The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-17
LOTS OF READING.
Topeka Is Getting to Be Fam
GUS Library City,"
There Are Now $3.50 Books in
City Library.
FICTION LEADS ALL.
Over $4,000 Pieces of Fiction
Read in Year 1909.
Other Items of Interest From
Annual Report.
FICTION LEADS ALL.

Miss Caroline Medlicott. librarian of
the Topeka free public library, made
her annual report to City Clerk c. B.
Burge this morning. The report will be
submitted to the city council tonight.
According to the report 1.043 books
have been added to the library during
the year 1909. OF these books, SO were
donated 6S were bound periodicals, 1856
were taken from duplicate books and
SIC were purCha sed.
There is a total of 80 $50 books in the
library today. One year ago there were
22.7S4 ard two years ago there were %
234 The increase in the last year is
enc of tho largest in the history of the
institution.
Here is a little table that will show
a few facts concerning the condition of
the library at this time:
New cards issued. 1.121 1,19O 1,lO2
HP Some u iSsnsu LOT "a. 1882 77.2s7 71s1o
Books loaned in IL
brary .11.199 S.1O9 1888
Total books issued. 1851 1880 79, 743
Largest number given
visitors and readers, 23.422 21,Ss7 2o779
Fiction in the Lead.
OF the books added to the library
the fiction works lead with a big ma
jority. Last year 319 fiction books
were added to the library lists. In
1908 there were 292 and in 1907. 236.
Literature took second place with III
in 1909, % in 1908 and 20 in 1907.
Literature works have increased great
ly this year and took a great squirt
from the records made out In 1913
and 1907. Biography came third with
60 new works added in 1909; 23 in
1908 and II in 1907.
For home use the fiction again took
first place. There were 51,693 pieces
of fiction read in Topeka homes last
year-a book for every man, woman
and child in the city. In 1905 the
numbered equaled $3.50 and in 1907,
44444. Juvenile fiction took second
place, closely followed by biography.
March is the big month for reading.
Last year 1887 books were taken out
for this month. In 1908, 7,424 and in
1907, SOL. November and Deem
Der are always the light months on ac-
count of the holiday rush, when every
one is busy. The summer months hold
UP good with the winter months in
readers in the library during March
and 555 in June. The schools in the
city are responsible for this. The
school, high school and college patron
age in Topeka is big factor to the
public library.
The people in the city above the age
of 81 are the heaviest readers. Where
267 male and 376 female readers above
p years OF age are reading there are
only III males and 107 females be-
tween the ages of 10 and 81 and 100
males and 140 females under the age
s of Is. The fact that the number of
readers below the age of Is is so high
is an important factor in the influence
and the good of the Topeka library.
The females run far above the
males. 1t has been suggested that the
females have about three times as
much time to read as the males. 1t is
also fact that the females specialize
on fiction where the males will dig
down into literature, sociology and the
like.
At the beginning of the year the
public library had a balance of ST.
1918 in the treasury. The disburse-
ments amounted to $7.124.45 during
the year. The city donated $4,000 to
the treasury and the fines placed on
the readers during the year amounted
to almost $4,000