Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-15
MUSEUM CASE
IS SUGGESTED
In Annual Report Of the
Public Librarian.

According to the report of Miss
Anne o. Shiyers, the public libra
rian, for the year of 1912, the con
dition of the public library was
much more advanced in nearly ev-
cry department than in the preced-
ing year. Miss Shivers advised in
her annual report hat the library
be gicen a museum case, as there
are many relics which have been do
mated for exhibition, but which can
not be used because of the lack of
one The report in full follows:
To the Board of Trustees of the
Perth Amboy Free Public Ii
brary:-
Gentlemen:-It Is my privilege to
submit to you the annual report of
the Perth Amboy Free Public Ii
brary for the year ending December
1912.
Believing firmly in the axiom that
"a public library is for public use,'
this library has had for its con-
slant aim during the year past to SO
increase its usefulness and widen its
sphere of influence that there shall
be no class of people in the city
that does not look upon it Is a pleas
ure and a help in their daily lives.
To aid in the attainment of this
ideal, we have bought more books
this year than eve before, and they
have been more widely diversified In
selection There are now 9.515 vol
umes in the library. 1,725 having
been added during the year. This Is
442 more additions than last year.
and 636 more than the year before.
Literature is naturally the class
which has been added to most large
1y, with the exception of fiction, and
sociology ranks next. Liberal addi-
lions have also been made to our
stock of foreign books, and nov we
have small, but well-selected collec-
lions In French, German, Danish,
Hungarian and Polish Our thanks
are due to IL foreign-speaking
friends for their help In the selec-
ton OF these books. The statistics
showing the increase in the foreign
circulation (2,158 yer 435 in 1911)
prove the quick appreciation with
which these additions are received.
During the year, SO periodicals
have been bound and prepared for
circulation; GAL books have been re-
bound A great many Of the latter
are children's books, which come
out Of the publishers covers SO
quickly that we have found 1t adj
yisable In requirements to order al
ways reinforced or Chivers' bind
tngs. The books discarded as worn
out, lost by borrowers. or missing at
inventory number 424. When our
circulation Is considered in proper
ton to III stock OF books (71,265
in 1912 from a collection of $3.50.
1t will readily be seen that many of
our books must succumb before the
hard and constant usage which they
receive. This keeps the net increase
of volumes in the library much
smaller than would otherwise be the
case
The large number OF new books
bought demanded an increase IN the
capacity of our shelves, and, there
fore, six new sections OF steel book
stacks. providing space for 1900
books were installed in the umn,er.
This addition preserves the radial
form of our stacks, leaving the ends
open for an easy ces
The new stacks were the chief i'm
provement made in the building dur
ing the year. One Of the things
most needed in our building now,
but which we have thus far been
unable to get, is a museum case to
be used for exhibition purposes.
things offered to us for exhibit we
have had to refuse ON account OF
lack of a suitable place to put them.
There have been few staff changes
In the last twelve months. As US
ual, the members OF the staff have
been encouraged to attend library
meetings whenever circumstances
would permit In June, the librarian
went to Asbury Park for Library
Week. conducted by the New Jersey
Library Commission, and In October
attended the annual meeting of the
New Jersey Library Association.
Miss Eldridge, who did apprentice