The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-02-07
STATUS OF
THE LIBRARY
--------------
Encouraging RepOrtFrom Sec
retary Of Association.
A WORTHY INSTITUTION
But Funds Are Needed for Its Enlarge.
ment and Maintenance = No
Word Prom Carnegie.
A WORTHY INSTITUTION

To the board OF trustees Of the As.
tor.a Public Library Association, ac,
cordlng TO the requirements Of OuI
constitution, / hereby present tn,
secretary's annual report for the yeai
ending February /, 1901.
We are stIll growing, slowly. II may
be. but nevertheless surely The lb.
rary was incorporated In 1892. 80 thai
We have lived through nine years Of
varying degrees Of prosperity, but al.
ways advancing steadily in all lines
We have added new book cases and
made various other Improvements dur
ing the year.
the number OF people enjoying the
advantages u the free reading room
for the year Is 1900. The number ol
magazines. periodicals and papers reg
uIarly subscribed FOR and donated 10 thl
the reading room Is Al. Number Of
hooks in the reference library, PSI
Some valuable books have been pur-
chased for and contributed to this de-
partment during the year. Numher Of
hooks added 20 the circulating library
during the past year, III. Number of
books taken out on subscription, 1896.
Number Of books now in the circulating
library, 2n32.
Balance on hand Feb. /, 1900 S2l0 30
Total income from city. 1900 90
Entertainments ........... 234 %
Library earnings and do
cations ...........,...... 383 - gi7 81
Total expense. .....................i0 036 Oh
Balance IN bank Feb. /. 1901. .s9l 6g
We understand that the proposition
has been made 10 amend the ty
charter to read that not over $50
Ter month be granted by the city coun-
city 10 the library.
We think II a grave mistake that our
city charter was not amended 10 read
tas in the original section referring To
the natter that mot above seventy
five dollars per month be allowed the
Astoria Public Library association"
Under this section the association was
granted forty dollars per month. and
this was obtained by petition being
presented TO the city council signed by
majority Of the leading taxpayers
Of the city.
II is not necessary for me 10 en-
large upon the need for well equipped
library in any progressive city; all the
principal towns of the coast are sup
porting fine, free libraries, and as pat
riotic Astorians we wish 10 keep in
line with our neighboring cities.
In view OF the fact that our allow
ance from the city was so materially
reduced, at the suggestion Of friends
a letter was written Mr., Carnegie, stat
Ing our financial condition and asking
his aid This was endorsed by the
proper city officials. but brought no re-
sponse from this great founder of lib
raries.
The steady growth of the library and
its appreciation by the resident public
being so apparent at the present time
have encouraged us to start a build
ing fund.
Considering the cost Of maintaining
the free reading room, AMI otherwise
keeping the library up 10 date. II was
decided that % per cent Of the earn
ings from entertainments ,biy lie set
aside for this purpose.
Fifteen dollars was subs6 rited in the
association and three other fiends who
learned OF the enterprise.
helped to enlarge the amount 70 $a3 &c,
which is now on deposit as a nucleus
for a library building.
In the removal to Portland last year
of the late Mrs. Narclssa White Kinney
the board felt it had lost valuable
and indefatigable worker. That
she was not uunln1 III Of the obstacles
with which we would meet with In mis-
work and that the struggling lille liE-
rary was ever dear to her is made man.
fest by her generous bequest of $500
II is not stated in the official notice
for what particular purpose she intend
this, but it will IN all probability he
added to the building lInd.
At the regular meeting of the board,
January 18th, the following resolut ons
were adopted:
Whereas. 1t has pleased our Heav-
enly Father to remove from our miGst
Mrs. N. W. Kinney;
Resolved, That we deeply regret tie
death of our friend and fellow worker,
)ne who was for so many years an aal-
nest and valued member Of the As
.oria Public Library association. and
We hereby tender our deepest sympa-
by to the hereavad family and friends.
M. w. WINGATE,
III. A. PRAEL,
IN. L. UPSHUR,
DORA BRADOLET.
Com. A. P. l.. A."
An appendix to the last catalogue we
EEL now to be great necessity. The
,ard catalogue Is the best known sys-
em. and though 1t means good deal
II hard work, we hope to earn 1t be-
'ore another year is past.
MARY w. WINGATE,
Secretary Library Assn.
g. ~ EXTENSJON