The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-04

small library, we'll classified and cata-
logued, Is of more use than larger col
lection In poor condition, all energies were
bent to the developing of what was in
hand. and the equfpping of the library
properly before adding many books. TIE
book plating of the books, their number
ing and arrangement for convenient re-
ference, was done at once. This with the
planning and ordering OF necessary fur
niture, the obtaining of all supplies for
the card catalogue, the putting In running
order OF the Reading Room, the installing
of a new loan system. the completing of
such files of government documents and
reports OF various kinds rs could be o.
tained. and the buying Of a few very
much needed books. represents the work
of the first year, 1s3-G..
The average daily attendance at the first
of this session was about 10, in spite of
the fact that the library was open to the
people Of the town for reference and use.
and that there were III students on the
college rolls and Al Professors and In
structors. This average rose steadily,
until In December of 1904 1t reached 73 as
an average, with maximum OF 119.
During the summer vacation Of this
year the librarian took the position of
student assistant in the library of the
United States Department of Agriculture,
which experience was of great benefit.
owing to the kindness OF the librarian of
the Department Library andsher corps of
skilled assistants, In making 1t possible
to gain an insight into the workings of
this well-managed library. The following
fall cntaloguer was obtained from tne
New York State Library School. and the
work of making dictionary card Gala
logue for the library of the Virginia Poly
technic Institute was begun. During the
three months that the library had tho
services of this cataloSuer about three
fourths OF the books, exclusive Of gov
ernment documents. were catalogued.
During this year three sets of the Bllle-
tins for the State Experimental Stations
were put In order and made accessible, n
work which required many hours of labor
and involved no small amount of cores
pondencc. Tho printed card catalogue Of
tho office of Experiment Stations, con-
sisting OF about 5000 cards, was arranged
and alphabetical; and about 5000 cards
published by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, and indeXing the
publications Of the Department, were al
phabetted. numbered and put in the main
catalogue. Part of this work was done
by young lady who helped IN the IL
brary during the summer months OF 1900.
She also did some valuable work IN pre-
pairing lists of. desiderata for two sets of
Experiment. station Bulletins, and a list
of the duplicates In the possession of the
library These two lists have been COM
bined with one which had been previously
prepared, and are now In the hands or
the printer. AS soon as received sys-
tematic effort will be made to supply the
lack In these sets of Bulletins, so tnat
they may be bound at an early date.
During this year the work of the library
was multiplied. as will be evidenced ~
a few significant figures. The attendance
Increased more than threefold. being for
December. 1901 1925, as against $50 OF the
December preceding; while the circulation
|, of books increased fiyefold IN the same
I,lenEth Of time. The accessions for the
two years of 199-'N and 19O4-'C5 We're $500.
and for this school year OF l90o-'O6 they
/, have heen so far $50, which rate, II kept
I5up. will make the accessions for this year
| q little above the average for tho two
preceding wears, The services OF the same
! competent cataloguer were secured again
| this year, and the cataloguins or the main
| library Will be finished to date, we con-
| ftdently expect, when her three months
work Is finished
| Ono phase of the library work when
ms NOT be en- mentioned is the use OF the
library as a Reading Room py the STU
| dents There are sixty-eight papers on
\ file. and an effort Is made to have the
/ home papers OF the students as far as
| possible. Many OF these papers nre tho
Gift Of the editors, for which We are very
grateful. as 1t would be impossible for
| ia to provide such an abundance OF news
paper literature II we had to buy 1t all.
we have one hundred and ten magazines
and periodicals. besides the exchanges
from. other colleges. which are highly APP
preclated by the students There are
eleven Spanish speaking students In the
institution, and for those. we have the
| daily paper Ell Notlcero." published In
San Jose. Costa Rica. and the weekly
magazine. Cares Y Caretas," published
in Buenos Ayres Both OF these We're
promptly sent by the respective editors
in response to our request, entirely. free
OF charge. The pleasure of these stu
dents SO far from their homes IN these