Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-05
The Public Library is Fast
Becoming Such.
MR.. fLINT'S REPORT
RETIRING LIBRARIAN GIVES DE-
TAILS OF THE WORK DONE.
Gratifying Increase in the Use of the
Reference and Children's Rooms
Special Gifts.

tees and filed with the District Commits
siOners along with the report of the
board of trustees of that institution, gives
interesting details of the operations of the
library during the past fiscal year. 1t
was prepared by Mr.. Weston Flint, who
retired from the post of librarian recently.
Mr.. Flint says. in part:
During the year 2IS,11S books were issued
for home use, an average of 2S,1S2 volumes
month This makes total increase of
63,927 volumes over last year, and an aver
age monthly increase of 5,32I
The average number of books in the IL
brary throughout the year was 61,54, which
means that the entire circulation was about
four and half times the contents of the
library. For 30I days during the year the
library open for use, with an average
daily issue of 9O3 books, which is an increase
of 165. The largest daily circulation of
1876 on February 90 1904, and the smallest,
of 262, on December "a, 1903. are both In
excess of last years record. March, as
has been usual for four years out of six.
was the month with the largest circulation.
The monthly totals have been more stable;
variations of only 5000, as compared with
nearly 10000 for 1SO2-1903
The use of fiction has increased 20 per
cent Qncludng juvenile books, until 1t is at
present S3.7 per cent of the total cfrcula-
ton. No doubt the popular aversion to the
use of the typewriter catalogue explains,
in part, this large proportion or fiction IN
the circulation, because in the open-Shelf
room fiction is accessible. and many prefer
TO pick out a story book where their choice
is visible rather than trouble themselves
with the educative card catalogue. Thls
aversion can hardly be due to anything but
unfamiliarity with the catalogue-the com
plant that so intricate system cannot De
readily understood without much trouble
and a waste of time which might otherwise
be spent in actual examination OF DOCKS
themselves. in which latter way a choice
might be made with discretion. or the two
hn
book or books whose titles and authors
they know and those who come for some
book books, and who. from a variety
of desires are well satisfied only when they
have handled volumes, the former are, tor
the most part familiar with the card cata-
logue and the latter should be earnestly
counseled to acquaint themselves Win IT,
to try its value for, whatever other Qoupts
there NAV be about the '.closed-shef' sys-
tenn it is hardly TO be doubted that the in
telligent use of a competent card cata-
logue profits both reader and attendant
Registration.
There are at the end of the year 33,9SS
card holders drawing books from the IL
brary. an addition during the year OF
1893. This number represents only those
who are actual users of the library.
In reality the number OF llprary caIus IL
sued has been S.3SS. reduced to 1888 by the
number of cards which have been aban-
doned by expiration of registration or by
death or removal from the city OF the
holders. The number of duplicate caros-
9t6-issued for non-fction is evidence OF the
desire of readers for an enlarged use OF
library facilities.
The hours of registration have remained
unchanged and the daily average is slightly
decreased. The reading public whlch uses
the library may be estimated. under one
g1Nat condition, at 7O,550 which is the sum
of the registered borrowers and OF those
w1o have used the reading room; the con-
hain
borrower and visitor to the reading room.
Even without reduction because of this
condition, such number does not repre-
sent the people of the District who ought
to know and use the library.
Cataloguing.
Constant revision mas been necessary to
keep the cards in accord with new forms
and subjects. Separate catalogues with at
least six thousand cards have been pre-
pared for French literature, fiction and
poetry. and for German, Italian and Span
ish books in the library. The 260S3 new
cards have been copied on the typewriter
and filed in the duplicate catalogue for the
use of the public. Again. second duplicate
is recommended for the childrens room,
where the younger readers may learn
through it, as well through contact with
their own books on the shelves. the ways
of the library.
Early in the year deposit station was
established here for the catalogue cards
printed by the Library of Congress. Those
already received 10000 (the number print
ed during the last four years. have been
alphabeted and placed on file in special
room. In addition the library received
weekly a package of the cards of books
catalogued during the previous week at the
Library of Congress. Thus, in time, the
Public Library will offer, besides its own
catalogue, complete catalogue of the Lii
brary of Congress. an addition of inesti-
mable comparative value to the library and
the public.
Children's Room.
Owing to limited force it has been impos-
sible to open the larger room for the chill
dren in the basement. All the arrangements
for use have been completed, with tables,
chairs and shelving around the entire room,
which measures fifty by sixty feet. The at
tendance. as was stated in the last report,
has not been so large as 1t might be under
the rule excluding children under twelve
years of age from the use of the room The
plan of making the rule depends upon
grades In school or some degree of educa-
ton rather than mere age is suggested. The
larger room may make the change easier
in the near future.
The attendance for eleven months during
which statistics were kept was 5314S a
daily average of 1874. The proportion of fic-
ton issued was 81 per cent an increase
over the last year of ) per cent Among
children's books which are classified under
philosophy and religion" of which $50
were issued. are titles such as "A Primer
of Right and Wrong" Character and Con-
duct" Bufinch's Age of Fable" Stories
From the Old Testament and Sunday
Reading for the Young"
Additions have been made to the library
OF over 600 Juvenile books, some of them
recently published, most of them duplicates
or new editions of the best and most popu-
lar volumes all eady on the shelves for the
children. fortunately. and unlike their elders
do not clamor for new books. 1t seems al
most impossible to supply the demand for
Grimm's fairy tales and for Lang's collec-
lions, the Red, Blue Green fairy books.
Louisa Alcott's books are always out"
and among the non-fiction many duplicate
copies are required of 'LongfelIow's
Poems. Boards Handy Books 'HiIrs
Fighting a Fire" Careers of Danger and
Daring" by Moffatt: Coffin's BOYS of 70"
Brooks True Stories of Washington, Lin
coin, Grant" etc, and Baldwin's ''Old Greek
Stories"
a terrestrial globe has been acquired for
reference, and is frequently consulted by
boys in particular. Its instructive powers
might well be increased If there We're more
opportunity for individual attention given
TO the children. Every effort has been made
TO assist them by special lists of books for
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Washingtons
birthday Decoration day, Flag day and the
Fourth of July, by the Perry and Cosmos
pictures, OF which five six hundred have
been secured, including portraits of famous
men. pictures OF the places of their BIRTH
ueath and achievements, scenes from his
tory. copies of famous paintings colored
plates of birds, butterflies and flowers and