Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
MEETING OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES,
Annual Report of the board Sub
mitted by President BIoomer.

Annual Report of the Board Sub
mitted by President BIoomer.
At the annual meeting of the Board of
Trustees of the public library held yesterday
afternoon President d. C. Bloomer submitted
the annual report Of the trustees, which has
by law to be filed with the city council.
This report was compiled by Mr.. Bloomer
and in presenting 1t, he stated to the board,
he said it would in all probability be the
last he would be called upon to submit. The
report is exhaustive and shows the condi-
ton of the institution and gives a detailed
account OF all moneys received and expenses
and other interesting data in connection with
the library and its management. 1t shows
that with the balance on hand on January
/. 1899, the total income OF the library for
the last twelve months was s., 1920 and the
expenditures 4,125. 81, leaving a balance on
hand to start the new year with of $l,637.O5.
The number of books added to the library
during 1899 by donation and purchase was
AGO. at a cost of 1929, so. The following is
taken from the report:
The library has received 432 volumes and
pamphlets from the general government
| ously received from the same source, are
deposited in a separate room and all care
larger room is greatly needed for convenient
reference and access to them. In this col
lection of government books ana documents
are included a great number OF valuable
maps of land, oceans, rivers and lakes, con-
! tanning a wonderful amount of useful infor-
The number of books circulated during the
wear has been 63, $40 and of this number only
four books have been lost. The number of
magazines taken from the library was S,7l7
and this large circulation of magazines has
considerably reduced the number of books
called for. The reading room Is well sup
| piled with newspapers and magazines, seven
daily papers being included
' The only expenses incurred during the
, year beyond the ordinary charge on the Ii
brary fund have been for new bookcases for
the room set apart for, government books
walton of letters and other papers of strik-
ing interest and Importance. We should be
glad TO have such letters ana papers left IN
they will at all times be open to public in
spection.
amount is paid for the reminding of books
each year. This is made necessary by the
somewhat careless manner in which books
are handled and used by those taking. them
from the library. If book takers would use
the books with a little more care II would
ton to those thus rebound Il large number
have been repaired in the library during
the last year and much expense thereby
saved. In this work, which has included
many hundred volumes we are largely in
dehted to the intelligent industry of Mrs.
b. Is. Black, one of our assistant librarians.
We regret that the reduced income of the
library has to some extent lessened the field
OF its usefulness. In some former years this
income amounted TO nearly $500, but for
the last year only S,lO5.S was received and
this amount will be reduced to about SO, 400
in 1900. We have endeavored to cut down
our expenses TO meet this reduction. The
rent OF the library room has been lowered.
we have reduced the aggregate salaries of
our librarian and assistants to $l05 per
month"; sum really below the amount 20
which they are Justly entitled-and we have
resolved to discontinue the circulation of
magazines, but they Will continue TO be
placed on the tables IN the reading room as
amount remaining for the purchase OF books
will be quite small. II may be noticed that
we have a considerable amount OF funds on
hand, but this we are compelled to carry
forward. as the receipts into the library
fund from the county treasurer Will be very
light for the next four or five months.
The city Of Council Bluffs Justly claims