Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-01-13
LIBRARY BOARD
HEARS REPORT.
Trustees Receive Statement
OF Work During 1908--
New Books Ordered.
ONE NEW MEMBER


tees of the Public Library last nigh
the purchase of $50 worth of new book
was authorized, the annual report O.
Miss Mulligan, the librarian, was re
ceived, and accepted, as were the Ii
brarian IS and treasurer s reports TO
December.
Those present were President Kitch
el, Commissioners Jones, McCormicl
and Zielinski. Fritz HOyler, the ney
member was not in attendance. H
succeeds John W. Beekman. The an
nual election of officers will take plac,
in May. The reason for Mr.. Hoyler I
absence was given that as the boarC
was not officially notified until yester
day of his appointment, it was too lat,
to send him notice, as they had al
ready been sent out.
The librarian s report for the montl
OF December was as follows: Total cir
culation, 4,7SS; in December 1907 il
was 1929, increase ,259; largest daily
circulation, 315, in 1907 it was 221, in
crease "a; smallest daily circulation
116, in December 1907 it was 80, in
crease 26; total adult circulation 2.7OI
in December 1907 it was 2,097, increase
604; total juvenile circulation, 2,087, in
december 1907 it was 1,432, increase
655; total number Of borrowers, 1874;
new cards issued, "a; cards expired. 81
cards renewed, 56; contagious diseases
reported, 8.
Reading room report-Number of
daily readers, 1857; Sunday readers
154; total number of readers, 1,211;
reference questions asked, 23.
Book report-Volumes added, 1872;
by purchase, 102; by gift, 20; books
worn out and discarded, 81; lost and
paid for, s; lost and not paid for, 10;
total number of discarded books, 90;
books repaired in library, III; covered
in libdary, T.
librarians financial report-Fines,
1887; reserves, Sr%S. lost cards, 10;
receipts, $20.41; expenditures. $1l.53;
balance to treasurer, 1888.
Treasurer report-Salaries, $l94
books, 1924; light, Spills; heating
s2455; binding, $27.60; periodicals, 81
janitor's 3 supplies, $3.50; stationery
$12.65; total disbursements. $371.S2
balance in bank January /, $s5s.53.
Report of Librarian for 1908.
The following report for the pas
year was received from the libra
rian:
To the Board of Trustees of tn,
Perth Am boy Public Library:
Gentlemen:-Ours annual report
covering the activity of the library
from January to December, 1908, Il
herewith respectfully submitted.
Briefly summing up, the records
of the past years work show in.
crease, fulfillment and promise.
Use of the 6,26e volumes now in
the library continues to grow, 49,.
662 volumes were borrowed during
the year, 1851 more than in 1907
This circulation represents an aver
age use of every book in the library
over seven and seven-tenths times.
The increase in work done, however,
does not consist sim ply in the great
er number of books lent for home
use. Much has been accomplished
in other directions. Last years re-
port called attention to the need Of
making the library's resources bet
ter known. We have aimed to do
this.
Printed lists OF the periodicals to
be found in the reading room, those
relating to home industries being
particularly emphasized, have been
sent to the different factories with a
request to have the list posted where
the employees might see it.
Cards giving the library hours and
a cordial invitation to all
visitors have been distributed in
places about town where they would
be prominently displayed.
Suggestions and recommendations
books or other matters OF
library interest have been solicited
and encouraged among our patrons,
and, whenever possible, acted upon.
The card catalogue has been sup
piled with the most approved and
lp-to-date guides to facilitate its
ise. Many demands have come to
is for a printed catalogue, and |
only wish we had the time and
money necessary to prepare one.
However, a plan which may serve
he purpose for the time being has
,een suggested to me. l think an
agreement might be made with the
ocal papers whereby they would
,rint for us, on certain day each
week, list of from 100 to zoo
looks. These to be arranged by
lass and author just as they now
Ippear on the shelves. BY clipping
he paper each week and pasteing
he slips in a blank book we would
lave at the end of the year fairly
ON mplete list of our collection. Any
borrowers who really feel the need
# a printed catalogue would, l am
ure, be glad to take this trouble
or themselves.
Support and cooperation were
.iven by the library to mems read
ng room, organized in February,
lnder the auspices of the Methodist
hurch. A travelling library secured
through the State Commission was
ent to the room, where the books
we're circulated just as our own
looks would have been from a
ranch. The reading room did not
eceive sufficient patronage to war
ant its maintenance, so was discon-
inued in the summer. We have ar
'anged with the comm ission to ex-
.hange the library sent us for an
,ther, and as soon as the new books
.ome we are going to place them In
he high school and form a much-
needed supplementary reading coll
ection for the use of the students.
Early In the spring we displayed
bulletins and books on gardening.