Evening journal., 1905-04-26
ANNUAL REPORT
OF LIBRARIAN
Increase in the Number of
Books Circulated During
the Past Year
READINGMORE SERIOUS LITERATURE

The annual report OF Librarian Bailey
OF the Institute Free Library, shows a
gratifying Increase In the number OF
books circulated during tho past year.
As no special EFFORT was made 20 increase
the circulation It Is fair 20 assume that
the library has hrmer hold than ever
before on the affections Of the people OF
wilmington.
During the year there were added to
the library 5,Sii volumes. Deducting 2'5SS
volumes withdrawn. the net increase
makes the total number Of volumes in the
library 5L6S9 The largest single item Of
accesslons was that OF juvenile works
2.527 volumes. OF which i.225 were bought
for use In the public schools. and the next
largest was fiction. 70i volumes.
Several sets OF the works Of classic au-
thors were added during the year and the
fine additions OF such authors were with
drawn from the regular shelves and
placed on shelves IN the reference room
whore they form the beginning Of a IL
brary OF standard authors. Various edi-
tlons OF works that have lost their value
because superseded by works which are
more attractive IN form and more ae-
curate In information were withdrawn. AT
present the shelves contain very few
books that have not a real value for some
member OF the community, and the total
OF 5i.G39 volumes forms an excellent work
ling library with little or no deadwood.
MANY NEW CARDS ISSUED.
During the year, 4.05g new cards were
ISSUED to registered borrowers OF which
ii2 were for the Rockford branch. After
deducting cancelled cards and those which
have expired under the three year limit
tho net registration at the close OF the
year was id.g72. including go at Rockford,
l5.Si7 public school pupils, 154 teachers.
and S2i out-of-town borrowers.
INCREASE IN CIRCULATION.
Circulation for the year was 222.556 and
Increase Of 9.725 over last year. For the
lcentral library the circulation was 2o3,9n,
Ian Increase OF 1904. This makes the larg-
est circulation IA tho history OF the CEN
tral library. February. the last month Of
the year. had daily average OF S23, the
Largest daily average of any month since
tho library was made free.
READING SERIOUS LITERATURE.
In commcn with other public libraries
throughout the country, the statistics
show a decided tendency on the part Of
tie public to read more serious literature.
lThe percentage of the circulation OF ho-
! tlon in this library decreased from 81 3'
per cent 10 5Oi2 The percentage Of iuvo'
nile circulation also shows a decrease
while al other classes with one eXcep.
ton. show increased percentages. rh,
largest increases were In the ,lasses Ct
useful Lsts and literature. IN useful ART
tho circulation increased from i,7ds las
year TO $50. An increasing number %
mechanics In the manufacturing establish
meets Of the city are iearlng that spoeia
hooks along their lines OF work are IN th
library and Gun be borrowed or consult
/ Cd FREQ CT cost.
NON PRESIDENTS
Tho heard OF managers long ago tx
tended the privileges OF the library L
readers and students outside the city am
there are now S2a out-o.-town borrowers
While rrost OF these are in New Castl
o county sone are in other parts os Deia
. ware and pennsylvania.
~ RULES or THE LIBRARY.
Attention was called in the las. annua
IA'INiA ~ AiN Allui1 AAAfa 'ANNAAiN wi
/, rowing privileges. The rule allowing an
- borrower TO take as many boaSs totht
: than juvenile or fictlon) as he might nee
I and 10 keep them for an indefinite periS'
by giving notice at the desk. has prove
u very popular. Many have ayaled them
+ selves OF the privilege AMI no ere ha
l. taken Undue advantage II ,ae iibeialtl
= REFERENCE WORK.
e Several changes have been mad, IN III
l- rofeccncc department. The reference woi
a with scholars from the different schoo
! and with tho general pub'ic YVES fouhc
a Interfere so materially with the work I
the circulating department that It Wa
Necessary 10 assign one ass stunt TO si'
her who're time during afternoons 10 81
u reference work. The change has prove
= decided relief TO the circulating depaf
10 mint. and the public has the benefit
i tho services OF one whose sole duty du
D. ing the busy part Of the day IS 10 ASST
10 readers and students.
CfparfufanIanf pf IncurQnra TTpl