The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-03-15
THE STRIKER FREE LIBRARY.

ton that an equal amount should be
subscribed by the citizens was com
piled with and, of the sum 50 sub
scribed, $1,000 was given by james
/ d. Stryker. Without the gifts OF
these two brothers the library would
not then have come into being and
from them came its name. 1t is man.
aged by Board of Trustees who act
under articles of incorporation.
In starting, the fee for the privilege
of taking ont books was made So. 00
per year, the use of books aud maya
zines in the room being free.
The income from small fees, and
the interest on small investment
from the original fund, has been sup
plemented from time to time by the
proceeds of entertainments aud some
gifts by interested friends The
number of patrons however became
gradually less and after ~ years of
effort, the enterprise seemed likely to
fail for lack of support.
Friends of the library, who believed
in its usefulness and Importance, es-
pecially for the young, then proposed
that it be made free and aid was offer
ed by the ladies IN securing sub
scriptions to that end
This was determined on and sub
scriptions were obtained, covering n
period of three years, those engaged
being gratitied by a ready and liberal
response by our citizens.
Since the change in the mode of
operation, the number of persons
| taking ont books has grown from
about 20 to upwards of 200, and the
interest in the library has been con-
stantly on the increase. This is es-
! pecially notable with the pupils of
our schools ard other young people.
An appropriation by the City Coun-
Gil of $3.50, which became available in
January last enabled the Trustees to
go to the expense of opening the
library each week day evening for the
remainder of the winter months, in
stead of three evenings in tho week
as heretofore, and to add some of the
daily papers. The publishers of our
City papers generously supplied cop
les of them without charge.
The attendance of 80 to 40 persons
each evening. with much larger
number on Saturdays, indicates the
value OF the arrangement. which
should be continued throughout the
year, if funds permit.
To meet the requirements of the in
creased number of readers, new books
have been added from time to time as
funds would admit, although these
additions have necessarily been much
less than could be desired That por-
ton especially designed for reference
could be largely increased with great
advantage. In this department, dur
ing the past year, valuable addition
WAS made of copy Of the Information
al Encyclopedia, presented by mem
Arrangements have recently been
made with The New Jersey State
Library Commission, through the
efficient agent of the Commission,
| Miss Sarah Il. Askew, whereby the
library receives, for nominal annual
payment, the use Of State Travelling
Library, exchangeable from time to
time, which makes valuable addition
to the books for circulation.
The increased use of the books has
naturally entailsd considerable in
| crease in expense for rebinding and
repairs of books, which is always an
important item, and the changes in
the method of operation have added
to the expenses for rent, attendance,
fuel, light and other items.
The friends of the library will be
interested in brief statement re-
specting the present financial con
dition.
The annual subscriptions which
cover the present year, as the last one
of the period for which they we're
made, amount to about 5000.
To this sum is to be added about
$50 interest from the investment bo-
fore mentioned and the appropriation
by Council of $3.50, making tho re-
sources about 1900 in all. The cost
of operation, for the fixed charges OF
Rent, Fuel, Light. Insurance, Librar-
ian and Janitor, with some small
items, amounts to about 5000 per
year. For books and rebinding, the
cost in the past year, was about S340
which makes total expenditure of
S94O, an amount exceeding the as
sumed income. Any redu ction in
the income must of course reduce the
power of adding books. 1t is conf
IDENTIFY hoped that the Council will be
able to see the way clear to respond
favorably to the application already
made, for an appropriation similar to
that of last year, which will, with the
subscriptions now due, admit of Civ
ing facilities equal to those offered in
1904.
The present is the third year for
which the subscriptions were made
and when the collections are made,
the subscribers will be invited to re-
new for similar period and it is hoped
that others may be disposed to add
| their names to the list.
In common with so many other
communities, We are discovering
that public library free to all read
ers, is real necessity, and it is for
tunate that so many of our citizens
are so fully awake to the fact.
The general interest in the subject
is such that the Trustees are not