The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-05
pUBAIC LIBRARY.


rnhNHt +AScsiiis anu heeliotes Va S'''~N.''
The annual meeting OF the trus tees of
tie PORTLAND I,pblic Library was held
Nonda y lie report Of President Bax-
Ter. tbs t.casgIer and librarian follow:
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
40 Tic Trustees Of the Portland Public
Lieipry:
DUTY pr sent 20 YOU my annual report,
The relCr5 Of the librarian shows you in
detail tsc growth o. the library during
the year whioa Is certainly most crafty
inQ. 40 is It's iEUrgGsoi use by our ciu-
ysn2 Mia the enlargement of the city
"a, tie addition OF me city of Deering
tais demnnd will sill more largely in
creg ,r and this increase in Use Will call
Tor lgrgcs expenditure bf money Tor
books as vel as Tor Increased service.
Tho tIe1sUrcr's report VIII show now
much .tko library needs to increase Its
funds more than n thousand dollars in
excess of TIE amount recsived from tine
city being needed tho past year to pay
the running expenses. The Sawyer fund
has, however, enabled the book commit
Tee to add q considerable number OF
scientific works TO the library, which IL
is believed. VIII largely increase its USE
fitness. These books were selected I'M
der the advice of an expert in the employ
of the Boston Public library, and ill an
inuortant gap in the department TO
which they belong. The expenditures
necessary TO maintain the library are
most economically managed, anu alter
a careful examination eff them can
sac no possibility of Decreasing Them; IN
fact, think they might be somewhat
increased to advantage. OWING to the
many demands upou the municipal treas
Try the trustees greatly dIsliSe TO apply
TO the city government for an increased
appropriation. They can only present
the facts in the case to it and leave 1t to
the good Judgment, of its members TO act
as il deems best Tor til9 interest," OF the
public which they represent
You viii observe by the report OF the
librarian that a new registration Will be
ut once begun. This would have been
necessary If the city had not been en-
larged; but now it'has become doubly SO.
Although this will entail considerable
extra work the assistants will doubtless
be able to do it without additional help.
Although the number of books with
drawn from the library Tor home use has
decreased, the use of the reading and ref
erence departments has increased 90 per
cent. The value of the latter department
uf the library is evident and everything
should be done TO ada 10 its usefulness
by making it as complete as possible.
You will observe that the Sunday opan-
ing of the reference ana rondtng rooms,
of the success of which the trustees were
somewhat doubtful. is sufficiently en-
couraging to warrant continuance. The
success of the Young Peoples reading
room is highly gratifying TO the trustees,
o I'd It's usefulness to the rising genera
/ on can hardly be overestlmated. That
it is fully appreciated by the boys and
girls Of Portland the attendance demon
strates Beyond question.
y REQUESTS have been made OF the trus-
tees TO establish a branch Of the library
.rb mir
have given the matter their attention
and lind that il would be quite imprac-
ticable. The expense of such extension
would he too great, and II IL were made
in wards eight ard nine, 1t might be de-
1uanGed with equal reasons by resi-
dents Of wards one and seven. The faoili-
ty with (. hieh the library can be reached
from all parts of the city renders such ex-
tension unnecessary.
In closing I regret to speak of the lnu-
tiIation aud theft Of books. While the loss
has not nesn great, the mere fact that
any person to whom the free use OF the
library j. given can possibly mutilate or
steal /, book tho use of which is so gen,
trau5iy accorded them, is unpleasant to
consider.
Respectfully submitted,
James p. Baxter, President.
REPORT OF TREASURER.
For the year ending April /, 1899.
Receipts.
Balance from old account, 50, 5s2. 96
City OF Portland, 100000
State Of Maine, 600. 90
fines. etc 239. GO
Sawyer fund, net $40 81
Clapp fund, = 1-2 years, $50. 90
ArothinghAn fund, 2 1-2 years, go. 90
Harrington fund, 2,126. 66
Athenaeum building, net, 69l. u
Interest on daily balance, 9.T7
SIG, 020. 81
Payments.
Salaries, SASS. 90
Repairs of building, 303.3S
Lighting, 1,175.1
Heating, 1868. 81
Insurance and incidentals, 1876
Furniture and fixtures, 4SlO
Binding. COZ 80
Interest on debt, 64.33
7,2lS.76
Books, general fund, S1,79L99
Sawyer fund, 292 q
Request, 1870
---- 2,O44.O1
Periodicals. 40l 81
Balance 10 new account, $500 80
S13, 0?9. 81
OF this balance but a small part belongs
TO the general fund and the remainder
to the Sawyer fund. Books have been
ordered to use up all the balance Of this
fund, available for no other purpose. We
owe $4,000 on account of alterations and
repairs, and 5000 debt on the Athenaeum
building. All the net income has been
required for years to pay the expenses Of
running the library.
LIBRARIANS REPORT
ne the Trustees Of the Portland Public
Library:
1iantlelnen-I have the pleasure of pre-
senJing TO You the librarians report for
5hs year ending March 81, 1899.
hCCEGGTONS