The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-25

English Illustration In "ths Sixtiess"
British Contemporary Artists, By Monk
houss; Modern French Painters, edited
By Van Dyke; Frederic. Lord leighton,
BY Rhys; History OF Dancing. BY
vuiilier; France under Louis XIV, By
Bourgeois, The Baby ionian Talmud,
translated and edited by Robinson; Bar
ing -Gould's Lives of the 5aiats.
One hundred and twenty seven volumes
OF periodicals needed to oompiete certain
Poole" sets, have bean purchased, and
the following serial publications have
been placed on the subscription list The
Memoirs. and the Bulletin OF the Iorrey
Botanical Club, Botanical Gazstts, Ma
ture, National Geographic Magazine, Eu-
cheering News, Model Engineer and
Missionary Review.
Registration.
lhs re-ree istration Of book borrowers
begun . little over year ago has teen
accomplished with very little friction.
Only few persons have considered the
filling out OF new blanks too great
price t /, pay for library privileges. Dur
ing the year zoos names haze been regis
tered. Cards were frat issued to resi-
dents OF Deering on March 0, 1899; the
total rsgistratien since that date is g.
464; li3 names have since been can
celled. making the number OF parsons en-
titled to use the library at the present
time 5.s5l, The total registration of
residents Of the Deering district Is sO4.
One hundred and forty three teaehsrs'
cards are now in force.
Circulation.
Ninety nine thousand one hundred and
forty tive volumes were delivered for
home use during the pc st year. There
WAS mot the usual falling III In the cir
oulation through the summer months.
owing, In n large measure, to the good
use which the residents Of the annexed
wards made of their newly acquired
privileges; and during the entire IL
months there was . steady gain which
amounted to 1915 volumes In excsss of
the circulation Of the previoas year. The
daily average Was 825. February was the
busiest month, with daily average OF
4l0. The largest number OF books Is
sued In one day was $40, the smallest
mum Der 1903.
I 1t is gratifying to be able to record the
incrss sing use Of the library, hut feat
ure of the case. encouraging or discous-
aging, according to ones point Of view
not to be overlooked, Is the growing APP
petite for light reading evidenced BY the
tact that so per cent OF the gain was IN
the GLASSES Of adult aud juvenile lotion,
while these GLASSES comprised 20 per cent
Of the entire yearly circulation.
OF late the new novels have been more
generously duplicated than in former
ysars and with so many new and popu-
lar books In constant circulation 1t fol-
lows that some peopls must sometimes
get what they want. But we seldom
hear from any bot the disappointed and
dissatisfied ones, ana the complaints and
criticisms are disheartening TO the at
tendants who, however well disposed,
cannot with the books ut their command
meet the demands Of several hundred
people. all of whom want. at the same
time, the "bsst selling book" or the
'novsl that is % much talKed about"
The circulating hooks are kept In good
condition only BY a large expenditure OF
time and money. 1t has been necessary
to have i, $40 volumes rebound, while
$3.50 volumes have been repaired at the
library and 7,197 volumes have been COW
cred or labeled.
The temporary withdrawal from oircu-
lation OF so many books, obviously thoss
most read, greatly lessons the chances
of squalizing demand and supply.
References Room and Reading Room.
The recorded number of visitors to the
reference room is 1891 and to the read
ing room 81, 1s7-A total Of 5S.05s and
gain of 2.73 over last years record.
Exclusive of books u pom the open Shelves,
l6, O96 volumes have bsen consulted, l,e2l
moro than were used last year. The
average daily attendance Ia the two
rooms was respectively 90 and. liz.
The reference room was closed from
September 18th to October 9th and was
thoroughly oleaused and renovated. The
work done in this department hes been
of a character satisfaotory in both kind
and degree. tn service has been inteI-
ested and intelligent and the antlring
efforts made to hslp students. old and
young alike, have called forth many ex-
pressioas Of appreciation.
Both references and reading rooms were
kept opsn on Sundays, excepting throu9h
July and August. 1he average attsR-
dance was I06. The total number OF
books called for during the ten months
was but 4s7, ths chief attraction, as in
past years, having been the magazines
and illustrated papers.
Young Peoples Reading Room.
The total attendance In the young pso-
pis's reading loom was rs. $50. daily
average of 90. The average for the win
ter months vas 1872. That the children
lind this library an Interesting and at
tractive place cannot be doubted, and
surely Il IL not too mnoh to hops that
many Of them will here acquire lasting
rondnsss for books and form O habit of