Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-04
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Report Of Board Of Library
Trustees
s u BIN TT T ED TODAY
WORK OF THE YEAR AND SOME
ESTIMATES.
Local People Learn More and More
Each Month of Value Of
Institution.

Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes president of the
board of trustees of the Public Library, sub
mitted his annual report to the District
Commissioners today as follows:
The records of the year which ended
June 30. 1905. show a steady enlargement
of the librarys resources and of its ca
pacity to be useful and constant increase
of the community's enjoyment of and bene-
fit from the expanding library facilities.
The net strength of the library at the end
of the year was 73,O45. The total accessions
during the year numbered 1882, costing
about $4,000.
The people of Washington learn more and
more each month the value of their library,
and in steadily increasing numbers take ad-
vantage of the benefits of 1.-The people S
university" During the year there was an
increase in the number of registered Dor
rowers of 4,791, or over II per cent, bring
ing the total number of borrowers to 3S,779
The total circulation of books for the year
was 493 an Increase of 15,30S volumes
over last year, or a gain of q per cent.
The average daily home circulation was
1,14G, against BOG last year. Not only more
but better books were called for. There
was decrease of II per cent in the fiction
circulated. In the circulation of books in
the children's room there was a gain over
last year of over So per cent, accompanied
by reduction in the circula ton of fiction
OF 10 per cent. The average monthly at
tendance in the reference reading room was
6,191, as against 1879 last year, a gain of
over 40 per cent
These notable gains in the practical use
fulness of the library have been due, not
only to the enlargement already noted of
progressive improvements, small and great
In the lbrary's methods of facilitating ac-
cess to its book treasures.
Library Development.
Factors in the increase of circulation have
been the placing of non-fiction as well as
hct1on in the open-shelf room, and in large
cases IN the lobby; the regular publication
of lists of new books in the daily newspa-
pers; the issue of annotated reference lists
of books on timely subjects; the extension of
the book-borrowing privilege to persons liv-
ing outside the District but who have regu-
lar business or employment therein, and to
temporary residents who deposit the value
OF books issued; reduction of the age limit
in issuing cards to children; picture bulle-
tins. story-hours. reading clubs and talks
on timely topics for the children; closer CO.
operation with the schools, establishment Of
teachers special library and study room
lending books in bulk to schools; and the
establishment of three new additional sub
stations, two of which have already receiv-
ed their first installments of books.
To increase the usefulness of the reading
room, assistance has been Systematically
rendered to members of literary clubs and
a study room has been fitted up in the Sc c.
ond floor of the building for serious work
in connection with the reference library.
During the year an important and notable
advance has been provision for the Sunday
opening. of the library, step which expert
ence since July / has thoroughly vindi-
Gated.
To facilitate the appointment of efficient
junior assistants and the Strengthening of
the library force system of apprentice
classes has been adopted which has worked
successfully in its first test, and which
promises good results.
To popularize the library while increasing
its usefulness the lecture hall has been
granted for much enlarged number of
public meetings with free lectures of an
educational tendency; and for the same
purpose exhibits of Christmas holiday books
and of books and railroad folders of sum-
mer travel have been made.
The Library's Needs.
The vital needs of the main library are
more books and more assistants.
% Endowments or donations to buy GER
tain classes of books are much needed. For
example, the library is endeavoring to COL
lect Neutrality-suspicious.; /. re-, everything
pertaining to the national capital and the
ten miles square. Donations not only of
books of this sort but of money to create a
fund for the purchase of such books would
be heartily welcomed
(2) The appropriation for books should be
made $4,000 annually. The special book
appropriation is exhausted. The desk fund
resources will soon be drained The use of
the larger children's room, and of the
periodicals room on the second floor and the
enlargement of the open-shelf facilities will
all call for more books. The rapid increase
in general circulation, the demand for ex-
tensive duplication, the increase in the cost
of nearly all books the desirability of ex-
tending the periodical and newspaper list
and the demand for greater facilities for
school circulation, all are factors in the de-
monstration that this appropriation is es-
sential.
(3) More books should be secured under
existing law from miscellaneous circulating
volumes in the government departmental
collections; and also from duplicates in the
Library of Congress.
The librarian has carefully analysed the
library needs in the matter of the working
force and the trustees urge careful consid-
Grafton of and favorable action upon the
estimates for library service.
In this connection the trustees repeat with
emphasis their recommendation of last year
that the salary of the librarian be increased
TO figure commensurate with the intelli-
gent and efficient services rendered, and
with the compensation received by success
full librarians in other cities of Washing
tons size.
Branch Libraries.
Outside of the main library the most not
able need is that of authority to build at
least one branch library building with a
part of the money offered to be donated by
Mr. Andrew Carnegie. The trustees have
vainly asked from Congress general au-
thority to accept Mr.. Carnegie's offer and
Will at the next session of Congress seek
acceptance of the offer in respect to a single
branch. The increase and development of
sub-stations like Neighborhood House con-
stitute another conspicuous need. Charac-
teristic and exclusive features of the library
in its relation to the Library of Congress
are to be especially fostered, such as the
open shelf room. the children's room and
school work in general AS soon as the
general book appropriation has been put on
an adequate and satisfactory basis 1t will
be in order either to draw from the book
appropriation for an extensive equipment of
school duplicates, or to apply for a special
appropriation for that purpose.
Mount Vernon Square.
The trustees urge vigorous cooperation
with the Office of public buildings and
grounds in securing In the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill provision for the improve
ment of Mount Vernon square and of the
t,.,t1l