The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-03-08
LIBRARY bUAku.
Annual Meeting Held and Off
GERS Elected.
The Report of the Librarian for the
Year Shows the Effects of
Cramped Finances

| Inc annual meeting OF the llUrdry
board was held Monday afternoon at
the library rooms.
DR.. M. B. Wood was reelected presi-
dent, W. D. Willard vice president,
E. L. Patterson secretary and Miss
Minnie A McGraw librarian.
Miss McGraw submitted her annual
report, which shows falling off in the
number of books read as compared
with last year, for the reason that the
boards financial condition would not
allow it to buy many new books OF
keep the old ones in repair. Fortu-
nately, there is brighter outlook for
the future.
The following is Miss McGraw's re-
port:
| To the Board of Directors of the
Mankato Public Library. Gentlemen
Following is the report of the librarian
for the fiscal year ending Feb %, 1901,
the seventh annual report since the
library was established.
| The tables which usually form a
part of this report will be found at its
close. They show the receipts and ex-
penditures of the library, its accessions
and such other facts regarding the
| past year as it is customary to call to
your attention.
Cataloging-Our small purcha ses
and decreased patronage have allowed
time to make needed change in our
card catalogue, viz: From a class to a
dictionary plan, and also to make up
much of the accumulated work in this
department.
Circulation-The constant handling
of the popular works of fiction has
necessitated the withdrawal of several
hundred volumes to await repairs and
| the funds at our disposal for new books
have been used principally in supply
ing this lighter but important class OF
reading.
Mr.. Stout of Wisconsin says the
majority of the inmates of their in
sane asylums are farmers wives and
he claims it is not work but the mono
tony of their lives that is responsible.
To prevent this he has contributed
large sums to the travelling libraries.
People in the country are not the
only ones who need diversion. Prior
to this last year our circulation of
| books was greater each month than it
was the corresponding month of any
preceding year, but so few additions
have been made this year it has
caused great decrease in Giro ulation.
Reference Department-This depart
ment has grown slightly, the accessions
being bound magazines also Groves
Dictionary of Music and Musicians,
which was secured with portion of
the concert fund.
Reading Room-On account of the
difficulty in obtaining occasional num-
bers of the old magazines it has seem
ed unwise to discontinue many that
we have been taking for we will need
them to complete on files
Gifts-The principal gift of the year
was the proceeds of Mrs. Snyder's con-
cert. Several people have contributed
magazines or book or more. The
Daily Free Press, the Daily Review
and the Semi Weekly Post are now to
be found in the reading room and in
addition we are to also receive as gifts
bound copies of the weekly papers
from the publishers Of the same peri
odicals. There is no history of To-
cality equal to the newspapers and
L
No changes have been made by us
in rooms, administration, rules or in our
| relation with the schools There is
much we would like to do and it has
been discouraging year to library
patrons, board and employees and Mr..
Carnegie's generous offer of $40, 00C
donation for a building and the
prompt acceptance of conditions there
| RI for animal SI1nnNrt nv honor
able city council come at very oppor-
| tune moment
With foundation for hopes for the
with renewed zeal.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE A. M'GRAW,
Librarian.
There was a total of 6,426 books
accustomed during the year, fiction
leading.
The total number of readers was
10, OLA, and the total number of books
read was SO, 67S.
The decrease in circulation from
last year is s., 24S The otal.decrease in
fiction is 9, 579 The total decrease in
juvenile books is 1913. Some classes
have gained.
The library was open 800 days.
The average daily circula ton over
1876 smallest circulation Aug. 16, 1900, 40,
largest circulation March "a. 1900, 300
No. new patrons during last year, 622
No. of magazines bound, 1876.
Cash account with library board:
eceipts-From fines, $S3. 10; for re-
served books, &c. 10; balance note G. A,
Dress, ST.; Mrs. Snyder's concert,
$2S; Mrs. A. J. Veigei donation, 81
book sold, $1.s5; deposits, $S7; non
resident, 81 total, 1854. 30.
Disbursements returned,
$27; deposited with general funds,
$137. 55; total, $164 55.
STILL THEY COME.
Mankato is Attracting Attention in the
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