The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-05
VERY GOOD SHOWING MADE
Institution Literally Patronized and
Generously Remembered by
Many Kind Friends.
From Tuesdays Daily Gazette.

DllllASS MeAuoIldl library, Will De SUD
mitted to the city council. The re.
port is for the year ending September
80, 1902.
During the period covered by the
report the library was, open 3O4 days,
or every day, except Sundays and
legal holidays. While no record has
been kept of the daily attendance, the
number of visitors who have availed
themselves Of the privileges of the
department has been gratifyingly large
and is constantly increasing. Be-
cause of the system of access to the
shelves, no estimate can be made
that would be approximately correct
of the number of books and periodi-
Gals read in the library by visitors.
The largest daily circulation was
40 volumes, in March.
During the year 12,250 books were
given out, a monthly average of 1920
volumes.
The current periodical list numbers
40. OF these 81 are subscriptions
and 100 gifts. August stands credit
ed with the largest attendance of Wis
itors in the reading rooms. They
numbered 1924 adults. No record
was kept of the number of children,
but it was very large.
Eight hundred and two borrowers
cards were issued during the year.
OF this number 81 were cancelled for
various causes, leaving the present
number in use apparently 745. For
the purpose of making the library as
much of an educational institution as
possible arrangements have been
by which teachers of the
public schools are permitted to take
out six books at one time for use in
the school rooms.
Accessions.
The library now has 2,456 volumes.
Of these 1909 are gifts and LAT
were bought.
The proportions If each class add
ed are as follows:
Philosophy and religion, 104 vol
umes; history, 1852; geography and
travels, 81; sciences and arts, 1853;
language and literature, 21S; refer
ences, SIT; public and state docu-
ments, 295; fiction, ZIG.
Gifts.
Under this heading the report says
the library has been especially for
tunate. All who have made donations
cannot be mentioned individually, but
their kindness is duly appreciated.
Among the donations have been books
and pictures from the Billings family.
The publishers of the state have also
been exceedingly generous, as almost
every paper published in Montana has
placed the library on it's compliment
airy list. The home papers are par
t%icularly mentioned as having been
liberal, giving two copies daily and
also publishing book lists, ETC., free
of cost.
Miscellaneous.
One of the smaller rooms on the
ground floor of the building has been
placed at the disposal of the woman's
club for meeting purposes and is also
used by the w. G. T. U. as a place OF
meeting. During the winter months
it is further occupied by a German
reading class.
During the year two graduates of the
high school of the city have volunteer
ed their services for three months
each. Miss Winnifred Jones has been
employed regularly as assistant IL
brarian at a salary of $25 a month.
Miss Mabel Salisbury is now complet-
ing her third month and will be pre-
pared to act as substitute whenever
her services are needed.
RecapituIation.
Number of volumes bought, LAT.
1 VI olullC SlSCu, l,JDJ,
Mended in library, 1898.
Pamphlets, 1,614.
Cards issued, S02.
Cards cancelled, 81.
Now apparently in use, 745.
Volumes lost and paid for, 5.
Current periodical subscriptions, 81.
Gigts of oMntana periodicals, 6S.
Other gifts, Al.
Total currently received, 40.
Loans for Home Use.
Philosophy and religion, 211.
History, S37.
Biography, 4SS.
Geography and travels, 153.
A Sciences and arts. 709.