The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-12-02
RETRENCHMENT
HIT1THE LIBRARY
HILO READING ROOM SUFFERS
MUCH FROM THE HARD TIMES
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED.

HILO, Nov. 29.-There was fairly
large attendance of subscribers and
members of the Hilo Library and Read
ing Room Association Saturday even
! ing in the library parlors to hear the
reports of the officers for the past year
and to elect new officers for the en-
suing year.
President Mrs. L. Severance called
the meeting to order and Secretary w.
II. Smith read the minutes of the last
annual meeting which occurred Novem-
Der 1st, 1902. The annual meeting last
year had been omitted, so that the re-
ports of officers covered a period of
two years. Treasurer L. Severance
showed the financial standing of the in
stitution to be cash on hand $66.75. The
receipts for the year ending November,
1904, including subscriptions, transient
and otherwise, amounted to $793.12 Out
of this amount there had been expend-
ed for Librarians, $475; janitor. 1924:
books, $50; periodicals. $7465; 'insur-
ance, $36; electric lights and incidentals
$6L10, leaving a balance on hand of
S66.75. The average monthly subscrip-
tions from readers and patrons of the
library was $25, which it was shown
was insufficient to meet the running
expenses of the Association.
Mrs. n. E. Tracy, who is temporary
librarian, made an interesting report.
The annual subscribers number So the
transients 46, and the circulation Of
volumes, $500 during the past five
months. Thirty-three books were pur-
chased and 80 books were presented
by different donors. The average daily
attendance was 25, the largest attend
ance was 81 and the smallest 4, which
occurred one Sunday afternoon. There
are seventeen out-of-town subscribers,
who receive books delivered to them
promptly and without charge by the
courtesy of the Volcano Stables.
Mrs L. Severance, then briefly refer
red to the work of the past year and
the usefulness of the library in the
community. Her remarks are in part
as follows:
I'VE come to the close of the year
1904 with a feeling of regret, for it has
not been a prosperous year for our Ii
brary. The spirit of retrenchment has
been abroad in the land and has struck
our institution. Money has been scarce
and we have been lettering on the
verge of bankruptcy. We have been
obliged to close our doors in the morn
ing and have not been able to meet the
demand for new books.
| 1--WE were also called upon to part
with our librarian, one who had served
us for years with wholehearted con-
secration to the work that she loved.
She expresses a yearning to be back
and a readiness to come at our call.
In,
securing the services of Mrs. Tracy,
who has shown an alertness ana a live
| ly interest in the work and who has
| been diligent in securing new MEM
bers. Your president regrets her I'M
avoidable absence from her post and
| fears that it has hindered the work of
the Library.
Let us expect great things for the
! year 1905 This library Is a power for
good in the community and it's inf1u-
ence is far-reaching for we send our
books into the country as far as Hama
kua and Olaa by the kindly assistance
of the Volcano Stables, without eX-
pense to the library. Let us each one
work heartily for the library and give
what we are able. Let us interest all
about us i'm it and we will soon see it's
| doors open all day and its rooms filled
with readers We want it to be a help
to school children and teachers, as we'll
as those without homes and to all who
feel the need of good reading and new
books. With faith and with hope we
look forward to a prosperous year and
let us work to make a good record"
The president, Mrs. Severance, then
announced the election of officers,
which resulted in the selection of the
following: President, Mrs. L. Sever
ance; ce-president, c. c. Kennedy;
secretary A. b. Lindsay; treasurer, H.
Deacon; auditor, E. n. Holmes; trus-
tees, ]. A. Scott, F. S. Lyman, E. N.
Holmes, DR.. Francis Wetmore and
Mrs. Levy Lyman.
The matter of raising funds for the
maintenance of the library was left to
the trustees, who will probably make
an effort to this end by popular sub
scription.