New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
BOOKS FOR EVERYBODY.
Orer FiJe MiILion Circulated yearly
by City's Free Libraries.

New York City spends nearly Ss01oto a year in
order that its citizens may have free reading mat
ter. More than five million books were circulated
from the free libraries in the last library year and
the demand IS increasing at the rate os nearly
$4,000 volumes per anuUTn
In Manhattan. The Bronx and Richmond thers
are thirty-eight branch libraries. twenty-five ot
which Carnegie libraries. Six were completed
and opened in the last year. and three more ara
now under construction. at Highbridse, in East
S6th street and at Morrisania. There are about
10000 volumes TN the circulating department % hs
New York Public Library. and it is estimated that
about l250O0 books are in simultaneous use That
the books literally read 70 pieces is shown by
the numbers which have TO be discarded About
5oeCO volumes. per cent OF the circulation were
worn out last year. These are estimated 70 weigh
twenty-five tons. About the same number are re-
bound each year.
\ departure in the binding department is the re-
binding in plain substantial of the popular
new books before putting them in circulation. as
the original binding is not durable
Nearly four hundred librarians and assistants are
employed in the circulating libraries. and this
number is being increased new branches are
opened and new departments in the old branches
are established The New York Public Library IS
training its own assistants in It's training class IN
West 2Sd street.
the libraries have been under the care OF an eS-
pert Study rooms. exhibitions. ETC. have resulted
In the crowded foreign sections, where tn9 o's'
people read little English ard have Hlu7
leisure the circulation is largely Of juvenile oooAs'
The Public Library. through its circulating ue
partment is working with nearly four hundrea
educational institutions. experimenting the class
room libraries in the elementary schools and cater
ing especially to the needs OF the teachers. ms
travelling department aids largely in the distrou
ton of books and circulates about looVV Voiuni''
yearly 1t includes in its service recreation ce"-
tres and Fairgrounds. fire engine houses the -
lice Department stations. Sunday schools. Se."0
msnt houses clubs OF all kinds and homes. 4HSS'
travelling libraries contain high as LOU Voiuni0
and the books may be kept from one roh'h 10 O
year. 80 ..-
In the library for the blind. at No Nv Aiis'e-
dan, avenue there are about 1900 volumes prhl'sA
IN the New York point BraiIe. Moon and line le'
tor systems OF Typography. Here also are most Ok
the magazines printed for the blind. IN EnsHs4,
French and German. Printing for the oIihu Is s
an extensive operation that few or the OOONs -
current fiction are included. the last popular no'
70 he issued in this form being The Nlrslhlan
feature of the library for the blind Is the futhss
of a teacher without charge for the adult oiiho y
the city. - ,,Loat
The Sacred Heart. Cathedral and ST. HaPnAo'
libraries are open Sundays from 10 a m TO noon,
and the reading rooms OF the 5sth street. IohpA
square Muhlenberg Ottendorfer. Rivinston stree.
and Riverside branches are open from p lh -,
o. m on that day. In the Muhlenoers orshcH. -. .
west 2sd street. there Is card catalogue or eVe-s
book In the circulating department. with lniOi
tion where the book may be found