New-York tribune., 1899-12-18

The Trustees Of the library at meeting held last
Tuesday decided that this was one OF the Simplest
ways OF making a retrenchment IN the EXPENSES
OF running the institution with decrease OF SZlo
IN its yearly income; 5000 was spent last year
in running expenses ZOO OF which came from the
city and $4,000 from private sources This year the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment allowed to
the library only s61.5 500 in spite OF an increased
circulation and the establishment OF new Dranch
at Chatham Square In order TO meet the cut made
by city the trustees have decided on the CLOSING
Of the libraries which will about 5000 In wages
OF substitutes heat and lghtngs, and the purchase
OF books will be reduced 20 per cent as further
retrenchment.
j. Morris Wing General Librarian, when seen at
his home. No 3O3 East Eighteenth-st last night IN
regard to the closing OF the Libraries. gave out tho
foregoing information. and said that further re-
trenchments were being considered by the trustees
in order to get through the year without ending up
with deficit.
The cutting down Of the allowance to the New
York Free Circulating Library was the result Of
change in the policy Of the city's financial board
library is not the only one that has suffered. The
Aguilar Free Library has also been cut from s4o"V
The laws Of the State permit the Board of Esti-
mate and AppOrtionment TO allow TO free circulat-
ing libraries a maximum Of 10 cents on each
volume of it's certified circulation. The State Board
Of Regents determines what the certified circula-
tion is and the Board Of Estimate and Apporton-
ment bases its allowance on the figure certified to-
Heretofore the maximum has beeen allowed by the
city. In the administration of Mayor Strong, at
least. the 10 cent rate adhered TO for all
libraries alike. the only question being asked was
as TO the other endOwments of the institution
In 1898 the present Board put into the budget the
figures allowed in Mayor StrOngs preliminary bud
get and the free circulating Libraries all got 10
cents a volume last year. When the Board came to
make up the new budget for 1900, however, a new
scale was decided 1t determined that
libraries should receive their allowance on sliding
scale favoring the small institutions. For the first
ten thousand volumes of circulation 10 cents
volume allowed A cent volume de-
The allowance on fifty thousand volumes of circu-
lation figures out just about eight cents a volume
Now. the certified circulation Of the New-York
Free Circulating Library last year was 100000,
and the allowance for that number figures out five
and eighth cents on each volume. The Aguilar
Library is the largest circulating library, and
the only other affected to any great extent.
The books Of the library circulate free. there
being absolutely no cost TO those who observe the
rules.
The estimated expense for this year 10000.
The estimated income, since the Board OF Estimate
and Appointments action, II $1,000
One peculiarity OF the situation is that the Ad-
ministration has recommended the consolidation OF
the scattered libraries. The sliding scale adopted
by the Board Of Estimate favors small collections
OF books II assists the small circulating libraries
connected with institutions TO which the public
orally does not have access, rather than the big
ones founded for the purpose Of lending books 10
the public Unfortunately.