The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-02-24
cries i. 1910. Series 2. 1872 liirst edi-

tionsl.
While tie greater part Of the circu-
lation Of popular library will necessai,-
lily be fiction. yet as is il gratifying to
observe a slight movement Of our CLIENT
age towards more solid reading. Our iic-
fion percentage for the past year was
70.3. This may seem large 10 some, yet
! to US, who remember it as s6.4, it IS a
very hopeful figure.
The delivery stations continue to take
their full share Of our circulation, clain-
ing for The year, IS per cent. ef.all books
issued. They are undoubtedly a great
convenience to a large class Of our read
ers. and l could wish chat we might fur
ther extend the system. Although we al
ready have two stations in the section
known as Hudson City. vet there is need.
Of another in the extreme northern part
Of the city.
'It is difficult to describe the magni.
tude and Importance Of the work done
by this institution for the youth Of The
community, and as rule they form
an appreciative class, both as students
and readers. There is, however, one
improvement which might be made in
our arrangements, that would not only
greatly conauce 70 the better order and
greater quiet Of our rooms for adults,
but would convenience us in every way
and enable US to do better grade of
work with the children Themselves.
refer to the proposed plan of changing
the former newspaper reading room on
the first floor into model and modern
children's room. BY so doing we could
remove the children's reading room from
the third floor. and could keep ali chill
fren under fourteen from the general de-
livery room on the second floor; and also
by bringing them together in this way
We could get nearer to the children, help
them to suitable reading, and in every
way do a better and more intimate work
with them. The advantages to as well
as the relief of our adult patrons would
be great indeed.
The work with the schools has never
been more satisfactory to us, and seem
ingly never better appreciated by our ed
ucational co-workers.
Through the class room Libraries dur
ing the past year We have circulated
17,674 volumes of carefully selected
clildren's literature. This IS a ysar's.
gain Of over 1000
"An increased attendance is reported
from the general reading room. Several
new periodicals have been subscribed for
as follows: Burr Mcintosh Monthly, De
signer Era, Four-track News, Popular
Magazine. Theatre Magazine. The fol-
lowing periodicals have ceased to appear:
Art Amateur. Book Lover. Brochure Ser
les. Handicraft Magazine of Art, Public
Library Monthly.
~The open shelf-room is increasingly
patronized by the public. Nearly all bor-
rowers except those asking for special
authors or subjects select their books in
this room A number Of volumes have
been found missing from the shelves. but
they are few in number and Of small
value. Our losses in this respect, as COM
pared with other Libraries which have
adopted this system. are very u;hing.
THE lecture system for the year was
duly opened on October 4 Two series,
one of twents-four and the other of thirty
lectures, constitute the course, which ends
on March 81, 1905. The lectures are
all on popular subjects and instructive as
well, being mainly descriptive and illus
trated BY the stereopticon. The second
course is varied by the Introduction of
four musical lectures-that is, talks on
the great masters in music and their
works, illustrated by the pianola.
VERY few people realize the many and
varied activities Of this institution, and
the large share It has in the life Of the
city. Statistics can make a good showing
and ours do, but they eannot estimate the
real work and influence of the library.
This is something felt rather than seen,
and itincreases year by year Books for
the masses. means of research for the
student, cooperation with the SCHOOLS,
museum Of 50 much local historical in
terest that it shoald be the pride Of every
citizen. lectures for the people, these are
some but not all of the ACTIVITIES Of our
Library.
my heartiest thanks are due to cur
staff for their faithful and intelligent sup
port IN the work Of the year. To your
Honorable BOARD also, | would express
my thanks for your unvarying courtesy
and helpful words"