Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-02-09
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Annual rIeeting OF the Association
Officers Elected, Reports Read


The annual meeting Of the members
Of the Martinsburg Public Library
Association was held in the County
Court House Jan. 81. The meeting
was for the purpose of electing the
officers for the ensuing year, four
members of the Board of Directors to
serve for a term Of two years and to
hear the reports Of the officers OF the
association After the reading and
reception Of the, reports Of the Board
of Directors, Librarian and Treasurer,
the election of officers was proceeded
with. The election resulted in the
following officers being chosen for
the year President, D. 9. Weston
haver, Vice Presidents Il. Boyd Faux
ner and Mrs. J. S. Boak Secretary
Miss N. X. Weaver; Treasurer, Ed
ward Rutledge. The following were
elected to serve as members of the
Board Of Directors for term Of two
years: Rev. f.. M. Woods, Mrs. J. b.
DUOugTdSS, INeNs ~. - - u'ip "iA'A
Max Robinson.
Annual Report.
The Board of Directors of the Mar
tinsburg, Public Library Association,
in compliance with the constitution
of the Association, submits the fol
lowing report for the year ending Dec.
31st., 1900.
Accompanying this report are copies
of the respective reports, made by
the Librarian and Treasurer to the
Board, which will give in detail full
information in regard to their depart
ments. towing to the unfortunate hab
it on the part Of the members of the
Association of not attending the an
nual meetings, this report is almost
the only means of reaching the mem
bers. 1.-THE Board thereforefeels that it
is excusable for decending into details
in tthis report, regarding past man
agement and future prospects.
Finances being the most important
consideration, attention is first d.
rected to the improved condition in
this respect of the Association. Re-
ceipts from all sources during the year
have been S74S6 IS, the larger part of
which is due to the liberal and gen
erous response of the people to the
appeal made to them last October.
The sources of receipts and the items
of expenditure are classified in the
Treasurer's report for the informa-
ton of members.
Rent, Librarians salary and other
fixed charges have been met; one half
of the balance of the indebtedness
incurred for the original equipment of
books has been paid, leaving only
$40. 90 outstanding ; and very substan-
tial sums have been expended i'll adj
ding to the stock of books. In view
of the improved financial condition,
the Board has also allowed an increase
of twenty five per cent in the Libra
rian's salary, taking effect from the
first of last October.
Equally gratifying progress is shown
by the report of the Librarian. The
accessions of books discloses a list of
2017 books,a gain by gift and purchase
during the year of al. Government
publications, of which the Library
has large stock, are not included.
The Board, in its purchases, has
tried, and it believes with success,
to keep fully up with the current
progress in literature, and has acqulr-
ed so far as it could without lowering
the standard of excellence to which
it wishes to make the Library con-
form, all new books that gained any
prominence. To do this it has been
found necessary to make purchases
not less than twice a year, and in this
way, has been expended all the funds
not indispensibly required for opera
tionvcxpenses. The collection of fic-
ton and romantic literature, both
adult and juvenile, is the Board be
lieves, quite large enough to balance
than this one, in other fields; conse
uuently in the recent extensive pur
chases, an effort was made to broader
the scope and enhance the education
al usefulness of the Library
by adding chiefly to the depart
ment of history, travel, biogra
ply, science and general litera
ture. The circulation of books which
has been larger than ever before, ex
ceeded last year the fifteen Thousand
mark, number twice the population
of the city. and many times the mum
Der of volumes in the library. The in
creasing list of those holding borrow
ers cards also notes the expanding us'
and usefulness of the Library.
The board regrets that it has beer
unable to serve adequately the read