The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-09
CALDWELL.
VERONA AND
ESSEX FELLS
MORE BOOKS NEEDED
ORANGE LIBRARIAN READS
ANNUAL REPORT.
Enough Volumes for Italian and Ger
man Population Lacking-Library
Cramped for Room.

More books for the Italian and German
population of Orange are especially wanted
ut present in the Orange Free Public LIZ
brary, according to the annual report OF
Miss Elizabeth Rowland Weson. the IL
brarian, presented at the annual meeting
of the board of trustees last night On
this point she says:
"a very large proportion OF the yaSacd
population of Orange is foreign. OF Ital-
ians alone, there are between 1000 and S,o01
and fer all these people, many of whom
would be glad of books, we have ali tDld
but l34 Italian books in the library. All
there. are have been eagerly read, and
many completely worn out in service. a
report that new italian books have been
purchased, even II only a few. will at once
bring to the library readers who have for
months stayed away, yet were anxioLsly
waiting for more books. OF this small
number, half are doing duty at the Wiley
branch, and are constantly being eX-
changed back and forth.
Much the same case holds with the
German books. OF these there are but 42b.
many of which are classics and Though
used, naturally appeal only to a limited
class Of readers
There is also a great need for chiidren's
easy" books, Miss Weson says. She con-
tinues:
while the need for more books cannot
be too strongly put, the shelving or me
bOObb 1hoN 49, 49, - 49,
become a greater problem even than il
was last year. The reference room is al
ready overflowing. The stack is crowded
TO such an extent that several hundred
volumes had to be placed in the basement.
This necessarily greatly detracts from
their usefulness, as they are now difficult
of access. The most practical way to re-
lieve this condition is the completion OF
the library building by the addition of the
third tier of stacks, for which provision
Of light and space was made when the
! buildinR WAS erected -
Last February a new branc was opened
at Pleasantdale In response TO an urgent
request from the people of P~leasantdale'
namely. the Valley branch, at 35 Temp
kins street; the st. Cloud branch. in the
St. Cloud parish house, and the Pleassn.s
dale branch. At the main library 66,9l3
books were circulated. This is 100 more
than in 1906. The entire circulation of the
library and all its branches was S,1Sl.
showing an increase of 5,711: There were
1,O91 new names added to the register of
those who use the library during the year.
There are now 9,742 names on the register
at the main library alone.
AT the Orange Valley branch, the old
lost of the branches Miss Weson's report
continued, 1.-The library was open l39 times,
This branch is in the Social Settlement
building, and 1t is because of the actly-
titles OF the settlement that it is Impossible
for the library to have the use of tbs room
oftener. 1t is never open longer than three
hours one afternoon a week and two eveil-
!ngs a week for two hours at a time Not
withstanding these drawbacks, however,
10, 494 volumes were circulated, showing
an increase of 1.676 over the circulation OF
last year. In this branch the majority of
the books are taken by children. II. tact
;0.2 per cent. OF the circulation there 10
juvenile. During library hours the little
room is so crowded that each child as it
received its book has to be told to go
nome and make room for others. The space
for readers is too small for more than ivc
or six to remain with comfort. Want OF
Shelf room has made the development or
reference work, so much needed almost
impossible. There would be immense pSs-
sibilities for good to the jewellers In tne
valley. In a ~well-equipped library, win
place for readers, old and young, anc the
books needed for home reading.
sit would have been quite Impossible
| with the limited staff of the library, 10
! have carried on the work of the Naley
| branch had it not been for the faithful
and constant services of Miss Margaret
Sbotwell who for the entire life OF the
branch has given more time and labor than
any one person"
The officials chosen were:
President, William Read Howe, VIC
president, Mrs. J.. D. Mills; secretary, SIM
con Fl. Robinson; treasurer, Mrs. j. D..
Watson.
The report of Mrs. Mary c. Watson,
treasurer, showed disbursements for tns
year of s., as. 10, leaving a balance fof 1895
of S34.41