| ments and accessible 10 them only so fal
| as the fraction contained in their own u
! brary Is copcerned. would If collected II
| the Washington W Public Library, be opened
10 all the clerks and great body of gov
! ernment employees would enjoy privileges O.
| "hlch they are now entirely deprived Tn,
| establishment of such a general depart