Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-12
Hope Legislature, Realizing the
Value of Work, Will Make
Small Appropriation

btSAH tNPff Sft'SASS'
I Attention Of the legislature to the
Library of Hawaii's needs is a prob
able result OF the annual report OF
Miss Edna Allyn. librarian, at spe-
cial meeting Of the president and trus-
tees last week.
| Miss Allyn's report shows that the
! library is not local institution but
covers the entire territory, giving a
valuable service at an extremely low
cost For a little less than three
cents a volume books are sent cut to
| the various islands
The need of a special book fund
is imperative" the librarian reports.
A review of the work accomplished
| in 1916 and look ahead with atten-
ton to pressing needs constituted her
report. Even the library board was
surprised at what has been accomp,
Iished in the way Of distributing books
to the other islands. In doing this the
shelves of the islands department
have been practically denuded. There
is no existing fund for replenishing
them. ~. .....
Splendid work was accomplished
also in the children's department.
Librarian Allyn's report says in
part:
Accessions -.
The number of volumes added to
ithe library during the year was 1889.
This is 1919 more than were aeces-
stoned last year. Thirty-eight hundred
and eighty-nine were purchased: 16S
were gifts; 217 volumes were discard
ed and withdrawn, leaving 3772 the
net gain to the library. -. a.
Purchases have been made to sup
ply the demand for current publica-
tons made through the islands de-
partment as well as by our patrons in
Honolulu. We have mad also to keep
In mind the needs of our constantly
growing reference work.
New books are put out every
Thursday morning and held for inspec.
ton one week. The reading public
has indicated their appreciation OF the
opportunity to see the new books be-
fore they go into circulation and to
place reserves for any that may be
OF especial interest.
Registration .. -
Readers cards were issued to 1852.
persons not previously registered, 1917
10 adults, 945 to children. AS cards
are made out for a period of three
years this year has necessitated a sys-
tenn of reregistration. The cards of
4510 readers have expired and Been
taken mp, and of these 1121 have re-
registered. BY this process of rereg-
istration the files are rid of dead
cards and the changes of residence
kept more nearly mp to date. The total
number Of cards IN force December
81 was 6S67.
circulatioa
The circulation from the main desk
was 1928, gain of nearly 5000. An
other gain is shown by the circulation
report, the fact that smaller proper
ton Of fiction was read than in any
former year, the per cent being 59.8
as compared with 65.1 last year and
a still larger per cent In former years.
Increased reading of history, sociology
and current periodicals is noted in
connection with this change.
Reading Room and Reference
The attendance in the reading room
was 2S,533. a daily average of "a. In
the reference department 1899 topics
were looked up and 6455 books given
out for reference use. The value of
the work done here is becoming more
and more appreciated, and hence the
requests we're numerous.
The reference librarian finds that
with the increased demand and larger
range of subjects additions will need
to be made to our working material.
in economics and history.
more detailed and comprehensive
works are neened -
Departments
"A resume of Miss Lawrenee's re.
port on the activities of this depart. !
ment gives occasion for congratuia- |
tons. First of all there is circula- |
ton Of 29,614 volumes and reading
room ATTENDANCE of 1S,422. to which |!
sholld be added S6l1 whom the story
hour attracted.
'As the chilGren's librarian has ex.
pressed it, the story hour is an Open
Sesame to the Joys of literature. The
regular Friday story was continued
the year. A Morse cycle of /
stories for older boys and girls with
an attendance of 402 given on Wednes.
lays ran through the winter months.
During July aad August two story
hours were conducted weekly at the
library with the idea of attracting the
children living near the library. The
at each session averaged
over thirty -.
Library instruction planned for the
9Th grades Of the public schools was
made to include st. Andrews Priory,
-olani school, the Korean Compound,
llso the young >Ien studying for the
nndec the direction of the