The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-17
LIBRARY REPORT
State Commission Submits
It's Findings and Recon-
mendations to the Gov
ernor
NEW PLANS FORMULATED
SUMMER SCHOOL AT AsBURY
PARK TO BE PROVIDED FOR
THE TRAINING OF LIBRARIANS

A summary Of the report of the New
Jersey Library Commission follows:--
January /, 1905, the commission en-
gagged an organizer, Miss Sarah B. As
kew, who was experienced in library
work. During the ten months she has
visited 70 of the public libraries in New
Jersey, many of them several times, and
has also visited 10 towns and villages
that were without library facilities, in the
effort to create interest In the subject of
organizine free public library or to ex-
plain the travelling library system.
To assist libraries already established
has been the main object. Many of these
are in charge of volunteers, and others
are managed by librarians who are with
out technical training and unacquainted
with the modern aids that make the work
of library administration easier and more
useful to the people whom it seeks to
serve. Many suggested changes have
been adopted and the organizer has
given considerable of her time to assist
ing. the librarians and aiding in the work
of reorganization.
Sixteen of the libraries visited were
uncatalogued, 13 had only printed lists
OF titles arranged alphabetically, AZ were
either unclassifed or with very imperfect
books arranged on the shelves as they
had been bought, using the accession
book as a catalogue. Of the 70 libraries
visited "a were under the old-fashioned
ledger form of charging books. four had
no charging system whatever, and IA
were using imperfect and e-consuming
schemes.
Under the commissions direction six
libraries have been assisted in the work
of cataloguing their books; the catalogues
Of two others have been revised and corr
rected, four have been given instruction
in the work of preparing their books for
circulation, shelf-fsting has been taught
to two others; assistance in making out
lists of books to be bought has been given
to six libraries and advice as to how and
where to buy has been freely given at all
times.
Lists of periodicals suitable for the
needs of small library have been made
out for five, on request, and assistance in
the buying of library furnishings given
in two instances. The commission has
advised on the plans for two new libra
ries, and for "a considerable number has,
on request, suggested rules and regula
tions for their government.
Two new libraries have been organized
during the year and are now doing excel
lent work. One is at Gladstone. for the
use Of that town, Peapack and Far Hills,
and the other is at North Summit. The
aid of the commission was given to both
of them.
There were added to the travelling libra
ries during the year, by purchase, 374
volumes and by gift from the S1nithson-
ian institute %. From some of the lat
ter articles on important subjects were
taken and rebound, making the increase
40 books. The total number accession
ed into the travelling libraries is 3,836, Of
which about 3,400 are now available for
use Five years of use have worn out
many volumes, few have been lost,
while some that We're donated are Of
classes that would make them more use
full in a reference library.
In January the commission voted to
reduce from So to 50 the annual fee for
the use of the libraries. The only ex-
cuse for any charge is that il protects
the State against imposition aud is in a
measure guarantee that there is de-
mand for the books.
In seven Of the towns visited by the
organizer addresses were delivered on
the subject of free public libraries and
the advantages of having them under
municipal control. That they were not
without beneficial results is demonstrate
ed by the fact that in one Of the towns
the subscriptions to the library amount
to $500 more than they have ever been
before, while another voted to make free
a library that has hitherto been main
tanned by subscriptions.
In pursuance Of the desire to advance
GREAT WINTER REenRT pnllre