The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01
GROWTH OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
A CITY INSTITUTION THAT HAS
BECOME VERY POPULAR.
Since Its Opening In February, It
Has Almost Daily Increased In
Patronage-New Books Added

In the latter part of 1897 it was de-
cided by the Pioneer Library associa-
ton, in which the Aasons owned con-
trolling interest. TO turn over to the
city the old Pioneer library, which then
occupied rooms in the Board of Trade
building. The association was in debt
to the amount of about S1,400, and the
library was transferred to the city
with the understanding that it was to
be maintained as a free public institu-
ton, and that the Indebtedness should
be paid by the city. These conditions
Were agreed to, and the library, con-
sisting of 1881 bound and rs unbound
volumes, was turned over to the city.
Mayor Glendinning, in accordance
with the law, appointed a board of di-
rectorS to take charge of the library.
The board consisted of Colonel T. G.
Weber. president: Major r. c. Hill,
secretary; Mrs. J. NJ Dart, Mrs. D. B.
Hampstead, Mrs. Rachel S. Miller, Miss
Emma Mccormick, Boyd PARK William
Igleheart and George D. Pyper. The
board then proceeded with the transfer
of the library and on Jan. J. 1898, it
was moved from the Board of Trade TO
the city and county building.
a librarian was appointed, with as
sistants, and the number employed at
present is: A librarian and four as
SiStantS, and a cataloguer and two as
sistants. Miss A Z. Chapman was
chosen librarian, and Miss Mabel An
derson, Miss Julia T. Lynch, Miss Anna
/. Cash and Miss Joanna Sprague were
appointed assistants. Miss Ella Law
son was. employed as cataloguer, with
Miss Edith Smith and Mrs Thomas
for assistants. This force Immediately
went to work on Jan. l, checking off
the books and preparing them for the
shelves, which were il process of con-
struction.
The work progressed rapidly, and the
books were soon arranged on the
shelves, and on Monday morning, Feb.
II, the library was opened to the pub
lie. 1t was enthusiastically received,
and especially by the children, who
hailed with delight the chance to draw
from the juvenile works. Cards We're
issued, and the patronage increased
daily, so that up to June l the circula-
ton averaged 166 daily. This has
steadily increased, until now it Will
average about pa.
From time to time the library has
been augmented by the purchase of
books from the appropriation, and also
by gifts from the public. The city
levied a TAX of one-Uhird of a mill for
the maintenance of the library. and
with this appropriation the library is
supported. Up to the present date
about 1000 volumes have been added
TO the library, $l,686 09 having been ex-
pended for new books. The total num-
Der OF volumes now on hand is about
1880. besides a number of the leading
magazines and newspapers, which
have been placed upon the tables.
Up to Dec. j, 4,466 cards had been
issued, and this number is being in
creased daily. The average daily Wis
itors at the beginning of last month
was $50, and the number of books con-
suited was 1000.
The work of catalOo1IiOo- fhp libra ~
was begun by Miss Ella Lawson on
May u, 1888, and she was assisted by
Miss Edith Smith. 1t was soon found
necessary to employ another assistant,
and Mrs. Thomas was appointed I'm
der the direction Of Miss Lawson the
work of catalOguing the books, ac-
cOrding TO the Dewey system has pro-
crossed rapidly. Mr.. Igleheart has also
had charge OF the printing of a finding
list for the juvenile works, which viii
be distributed among the patrons.
From the very beginning the library
has been enthusiastically received, and
the public has realized in il the full
fllment of a long felt want The room
occupied by the library is a large, light
and airy one on the first floor of the
city and county building 1t is omen
daily from 10 8 m. to 9 p. m, Sundays
excepted, and during these hours there
is constant string OF visitors entering
and leaving the ROOM
Since the opening Of the schools af-
ter the summer vacation, a rule has
been made and enforced to allow no
school child to take more than one
book each week from the library This
rule has been made on account of the
eagernesS Of the young people to read
stories and neglect their studies for
the more entertaining, but less in
Structiye, pursuit.