The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-22
800 BOOKS ADDED
EACH MONTH
TO SHELVES OF LIBRARY.
DONE THROUGH THE BoDLEYIAN
LIBRARY SYSTEM.

Wide Range of Subjects Placed at
Disposal of Readers Through New
ArranEement-Ncw Books to BE
Bought and Old Ones to Be Re-
pIaced-Library Committee Makes
Glowing Report-ROutine Business
Occupied Remainder of Session OF
Board of Managers.
Each month hereafter 500 new books
will be placed in the public library at
CASTOR and Whitaker streets. The
books will be secured through the Bod
! leyian Library system and each month
the old books will be replaced by new
ones. In this manner the latest books
published will be placed at the dis
posal of the readers at the library. In
addition to this action nothing of I'M
usual importance was transacted at
the meeting of the Board of Library
Managers last night.
The following members OF the board
were present at the meeting: Messrs.
Gamble, Ashmore, Travis, Mum, Cum
ningham Thomas, Witcover and Law
renee. After several matters of rou-
tine business had been transacted the
attention of the board was called to
the fact that the list of books called
for during the past month clearly
demonstrated that the Bodleyian Lii
brary system and the books secured
| through it were exceedingly popular.
The BodIeyian Library Plan.
Nearly all of the books which were
| in the greatest demand during the past
month were books which had been
furnished by this system. Under the
arrangement made by the board with
the Bodleyian Library, 250 books were
supplied monthly to the library and
placed at the disposal of it's readers.
| The majority of these books were the
latest popular works of fiction, and
readers were kept constantly in touch
with what was going on in this partlc-
ular department. The books outside or
| flCtion's realm had also proven very
popular and through the workings OF
the Bodleyian Library many books
were placed at the disposal of readers
which could not have been so prompt
| ly secured through any other arrange
ment.
On motion it was decided to increase
| the number of books secured each
month to 500, doubling the number Sc
|
increase will allow of a greater selec-
ton of books and a wider range OF
subjects can be secured. The books
| furnished will. of course, be principal
ly works of fiction. though there will
be a large number of books selected
from the other departments OF htera-
tura.
Library Committees Report.
Mr.. Otis Ashmore chairman of the
Library Committee, then presented the
following report for December to the
board: The total number of books
which had been withdrawn from the
library was $685. Of these books fic-
ton was far in the majority, 2,73S be-
longing to that class. History ranked
second in popularity, with a total of
243 books withdrawn.
The remainder of the books were
| scattered among the different depart
mems. Books on literature and literary
criticism ranked next to historical
books. the total number of this class
being Sc. Natural science came next,
with a total of II books withdrawn,
while the fine arts ranked very close,
with a total of 10. The other depart
ments were fairly evenly divided. The
useful arts had books withdrawn, re-
ligion, 8; philosophy, 5; sociology, 2,
and philology, 2.
There had been 121 cards issued dur
ing December, showing an increase Of
the same number in the regular read
ers at the library. The total number
of cards reported issued at the last re-
port of Mr.. Ashmore was 1927. The
total number issued to date since the
opening of the library now reaches O.
34S.
Many Visitors to Library.
Besides these readers who draw
books from the library there have been
| an unusually large number of visitors,
engaged in reading reference books,
works of fiction and the current mag
azines. The total number of visitors
to the library during December was
4937, making the total number of visits
since the library was opened 25 697.
This showing is one which is highly
gratifying to the committee and is in
| dicative of the popularity into which
the library has sprung.
During December $3.50 was collected
from fines imposed for holding books
out more than the length of time al
lowed. The amount collected from re-
serve notices, etc, was $3.50, bringing
the total amount of money collected
| from different sources to $3120. The
Library Committee has visited the
l rooms seventy-four times during De-
cember and on all occasions have found
number of readers at the different
brary in excellent condition. The re-
port of Mr.. Ashmore is one of the best
that has yet been given by the COM
mittee.
VIII Buy New Books.
In addition to the report summarized
above, the Library Committee report
ed that number of standard books.
especially those which ranked among
the most popular. had become so worn
from constant usage that they were no
longer in good condition. Bindings had
been worn through, pages torn loose
and other lesser and unavoidable dam
age done
There was also a demand for certain
books which the library did not own
i and which the committee thought
should be placed on the shelves as soon
as possible. These books, together with
those which must be replaced, had been
compiled by the chairman of the COM
mittee and the complete list was pre-
sented to the board. On motion it was
unanimously decided to replace the old
books with new ones and to put on file
the books which were reported as need
| ed.