Evening journal., 1902-04-16
LIBRARIAN MAKES
ANNUAL REPORT
Institute Free Library in
Good Shape
Work Of the Year Reviewed and I'M
prOyementS Desired Outlined by
Mr.. BOWerman

George +. BOwerman, librarian OF the
Institute Free Library, has submitted
mis- annual report to the president and
Board of Managers. II is as follows;
10 the President and Board of Mana
gers OF the Wilmington Institute:
The librarian presents the report Of
the Wilmington Institute Free Library
for the year March /, 1901, to February
Is. 1902. the eighth of its administra-
ton as a free library. In his report
last year he was Obliged to review a
ncriod which had closed before he be-
came librarian. Coming to Whining
ton March l6. 1901. he has since then
been in charge of the library. The
period has been characterized by rapid
growth in the collection and added in
terest on the part of the public, as
evinced by increased registration and
circulation. In addition to comments
on the subioined tables, which set forth
in detail some of the activities of the
library. a somewhat full statement
will be given concerning the most
striking phase OF the librarys work,
namely the childrens room. Closely
allied with the latter is the system of
sending books TO the schools. The
extension OF this work so that now
fourteen schools are in effect branches
will also receive special mention.
CONTENTS AND ACCEsSIONS.
To the SsS64 volumes reported last
year there have been added 7,O7S vol
umes: but 914 volumes have been with
drawn. so that the net total is 46,02S
Nor is this all of the library's re-
sources. During the past year the Ii.
brary. hitherto deficient in pamphlets
(eyeept government documents) has
received all by gift, 3.14l pamphlets
Many of these have been catalogueC
and are thus available to readers. OF
the 707S volumes added. 2.96S wer,
new titles. 1854 were additional copies
and 426 were replacements As wa.
the case last year a large portion O.
the additional copies We're OF books foI
the schools. The largest single class
of accessions. that Of juvenile litera
ture. numbering 4.153 volumes; but thil
IS again in large part explained by tn,
recent purchases for the schOolroon
libraries. Fiction comes next will
SOP, bound periodicals, of which sew
eral valuable Poole" sets have beef
purchased. numbered 531 volumes
The additions to sociology, numberin,
437. were chiefly educational works
secured at the request of the superin
tendent OF schools.
During the year II was discovere
that the library had sustained seriou
injury I'm the way OF extensive theft
and mutilations. These depreciation
were traced TO one man who was ono
employed in the library and latterl
was a constant visitor. When suspi
cions against him developed into well
grounded belief in his guilt. his hous
was searched and plenty of librar
property was discovered there. o
trial he plead guilty TO theft and wa
sentenced to three years imprisor
ment A few books. the property {
the library, have been generously rC
stored by persons who had Innocent
purchased them Perhaps the mo.
serious damage sustained was to tn
Biographical section. where a lare
proportion of the volumes have bee
shorn of portraits. A large portion {
our sets of magazines have also bee
so badly mutilated that hundreds {