The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-24

cut off from the hospital appropriation.
The report continues as follows:
The assessed value of the property of
the people of the city and the income
from other sources being larger now than
during the year past, / am informed that
the finances OF the city are in better con-
dition than when the application was
made to the board for relief, ana it is
hoped that another application, will prob
ably soon be made by the executive COM
mittee, with the approval of the trus-
tees will be successful.
1t has now been demonstrated that the
library is complete success, and that
it's blessings are appreciated by the peo-
pie. and it is hoped that the authorities
Of the city will see their way to give it
timely and adequate support.
The insurance for the vast year has
been only SIS ,00O whereas the cost of the
building, furniture and books consider
ably over $4,000, it ought to be insured
for not less than 100000, which would
make the expense for insurance 5000 in
stead of $3.50. AS the books, from con-
tinual USE will require rebinding moro
and more in the future, and the furni-
ture will have to be repaired CT re-
painted from time to time, an appropria-
ton from the city of $125 per month will
be very moderate estimate; and in view
OF the fact that fifteen or twenty thous-
and people have access to and use OF the
books, it is thought by the managers of
the institution that the authoritiessof the
city could not better apply $3.50 annually
of it's income than in keeping up and in
Eoia IF nf q
most valuable institutions.
THE OTHER REPORTS.
Is The report of the executive commit
tee was made through the chairman, Mr..
S. f. Mordecai and is in part as follows:
The income of the corporation is wholly
inadequate to the operating expenses an
der the most economical management
and but for the fact that so far Mr. r. F.
Raney has supplemented the income OUT
Of his own private means, the library
could not have been kept open.
The committee calls attention to the
fact that it is necessary that some rule
be adopted as to the disposition of books
which have been in houses where a con-
tagious disease existed while the books
were there such as scarlet fever. smallpox
and diptheria, and as to the liability of
that such books be not received back into
the library
The report of the treasurer, Mr.. H. W.
Jackson, shows in detail the figures pre-
viously stated.
The report of the Librarian, Miss Jen-
ME H. Coffin. gives number of interest
ing figures. 1t says:
AT the close of our first fiscal year,
ending November Goth, 1901, l think we
can look back upon our progress with
satisfaction.
Since last April Miss benson has given
us her services every Saturday, having
applied to the executive committee for
the privilege of working these hours in
the library without compensation other
than the experience received in library
work.
In September, after several months
work, We had ready for the public
finding list of the fiction contained in
the library, the printing of which cost
the library about $50, and am sorry to
say only few of them have SO far been
sold.
The aggregate circulation of books du-
ring the term mentioned was 34,S29 vol
umes, an average of about 1856 daily. The
largest circulation in any one day was
pa, and the smallest SO. The percentage
of circulation in the different classes
ranged from one-tenth of one percentum
of philology, to sixty-four per centum Of
fiction.
During the year 2,195 persons, by regis
tration, have obtained borrowers cards.
Of this number 1859 are adults and sos !
under eighteen, requiring guarantors'
cards.
Two hundred and thirty residents be-
came borrowers by making temporary
deposit of $500 each.
AS nearly as l can estimate so people
have used the reading room of the lib
rary daily.
The library has purchased thirty-two
periodicals and has had three given to
it, making a total number of thirty five
The library subscribes to only one news
paper, but four other papers are received
regularly free of charge.
The periodicals on file are literally
used, not only for general reading, but
also for reference.
There have been 1884 books recon-
mended for purchase, 102 of which have
been ordered and placed on the shelves.
In our annual inventory, completed
November 1st, only one book was mis-
sing, other than this the library mas
suffered no loss except that caused by
wear and tear.
The space upon our shelves is now
nearly exhausted, and other stacks should
be purchased at an early date
GRAIN AND PROVISIONS.