The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-27

umes of German fiction were purchased
ana preparations are now making to add
German and French literature, as well as
TO begin a collection of books in the
scandinavian languages.
Among the valuable accessions OF the
year these are noteworthy:
Savage. Genealogical Dictionary.
- vancouver, Voyage TO the North Pacific
Dixon, Voyage to the Northwest Coast
of America.
Canada an Encyclopedia
Winsor, Narrative and Critical History
of America.
Jesuit Relations, vols. 1856
smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections.
Bridgewater Treatises.
Also complete sets of numerous periodi-
calls, including Chautauquan, Current Lit
erature, Fortnightly Review, Mcclure s,
Popular Science Monthly, Review of Re
gift of Hon. Homer NJ. Hill. chairman Of
the city councils committee on the Ii
brary. The thanks of the library are
especially due Mr. Hil for this valuable
reference work, the largest single gift 1t
has received in recent years. A complete
list of the donors of bound volumes is
given In the appendix.
Purchases of books have been for the
most part along very practical lines.
Manuals and reference books for the
handicrafts books on mining and cleo
trical science, have been much favored.
United States history is always a privi-
legged subject: and to come nearer home.
a systematic effort has been begun to
make complete collection of original
sources of the history of this Pacific
Northwest the only part of the United
states which was never under any flag
but our own Within the scope OF this
attempt comes the kindred subjects of
Pacific voyages of discovery and explora-
ton as well as the past and present. of
toward which this citys gates swing ever
outward. All that has been written In
English upon the Hawaiian and Philip
pine Islands. and the best publications
upon Japan and China. our new neigh
bors commercially. seem also a proper
Investment for our funds.
The Bulletin has been published month
ly. containing lists OF all books added
Reading lists have been printed in the
Bulletin, indexing so far as possible all
matter In the library upon the following
subjects:
Rudyard Kipling.
Christmas (selections In .prose).
Graded reading courses for school
grades, 1-12.
The spirit OF the age utters its voice in
the periodical. New thought or a novel
view commands instant attention; theo-
ries Jostle for standing room; science ad-
Vances Its outposts daily. Periodical lit
eerature IS the journal OF this unrest, and
the public library must supply the rec
ord mat every one who will may keep
step. 1t must also preserve the record
Tor comparison and as history. Our list
of standard serials is becoming more ex-
tended each year. and there can be no
retreat.
BY means of general indexes now pub
ished, annual and quarterly, there Is
furnished key to the contents of all
these publications. AS each volume is
completed 1t may be preserved as a re-
pository of the thought of that time: al
ways accessible, for these great indexes
make MAKE IL forever an open book Sets of
bound serials are become by far the
most valuable works of general reference
we can have. During the year we haxs
ADDED number of sets, as stated above,
as our circumstances permit, these sets
should be increased.
me outlay for current periodicals. in
i,,S,ss Is sslb %; In this sum is included a
NUMBER or duplicate copies of standard
magazines for home circulation These
nave proved by constant use their accen-
o oa1lrsg az, ana ioo nave nearly all been re-
ordered Tor 1900. The home circulation of
magazines for the year was Isle an
nVerase or seventy-two times for each
copy taken. ~
Gays mot counting Sundays) when eur
rent; seven days when one month old. and
two weeks when of the age OF two months
and over. N'
full list OF the serials received 1, given
IN the appendix. Representative news
papers from all parts OF the country are
' ,aRen 10 accommodate our composite pop
uiatlon. The newspaper reading rooms are
nearly always full often crowded, THE
hours for the mems room in the annex
nave been increased, being now from s
Our bindery has been operated this year
az cost OF $2,Ol45s for pay roll and sup
plies. The difference in inventories OF
s,en, ~, wouid' however. reduce the latter
Number OF borrowers registered to De-
81. ivy, 1885, number of cards ex-
piring by limitation, 6.ass; number of bor-
roweTs cards now in force 7l9S
A table In the appendix shows tho hnr,o
circulation of books by classes both adult
ana juvenile for each month in the year.
i ne tapie or percentages given NAV no
compared with those OF previous Years ~
show the change In reading habits cause,
oy changing taste or by the emphasis wnics
the library has placed on other suhicrts
Comparing this table with last year, ,nn
most noticeable variations are the increaaa
OF the total juvenile use more than TWO
points anu the rhrinkage o. adult fiction
more than six, the latter difference beur
caused by the circulation ~
popular magazines which in It's first vsar
occupies nearly the ground that fiction has
lost. nus
Financial statement
Balance in fund January l. 1899. less bills
Receipt. during the war '''''''''''.. ias 81
Total ................ ............... SIS ,s7 "a
Expenses during the year ............... i5ii5 G3
Balance December 81, 1899 .......,.....s 40 "a
Detail OF expenditures
General including paw roll rent heat
lighting. supplies, repairs eto .......... 10 Z,
hiNnV'N Observation-Disclosures.
Acoessions. books aud periodicals ...,.., asa Al
ao.A' ,,..';,; '.'......,,........ sl5ll5 %
Library collections including hncs receirts
for books lest, etc. .................... 500 "A
On opening in this building one lony-
standing wish was gratihed; to give tSe
chi.dren their own separate rooms. IJkht
ana cheerful, they are conveniently placed
lust within the main entrance The son 3
Tor The most part are school recitation
seats uttod with arm tablets and are M, AZ
orderly. noisclcss and economical of sia'e
often cvcry seat Is filled
TAe great wants are more hooks-ipclu1
Ing duplicates almost aumberless ~ no
best and an attendant to take permanent
charge OF the room keep # IN order ami
organize The children into a band OF look'
lovers, training them in their pruper on,
and guiding thcW into the use and amir
Ctaoou OF The best there Is In books A.
! have often said before this il the mos,
precious privilege. fraught with most benz
t's 10 the community that a library can
have ''
A. soon as this department is orsan.zsl
and enough books are purchased, we sho,t
have larger cooperation with the scho,,s
H