The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-15

The ninth annual meeting of the
Scranton public library trustees took
place Saturday afternoon in the AL
bright Memorial building There were
present thirteen of the sixteen trus-
tees. as follows Pres:id ident Alfred
Hand, Vice President James Archibald,
Treasurer Henry Belin, jr., Colonel II.
NJ. Boies, Thomas H. Dale. Rev. w.
j. Ford. Rev. c. NJ. Giltln. ID. D.. II.
NJ. Hannah Rev. Rogers Israel. Rev.
S. c. Logan, d. D., Rev. y. j. Mac
Goldrick, DR.. George w. Phillips, $.
Il. Price. The absentees We're Hon.
William Connell. who is in Washing
ton; Hon. +. w. Gunster, who is i'll,
and Hon. James Moir.
Reports Of an unusually interesting
character were read by President
Hand. Librarian II. J. Carr and Treas
urer Relin. They are printed below:
NINTH ANNUAL REPORT.
To the Honorable the Select and Com
mon Councils of the City of Scranton.
The several detailed reports of the Sec
retary, librarian and treasurer, herewith
presented. show the official actions of the
board of trustees and the work and care
of the library, the building and the
finances of the Scranton Public library.
The imperative demand, which the
spontaneous efforts of the children have
made upon us to provide for the wants
of this most hopeful class of our readers.
coupled with the foresight of our librar-
ian (seconded by the board in persistent
and successful minor economies in the
administration of the several funds COM
ing to our hand, have enabled us to plan
and undertake certain beneficial improve
ments in the building and library. and
thus promote the convenience of all con-
cerned. Your attention is called to the
provision made for these improvements
| under the name of ''The Young Peoples
Library Fund We have been able to
| accomplish this without calling for pub
| lie special contributions, or extended ap-
preparations from the city treasury other
than for books.
| 1t is evident that we have been able
| to increase the efficiency and value Of
the library: and with less relative ap-
propriat ation of money, as compared with
increased value Of asSessable property,
| than the amount first obtained at its be-
ginning. On this basis we are not diff
| fident in asking the public and the city.
| to trust us with more individual royal
gifts and larger appropriations. We have
no institution which more worthily JUS
| titles our pride and reputation, among
visitors to our city. than this Public
library and it's building. Small as it is
| our standing among librarian experts Is
| not insignificant.
Our success is due to the widespread
| favor we receive from all departments
of our home social life. and the absence
| of ungenerous criticism. Cosmopolitan as
| it is in its nature and outwork it's friends
are also cosmopolitan in their treatment
| of us. We may all fatter ourselves that
it is a quiet bond of peace among our di-
versfied population. Statistics and fig
ures i'm our report, show one thing that Is
more or less tangible for good; but the
| silent influence of the books visiting our
homes, and the children and adults Wis
iting our library and memorial home,
cannot be estimated, or tabulated. We
| ask every resident, old or young. from
| every class, to cherish and support this
| institution as public benefactOr-a
thousand fold more beneficial than the
computed aid it receives in gifts and
| money.
The appropriation which our success
is as follows:
| For salaries and labor C500 per
| month"; ............. ..............$ 6,0U M
For incidentals (s225 per month";. 300 OO
For books (S225 per MONTH ...... 200 w
For delivery stations and branch
reading rooms (Sl50 per month";. 1.SO OF
Aggregate .. ........... S13, 200 on
We may remark that in asking for the
appropriation for delivery stations, etc,
it is not our purpose to limit their num-
Der or efficiency. We would hail spOn-
taneous action of the councils tending to
increase these by a sufficient appropria-
ton to suit your own enlarged views of
necessity or benefit, promising on our
part the most rigid economy in spending
the money
BY order of the board Of trustees,
| Alfred Hand, President.
Scranton, Pa, Jan 10, 1900.
nonu
| LibnAHiAN SAnn . nrh OHA'
To the Board of Trustees.
There is presented herein the customary
annual review of the work or the Scran-
ton Public library during 1899, the sew
cnth year of its current public operation
The routine undertakings of the library
have been carried on In the same willing
spirit as in the past, with every desire
for effective public service and benefit.
The development of certain delivery
station and branch reading room features
has continued. and thereby made the use
Localities III ,,hsre those are NOW niaced
Further stations are desired vet in Other
parts of the CITY,
,
HEuiSi MA ioN'