Evening journal., 1902-04-16

new volumes. often entire sets. must
be purchased. generally at greatly en-
hanced prices. A beginning has been
made at replacement, but the task is a
formidable one and requires much time
and more money than can be spared
from present book appropriations.
With the appropriation Of last year
II was possible to keep fairly well
abreast of the new publications most
required in a public library of this
character and at the same time devote
some funds to Strengthening the col
lection at it's weakest points. With
increased cost of new books through
the operation of the new net price sys-
tenn adopted by the American Publish
ers' Association, with greater demands
for books through increased registra-
ton and circulation and enlarged and
enlarging work for the schools, and
with n natural desire not only to re-
pair the damage done but TO round
out and make more efficient our col
lection. il is difficult to see how wished
for results can be fully realized with
present resources.
MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS -
REGISTRAT1ON.
There we're $500 cards issued to reg
lstered borrowers during the year.
From a net registration of 1921 at
the close of the previous year S44 cards
were cancelled or expired, 20 that the
net registration at the close of the year
was 1871. Among the borrowers
we're 712 persons not residents OF VIII
mington. an increase OF 157. There
we're 179 special cards issued to teach
ers in place of 1888 the year before. In
the case of pupils 7,166 held cards as
against 5,622 the year previous.
USE OF THE LIBRARY-CIRCUI4A-
TION.
The total number of volumes circu.
lated for home use was 203,SS9, a gair
Of 1880. The central library sent out
1875. .OG6 volumes, compared with 1872
615 the previous year and 1866, the
figures of the first year of its admins
tration as a free library. The centra
library was open $40 days with a daily
average circulation of 63S. The per
centage OF adult fiction to the entire
circulation again showed a decrease
the comparative figures are 4S.53 las
year and 51S the year previous. TIT
percentage of juvenile circulation wal
considerably increased, advancing from
384 to 37.2. A fairer method of stat
ing the percentage of fiction circula
ton land the one adopted by mos
other lbraries) is the one which com
bines Juvenile and adult fiction. b.
this method il Is found that the fiction
circulation of the central library wa
$50. On analyzing the circulation o
the two departments of adult and ju
venile literature. It was found that fic
tion formed 7SS per cent. of the forme
class and 6Z67 per cent of the latter
REFERENCE USE.
No account has ever been kept of tn
use OF books, periodicals and news
papers In the library or the number o
visitors to the reading rooms. TIL
fact that all of the resources of the Ii
brary. except comparatively sma
, number OF books in two locked case
b and in show cases. are directly acce'
sible to readers would render any pla
OF taking count of library use almo'
; impossible. Several shelves of book
: have from time to time been reserve
: for reference purposes for the New
3 Century Club courses and through tn
entire school year the pedagogica
b works included in the syllabi OF lee
b lures given by the superintendent {
3 schools to the teachers. have been rC
served A recent writer has pointe
ont that too much weight should NJ
3 be attached to comparatively sma
81 home circulation of books other tha
Z fiction. Here is a case in point SUI
p pose fifty copies of each book on th
superintendents list could have bee
t bought and circulated among the 2S
g teachers of the city. nearly all {
Q whom made large use of III
. small number OF copies we hav'
( What an addition it would have mad
q to the circulation of the class "Soc
( ologyl" Therefore although we hay