Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-15
NORFOLK LIBRARY
Annual Meeting Held Last Night
at the Library Building,
Directors Elected : Reports OF tho
Trensurcr ana Librarian Received
Efforts Wi, BIO Mndo TO Rai.o
Funds TO Ereci New Building,

The annual meeting OF the Norfolk
Public Library was held last night at
the library building.
Captain J. w. McCarrick presided,
and Mr.. w. II. Sergeant acted as sec
Seldner, b. A. Marsden and j. b. Jen-
kins were appointed to ascertain IL q
quorum was present.
On examination, the committee an
nounced that q quorum was present,
and the meeting proceeded to business.
The report of the treasurer was read
and ordered spread on the minutes,
Me ssrs. Ii. Il. Bagnall and J. b. Jen-
klns were appointed as an auditing
committee. following The meeting they
audited the accounts of the treasurer.
and found them correct.
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN.
The report of the librarian, Mr.. Sarl
geant. was then read and ordered filed
The report is as follows:
TO the President and Directors of the
Norfolk Public Library:
conference.-the statistics OF the
year show a still further increase in
the membership, in the circulation of
books and in the number OF those who
attend the room.
Six hundred and sixty-two volumes
have been added to the library In 1899,
many OF great value to the student,
besides an abundant supply of the cur
rent litNature of the day. OF these
books 456 were purchased and FOG do
mated.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
We have to thank the following per-
sons for gifts for books: Messrs. e. w.
James, L. Il. Borland, II. B. Bagnall,
II. w. Holmes. Col. VIM. Lamb, Hon.
X. a. Wise, Rev. e. Il. Hatcher and
Mrs. A. b. Scldner. We are also un-
der obligations to the following for
newspapers and magazines: The pub
fishers Of The Virginian- Pilot. the
Landmark. the Public Ledger. the Dis
patch. and the Journal of Commerce.
Lillard & Co, a. b. Seldner and f. w
James. The various departments OF
the United States Government supply
us with never-ending stream of pub
lie documents.
ATTENDANCE, ETC.
The attendance at the rooms during
the year has been 50,976. -Four years
ago 1t was only $4,000.
The number of books given out dur
ing the year has been 24,731. In the
year '9o 1t was only 10000. or this cir
culation 20,2SS were fiction, 1876 biog-
raphy and travels, 7S5 history and met
aphysics, 656 belles-letters, 1,63O maya
zines and 136 science. About IS per
cent. of the books given out were other
than fiction, which Is not n bad show
ing as libraries go.
a HOME NEEDED.
The time has come when, in nv
opinion, 1t Is absolutely necessary to
take steps to secure for the library n
home of Its own. 1t would seem that
an appeal TO the public spirit of our
citizens ought to easily accomplish
this much to be desired undertaking.
AS suitable as in the present location
OF the library, it has reached its limit
as far as the storage of books is con-
cerned, and is entirely too restricted
In space to meet the ever growing at
tendance OF the people and the general
convenience of all concerned.
AS L have often said before, the IL
Drary Is accomplishing great good in
our midst, not only as n valuable adj
1unct to the school system of the city,
but also in affording n source of in
formation to the various literary Clubs
that exist in our cities, and to in
dividuals investigating points. histori-
cal. genealogical and literary hope
then that n movement will he started
at this annual meeting which will end
In accomplishing this necessary and de-
siraDle purpose, and I hope that the
citizens Will not leave the burden of
this undertaking to be borne entirely
by the directors, but will organize and
endeavor to carry it through as an OBJ
5ect of the very greatest public i'm
portance.
Respectfully submitted,
w. II. SARGEANT,
Librarian.
Feb. LIST. 1900.
DIRECTORS ELECTED.
The following directors were then
elected for the ensuing three years:
II oil