The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-17

ing religious denominations, to wit: Episcopa.
liam. Roman Catholic. Methodist. Baptist and
Presbyterian, which nomination shall be con.
frned by the select council of the city; four
thereof (no more than two of whom shall be of
the same political party) shall be nominated by
the mayor from tho citizens at large, and con.
frmcd by the select council; three thereof shall
hc appointed by the board of trade Of the city
Of Scranton; and three thereof shall he appoint
ed by the president Judge OF the court of com.
mon pleas OF Lackawanna county from the mem.
bers Of the bar of said court.
The said fifteen members shall be divided
into five classes OF three members each in such
manner that the terms Of three members shall
expire each year. and they shall hold their full
terms for five years, the respective terms to be
at first organization Of the board by drawing
LOTS
Vacancies occurring from any cause shall be
filled for the uncvpired term by nomination and
appointment from tho same class by the rcspcc
tive bodies and persons above designated. In
case any vacancy cannot be filled in the manner
thus indicated, then the board may fill such
vacancy.
"The board of trustees shall. annually, make
report TO the select and common councils of the
city OF Scranton of the condition. expenditures
and necessities of the library and property real
and personal, connected Herewith"
Tpt-STrrs To coNrpo,
From this it will be seen that the first two
conditions are: THAT the library therein placed
shall be reasonably maintained"
THAT the same shall be managed and con
'io"eu u! ooard consisting OF sixteen trustees
Vi "'o"' Tue mayor OF the city shall DC an eA'
ornclo one ana iliteeh shaIl be selected ana ap'
yidcdD
The deed and ordinance provide that "The
board OF trustees shall annually make report to
the select and common councils OF the city Of
scranton, of the condition. expenditures. and
necessities Of the library and property, real and
personal connected Herewith"
Under the act OF assembly, and the charter Of
the city OF Scranton, in connection with the
controller of the city who is made by the char.
ter the sole legal auditor of the city's finances,
provision was made by annual appropriation for
the maintenance OF the free library, and by con.
ference between the officers OF the library and
the members of the councils it was arranged
after examining into other city nnraries, by a
fair understanding about ten thousand dol.
lars was fair minimum of maintenance. The
city has practically lived up to that judgment
its first year being part Of year, the city
appropriated 5000. II has few times exceeded
that amounts The following provisions were
made with the controller, which have been kept
up That tho library should draw one.twelfth
of the appropriation monthly warrants duly
approved by the board and the controller on the
part of the city. On the part Of the library the
following system OF accounts adopted: A
monthly statement Of receipts and expenditures
OF the library always openNo the inspection OF
the controller, and an annual report to the city
nv" booho Ahb II 'h,hAsED'
The purchase or the books has been made by
careful selection and approval as follows: The
| librarian, from many years experience in estab
| fishing and managing public libraries, is thor
oughly acquainted with the breadth and scope
| and the minutest detail of the requirements o.
| a public library, keeps in touch with all thu
librarians OF this country, and so lar as necessary
| with other countries lie selects the books II
| part from his knowledge and experience, in par
| from all new publications, in part from th'
| calls which come from individuals who use o
desire TO use the library requests made by mem
bers OF the board, and by intelligent individuals
| Whatever he selects are typewriter on separate
! sheets, with name OF book, author, date, anC
are submitted TO the library committee, consist
| ing of six members, who pass upon every book
| and such as are approved are then submitted
| To the whole board which passes upon them be
| fore they order the purchase.
| The bills and vouchers made out for the pur
chase OF the books must first receive the approva
| of the librarian, second the finance committee
the third, the whole board, before whom eacl
| item GENES each month, and the bill is ap
proved by the president, in their presence. Il
| regard to the building and the grounds, tn
| same process is gone through, with the building
and grounds committee.
| ,rD,rrcc IN, ,ccn,.>-ru
| ~ ''>
| for Ten years the dn'ies ehJoihed by the dee
OF trust, the ordinance OF the city the act o
assembly, ana the city charter have been liter
ally performed by the respective parties an
oihoers concerned ana printed reports made I
| councils, with copy Tor each member The al
preparation has always been asked for, not il
a lump sum- as Is the case with some OF III
Libraries in other cities, but the amounts ar
itemzed for the respective classes OF eXpend
twe. Your president is therefore warranted i
saying that no receipt and disbursement OF none
| in any institution, state, city or private col
poration, has so close and frequent auditing, an
so many cheeks upon the funds and officers a
! tween the library, the cltN ana the controller