Evening journal., 1903-04-22
TAYLOR CHOSEN
PRESIDENT AGAIN
Reelected at Annual Meeting
of Managers OF the Free
Library
LIBRARIANS YEARLY REPORT
Shows Greater Increase in Number Of
Registered Borrowers and Volumes
Loaned Than Ever Before in History
Of the Institution.


Loaned Than Ever Before in History
k Of the Institution.
The regular monthly meeting of the
Board Of Managers Of the Wilmington
institute Free Library was held i'm the
librarians room last evening. In ad-
lition to the presentation Of the annual
reports of the officers and chairmen of
= ommittees of the board, the librarian
lead his annual reports and his monthly
#eport. From the latter the following
Iems are selected:
During March there were 666 new
ools added, and 1S9 withdrawn. a net
ncrease Of Az. The total circulation
5as 22,320, an increase of 1855 over
bat of March, 1902. This circula-
on was distributed as follows: Cen
e ral library, 1S,441; Rockford branch,
30, and schools 3,O19. From the
s chools the circulation was made as
blows: No. l. IS volumes; No. 2, 81
olumes; No. 5, 1O7 volumes; No. z,
20 volumes; No. s, 20 volumes; No. 0,
R5 volumes; No. 10, Al volumes; No.
!, 167 volumes; No. II, 10 volumes;
o. IA, 115 volumes; No. IS, 10S vol
mes; No. II, 140 volumes; No. is, 81
& olumes; No 49, 1873 volumes; No. 20,
volumes; No. 81, 144 volumes; No.
,, - volumes; No. %. 235 volumes;
o. "a, 272 volumes; No. 25. 19S vol
mes; No. 26, SO volumes; No. 27, 277
olumes; High School 1876 volumes;
Ugh School, ancient history class, 123
blumes.
The gifts to the library included the
blowing; From Charles NJ Curtis.
Dok plate: Delaware Historical So
ETY.. 30 volumes, 800 pamphlets and
periodicals; Delaware Secretary of
tate, pamphlets; Delaware State
ospital. / pamphlet; Anthony Hig-
ms. 13 periodicals; George b. Hynson,
volume, Historical Etchings of Mil
1rd;" Ellwood c. Jackson, 1 photo
aph; Miss Alice d. Lobdell, pamph-
{; w. II. Logan, as pamphlets; Mrs.
lillian G. Mahaffy, / pamphlet; DR..
w. Marshall, pamphlets; New
81 astle County WorlShouse, 8 pamph-
its; Professor George w. Twitmyer,
RmPhlet.
The annual report of the librarian Is
/ follows:
Annual Report of the Librarian,
1sO2-19Os.
b the Board of Managers of the Will
mington Institute.
IThe librarian presents the report Of
le Wilmington Institute Free Library
r the year March 1, 1902 to February
1903, covering the ninth year of its
lministration as a free library and the
cond Of the incumbency of the pres
{ librarian. The period covered has
en marked by greater increases in
number of registered borrowers
hd in the number of books loaned
an have been shown by any earlier
port The large gain in both these
ses has in part been obtained through
e extension of the school circulating
stem. This topic, together with cer-
in other new features that have
rived to increase the popularity of the
Drary. will have special mention in
dition. to comments on the stalls
ps given in the tables subjoined.
Contents and Accessories.
The accessories number 6,795 bound
lumes; but the Withdrawals were s.
:, 3 volumes. so that the net increase
2.576 brings the total strength of the
Irary up to 4S.S92 The largest single
em of the accessories is that of fic-
bn Q,S49 volumes), and the next, ju-
nile works C,692 volumes) In the
Sc of fiction, the Withdrawals (2,O6s
lumes), We're larger than the acces-
pms; and in the case of juvenile
DrlSs, the Withdrawals (1,575 vol
les), were only slightly exceeded by
accessions. These relatively large
ures for Withdrawals, especially in
case of fiction. are TO be explained
two ways. First it was found that
ere were large number Of titles, par
ularlv of the classics of literature
at were represented only by soiled
d worn copies of badly printed edi-
ms. In some cases a systematic
idy Of the shelves showed that
rks that would naturally be in much
mand had a relatively small circula-
N, though represented by a dispro-
rtionately large supply Of copies
nply because the editions were toe
attractive. In the case Of other
rlSs of commanding merit, the stock
altogether inadequate On the
Ter hand the shelves were burdeneo
IN many books, often represented by
humber of copies, once popular but
" as dead as their lack Of literary
rit deserves. The latter works have
en withdrawn absolutely IN tne cas'
the former an effort has been made
furnish enough clean copies of good
tions so that the supply will be a lit
IN advance of the demand. The H.
had been furnishing a fair sup
4 < of attractive copies Of popular sue
ies of doubtful literary value
3: Jugh this practice has not been re.
quished, yet the emphasis is no
" placed there, but has, perhaps
|&k< n shifted so that it is regarded a!
irst care to supply the demand foi
works Of undoubted literary value
further examination Of the table o.
litions (table Al shows a relativell
ge number in the class Literature
v0lumes) This is the res1it o
|z5 Drts to round out our collection b,
purchase OF complete editions o
worlds most famous writer's. Il
CONTINUED on Second Page.