New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-30

DIR. BILLINGS, WHO EXAMINED THE
FREE CIRCULATING ONES, MAKES
SUGGESTIONS.


SUGGESTIONS
The recommendations which were made to
Controller Coler last week by the Executive
Committee of the New-York Public Library, as
20 the improvements which should be introduced
into the system under which the free circulat-
ing libraries of this city carry their work,
were founded upon a careful investigation of
the libraries made by Dr. John S. Billings The
number OF New-Yorkers who use the free IL
braries is so great that anything which an eX-
pert like DR.. Billings has to say in the way OF
commentator or criticism viii arouse much
interest. DR.. Bings's report is an exhaustive
one. Here some Of its most important parts
There are fourteen cerp9gaOns or 9nd
ncisclng the General 7ocleIy % aT1o,ntine-
TO sl51369 80 for the year 1900 and these c9Ep9T@
ens s,,SiIar csires and some travelling libra
Ties The libraries are tabulated in two groups, the
first containing those whose entire business a. te
Gliding the New-YoTk Free Circulating Library
with four centres and the St Agnes Free Library.
the Washington Heights Free Li3raTE the T1Tr aIH
for the Blind each in one 6u6ng being IN SECOND a s
group includes those libraries belongng to corP0-
ratons or societies having 9n5eetsreIlgiGns Sen
ance Of library over three millions OF EOcul1 ne.
year at an average cost TO the city OF about IiVe
volume.
AIDED BY THE CITY.
To the thirteen corporations other than the So
sP apr Si42S69 90 for the year 1900 These
libraries received from other sources during the ne
a worth S4720O0, which at per cent would give
the vas q 6S ~ n6 co4ng
gifts Of books or gratuitous services OF members
rles for the year 1900 VIII be about the same
siSa 40 70 IN Sec9Tg the circulation Of over three
million volumes. making an average rate OF some s
low average-too low in fact-and indicates either
the purchase of an undue proportion of small,
cheap books the payment of inadequate salaries
about seven cents a volume circulated. The thir-
unles so that each volume on the average is loaned
about seven times q year
The principle upon which estimates and proper
tions are made. viz. at fixed rate per volume
based the circulation of the past year is faulty
because it tends to discourage the purchase OF the
travels science, etc, which not only more cost
little books Of stories. and hence not so useful
20 obtain appropriations The principle IS also
ing rooms and books Of reference for them Read
ING looms are re- mos @ 1 ~ 0 aG1i+s
but many children prefer read there rather than
TO take books home to dark crowded noisy apart
Inents, and mechanics and others who wish in
formation upon special subjects desire access 10
encyclopedias and reference books in rapid sue
cession 10 compare data which they can only oo-
seif As q general rule. the reading rooms in all
the free circulating libraries are too small and
every dollar that is spent on such books. or on
the pay OF attendants for reading rooms dlnin-
lsheS the income from the city for the next year.
The Importance OF the reading rooms is recognized
10 maintain and Improve them AS regards cost
Of circulation per volume II should be remembered
cost IL is impossible to make additions and i'm
provements in the way Of establishing new centres
Of distribution or in improving the character OF
the books circulated.
MORE LIBRARIES NEEDED.
At the present time several additional centres of
distribution are much needed in New YORK CITY;
three more on the West Side below Fifty-ninth-st..
and two above Observation-Disclosures -fifth-st..
In the Borough of The Bronx: Each such centre.
Sos eSon,d cost about g o60 ner wear after the
hrst cost Of installation has been provided for.
The libraries on the East Side below Fourteenth
nu ag of ordinary school, textbooks as well as
much larger numbers of Juvenile fiction The Il
q better class of books. Some idea Of the differ
sasd Tom the ne n the ae showing RG s
volume Of the books purchased during the first
that The kind of books purchased by the Aguilar
lem e cents While those OF the Washington Heights
Library cost 81 TO- those Of the Cathedral Library
Association 81 20 and those OF the University Set
Element 81 4 a yolume. 1t should be remem bered.
months work. and they suggest further inquiry
be said with regard to the differences in the pro
portion Of money spent for books and for salaries
by the different libraries.
IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTED.
Taking the free circulating libraries of New
York as group. the great defect IS the absence
OF any system Of accountability for the funds
granted by the city or for the books purchased
from such funds, and Of any uniform system of
returns or reports TO show the character of the
work done by each that il be compared
with that of others The funds granted by the
city should be applied. first, the purchase. bind
ing. cataloguing and proper marking of books
suited 10 general circulation and reference work;
second TO the payment of the salaries of the per
public and in keeping records thereof; third, to
the expenses Of central supervision of the whole
work Of the preparation Of reports. and of neces-
sary printing and stationery, and separate
counts should be kept Of each of these subjects of
expenditure.
The funds derived from other than state
and municipal grants might be applied first. in
the providing of buildings for the library,
including heating and lighting If sufficient; second.
10 the purchaee of special books suited 10 the
special purpose of the library. but for general
use, and third 10 the salaries expenses of per
sons engaged in other work than free circulating
library work.