The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-03-24
THE LIBRARY.
Gratifying Increase in Patronage
Last Year.
Annual Reports of President Wood
Secretary Thro and the Librarian,
Miss McGraw.

Inc IOiiOWlnS is the text OF Gne an
nual report of President M. B, Wood,
of the public library board, for the year
ending March 1st, presented to the
council Saturday night:
In presenting my report Of the at
fairs of t le Mankato public library for
the current year, l wish to state that
the library board sees more and more
evidence of reason for the existence of
the library with each su ;cessive year.
The number of patrons taking books to
their homes shows healthy increase,
not only in the number but in the class
of books read. The number of persons
coming to the library to consult the
reference works and to read the maya
zines and per odicals shows very large
increase-over 66 per cent. The num-
Der at the time of the last report being
something over 81 900, while at present
the number is over 10, 900 for the year.
We have not purchased quite as many
books for the current year as we had
at the corresponding period last year,
but shall purchase later on. Our cases
are full, and new additional ones are in
negotiation, and before the end of the
present year we shall be obliged to add
ole more room to our quarters.
THE value contained in the library is
much greater than many of our citizens
realize, being over $4,000. On this we
carry an insurance of $1,000 The city
recorder in making his estimate of the
resources of the city was in error in
placing the value of the library at SO :
900, and these figures are given to cor
rect the error Our bill for repairs is
larger each year, as books that are han
died constantly will wear out, and if we
are confined to our present appropriation
part of the amount we have been able
to use in buying books will have to go
for repairs, thus shortening our useful
ness to that extent During the year the
board has lost two of it's members, due
to change of residence, Rev. Father
Prior and Gen. Pope. Both were faith
full, interested workers and were valued
as members. Gen. Pope was, on &C
count of the time spent and details of
of the workings of the library mastered,
perhaps the most valuable member the
board has ever had. 1t is earnestly
hoped that should he return the board
may again have the benefit of his coun
sci as member
Secretary John G. Thro's report is
follows"
Receipts
On hand at last report. AZ. "a
Order for tax levy ..::-.............. 2,WOO
Fines and dues from librarian ........ 81 SO
s2,14O. 80
Expenditur s
Kent, salaries, office and cataloguing 81 04O As
Loan, reading and reference depts... 747 81
Balance to our credit. ................. 32I 70
$214O. SO
The report of the librarian. Miss
McGraw, shows that the 691 volumes
were added during the year, making a
total of 5,457. The total circulation
was 40, 101 The average daily circula-
tlOO was 100 luo lOUdl uuIuUol " pa
irons from opening of the library has
been 3, S26, and the number now taking
books for home use 1,771.
There are 70 different periodicals re.
.ceived at the reading room.
The circulation of books exceeds that
Of many larger libraries While the
library is increasing slowly, it does not
keep pace with the calls foy books.
The total receipts were 1927 So