The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-06-26
THE ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report of Directors of the
Gilbert N. Simmons Library
Sent to City Council.
YEAR SHOWS A MARKED ADVANCE
Many New Volumes Have Been Added tc
the Library and Many New Cards Have
Been Issued.

The annual report of the directors of
the Gilbert M. Simmons library was
sent to the City Council at the ad-
journed meeting of that body Monday
evening and the report of the different
officers will be of great interest to the
people Of the city. The report shows
that the library, both from financial
and library basis, has been run on
broad yet economical policy andthat the
directors have made good use of the
funds entrusted to their care during
the year.
Of first interest to the public is the
report of Clara P. Barnes, as Librarian
in charge of the library. Mrs. Barnes
reports that the,success of the wear is
shown IN the increased use of the read
ing room and reference books and in
the increase of the general circulation
of the library. The addition of books
on science and engineering has proved
of value and the popularity of these
works is constantly increasing. The
effort to bring about purchase of
duplicate sets of books to be sent to
other stations of the library has not as
yet been carried out, but some effort
will be made to introduce this plan
during the coming year.
During the year the library was
open for circulation sos days with d
circulation of 1913 volumes making
an average circulation of 154 volumes.
The largest weekly circulation was
1,185 and the largest monthly 5,0O7.
The reading and reference room was
open 364 days, being closed only on the
day of the funeral of President Nc
Kin1ey. The readers mum bered 10, 177,
making an average daily attendance
of As. The average attendance for
Sundays was %. Eight hundred and
thirty-seven new cards were issued to
borrowers during the year, making
2,554 since the opening of the library.
Only 176 cards have been retired in the
two years. Sixty-four school teachers
in the city and county have teacher
cards and draw books for the use of
their pupils.
An inventory of the books shows
that during the year but four books
were missing and some effort will be
made to find them before they are
placed on the list as lost. During the
year the library received one gift in
the way of us volumes from the Wo-
mans club and many gifts Of single
books from individuals. The report
shows that the number of books IN the
library at the present time is II, 737
and Of this NUMBER 3,543 have been
added during the past year.
There are at present fifty-eight news
papers and periodicals received regu-
larry at the library. Two thousand
FIVE hundred and ffty-six books have
been repaired during the year by
the library force.
The fines collected during the year
amounted to S177.27.
The total circulation for the year
was. 1923 volumes, of which q, SAC
were chi1dren's books and 1873 were
books for older readers.
The number of volumes loaned tc
teachers for the uses Of the schools
was 1884.
The report of the treasurer of the
board was also presented and showed
that the finances of the library were in
good condition. The total cash in
hand at the present time amounts to
81, 558.71. In the special book fund,
as provided by Mr.. Simmons, there is
total of $1O,O69.08. The amount of
the fund expended during the year
was So, 681.43.
The total receipts of moneys during
the year from all sources was 81 1879. Oh.
The principal expenses were for the
payment of salaries of librarians, the
purchase of supplies and for the re-
binding of books. All these things
being paid there is balance on hand
of 81, 558.71.
In all the reports show that the IL
brary is in splendid condition and the
members of the board deserve great
credit for their good work.