The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-02
THE LIBRARIANS REPORT,

THE LIBRARIANS REPORT.
The report of the librarian is the
18th submitted and the 18th by Samuel
5. Green. The report is accompanied
by tables which show the accessions to
the library, the number of volumes, the
extent of the use of the reading room
and library on Sundays and HOLIDAYS,
and other facts that it is customary
to call attention to.
The library year closed Nov. so, and
on that date there were in the library
lzO,540 volumes diviCed among the de-
partments as follows: Green library.
z4,ooz; intermediate department, 1861;
circulating department, 55,S57.
The figures show an increase of 81
volumes in the Green library, 1877 in
the intermediate department, and 2543
IN the circulating department, or 6O15
volumes, in all.
during the previous year. 1896 vol
umes were added. Five hundred and
seventeen papers and periodicals are
now taken by the library, the number
the previous year being 493
During the year, 906, 6S7 volumes were
USED IN the nome or for reference. Home
use, l9l,Ol3; reference, exclusive of Sun
days and holi1 avs, 112,761; Sunday use.
1858; holiday use, $50. Fourteen thou
SAND eight hundred and twenty-five
volumes were taken out by teachers.
ana 1853 by pupils of the schools,
The appropriation of $500 for the
establishment of delivery station has
peen put to good use, and eight stations
nave been established. Books were
ilrst sent to the stations May IA. A
table shows that 1851 books have been
r{o
uate, and that 100 new applications for
DOCKS have been received at the sta
IONS. The station at Greendale was
pest patroniZed, giving out S66 volumes.
ana that at Belmont street least, with
The report dwells at some length on
the benefits that the youth of the CITY
are receiving from the library, and de-
Lalls the efforts that are being made
70 nave the juvenile books given out
suitable in subject matter and print
Tor the children who receive them,
The librarian remarks on the decrease
IN the number of story books read by
during the war with Spain
and the corresponding increase in the
number of books given out bearing ON
try. ''A'-' - t'i"' oo'ii-
-Ir, Green makes favorable mention
2f the work of the Public School Art
League, and states that the library
d TO the league during it's recent
exhibition large number of photo-
Iaphic prints thought suitable for
decoration of school rooms. II was
stated that the shelving in the upper
portion OF the library has been c>4m-
pleted during the past year, and a rec
ommendation is made that some means
81 access be provided to the attic of
the building, so that it may be used for
storage. 1t is recommended also that
new case be provided for the card
analogue Of the library.
The worle of revising the card cata-
ogue has been carried on successfully
turing the year, and the librarian
makes favorable mention of the work
u MISS Young and Miss Tyler in this
lfectlon. The only change in the
force of the library during the wear
mas been the resignation of Mrs, Sarah
y. Iucker as the head Of the catalogu-
nS department, and the department is
now undergoing reorganization. The
lprarlan thanks the finance commit
tee Tor the way in which thew have
seconded his efforts.
among the gifts to the library have
oeen 5lO volumes and 10 pamphlets Els
oeclal thanks are due to the libraries
u Harvard and Columbia universities
% the Massachusetts State Library
session Public Library, the Boston Attn
9neum for their kindness during the
year in lending books to Worcester peo-
The librarians report on finances
shows the receipts for fines and S.
-orth that will be found in the report
II the finance committee. It shows
nat there have been expended for bind
ng $1138.97, for repairs on butIdina
'l539.3S and for total salaries incIud-
ng extra help, 49,, S34.08.
Other tables show the details of the
tccecssions to the library and reading
Dom with much minuteness.
DR.. Almon Gunnison, president of the
BOARD of directors, in submitting his |
'eport, says: The past year has been |
marked in the history OF the library |
~ the establishment of delivery sta |
ions, which will ultimately widely ex-
oand the library's use There has been
marked increase In The USE of the !
eference department, indicating that
ne library is rapidly becoming the peo-
,le's study.
There has been a decreased use of
he circulating department. The rea-
en- is obvious. The war absorbed at
ention and contemporary events en-
lsted the interest which otherwise
you'd have been given to history, BIZ
graphy and romance. The newspapers
surped the place of the books. Since
ne coming back of formal conditions
ne use of the library has increased.
The reference department is regarded
ot as museum fo' the presentation
I literary treasures, but as a work
mop, furnishing books for intellectu-
work. and the use of $4,000 books
uring the past year demonstrates the
'tsdom of liberal policy in reference
0 the use Of books.
our library was the first one to put
lto practical operation the carrying of
ooks into the public schools. The
earliest cooperation exists between
he schools and the library, and the
hildren are not only taught to love
ooks, but how to select and use them.
Early in the developing of the library,
ne value of pictures in experimenting
ne use of books vas recognized, and
lere has been gathered q large collec-
on OF pictures. The library was a pi-
neer in this direction, and it's example
as been extensively adopted by other
braries.
The growth of the library has made
Imperative the need OF more room. and
lie circulating department has reached
he limit of its accommodations Plans
ave been prepared cor fitting up the