New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-21
THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE FoRTY-sEvENTH ANNUAL REPORT
STATISTICAL DEPARTMENT-AN IN
DEx OF PICTURES OF LIBRARY
BUILDINGS.

Boston Aug % (Specia).-The report OF the Bos-
ton Public Library for the municipal year OF isss-
80 contains most interesting and Instructive
statistics on January 81. 1893. the institution con-
tained in central library and all It's branches
7lsO5O volumes-a net increase OF l7.ls2 volumes
The growth in the previous year had been net
increase OF 25l25 voumes-more than twice as
great as during the previous year II II only fair
to state. however. that $50 volumes were added
to the library during 1895 but some OF these went
TO replace WORKOUT volumes
The expenditures for books and periodicals have
been S3i s35 10 for last year as against Ao'9l y
during 1897. The OF maintaining this great
library plant during the year follows: sala-
aries Sl62. $50 IS: books, t2s,035 "a: periodicals.
$3.50 os; newspapers. RIG A. and general MAIN
tenance s6 ss GA total OF s26i5sO o. or this sum
s2is SIS 81 was appropriated by the city. Sssss
yielded by trust funds. and the balance OF
1860 0s was obtained by gifts.
The use OF the library constantly increases The
number Of card holders for 1897 was 64s73 while for
1898 II was 72.c6 Increase OF 1892 The circula-
ton for home use increased 1914 volumes. reach
ing l.245.s42 volumes In 1885. These figures do not
include those for the very large use made OF the
library for reference purposes.
An important forward movement in the work OF
the library the establishment Of a special de-
partment Of documents and statistics. The Ameri"
can Statistical Association turned over It's library
Of about 5000 volumes TO the Public Library.
Worthngton G. Ford, formerly chlef or the United
States Treasury Bureau OF Statistics placed In
charge OF the department AS Mr.. Ford Is also
corresponding secretary OF the Statistical Assocla.
ton. he will the name and prestige OK that
body In applying for material, and all future ac-
cessions will likewise be turned over 20 the library
The department includes works on vital, economic,
political and social statistics. In MI Fords spe-
cial report on his department he says that ne nas
in preparation q catalogue OF the British Pariia-
mentary papers for recent years. as well as .
catalogue Of the United States Congressional docu-
ments. He also keeps extensive notes, OF Az I'M
portant articles social topics in the leading re-
views and financial journals In this way he Is
provided with the latest selected utterances or rec
ords by experts their specialtles
The current number Of The Monthly Bulletin"
OF the Boston Public Library contains extern
sive index the illustrations OF library buildings
in its collections When plans for the new building
for the library under consideration a colec-
ton OF pictures and plans was made while all ma
terial In periodicals indexed This index wss
first published IN 1886. but there has been great
Impulse given 10 library construction IN the past
thirteen years, and the Boston Public Library has
wisely concluded TO republish the index 10 It's
larged collection. This collection ought 20 be Of
great TO Librarians and trustees who PLAN
| ming TO build. and would repay a visit 10 Boston
| TO examine II.