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

Library OF Hawaii's needs is a prob
able result OF the annual report Of
Miss Edna Allyn. librarian, at a spe
cial meeting OF the president and trus
tees last week.
Miss Allyn's report shows that the
library is not a local institution but
covers the entire territory. giving a
valuable service at an extremely low
cost For little less than three
cents a volume books are sent cut "a
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
| lished 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:
| Aeeessions
The number of volumes added to
! the library during the year was 1888
This is 1919 more than were acces-
stoned last year. Thirty-eight hundred
and elghty-nine were purchased; 16S
were gifts; 217 volumes were discard.
ed and withdrawn. leaving 3772 the
| net gain to the library. = . @,
Purchases have been made to sup
ply the demand for current publica-
tions made through the islands de-
partment as well as by our patrons in
Honolulu. We have had 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-
tion one week. The reading public
has indicated taeir 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. ... III. III
Registration t. ......
Readers cards were issued to 2162
persons not previously registered, 1917
to adults, 945 to children. AS cards
are made out for period OF three
Years this year has neeessitated a sys-
tenn Of reregistration. The cards of
1910 readers have expired and been
taken up, 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 up to date. The total
number of cards IN force December
81 was 1857.
Circulation s...-...-> To-
The circulation from the main desk
was SS,279, gain of nearly 3000. 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.S
as compared with 65.1 last year and
a stiIl 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 4199 topics
were looked up and 645s books given
out for reference use. The value of
the work done here is becoming more
and more appreciated, and hence the
requests were numerous.
The reference librarian finds that
with the increased demand and larger
range OF subjects additions will noed
to be made to our working material
Especially in economics and history
more detailed and comprehensive
works are needed.
Chiidren,s Department AZ
"a resume Of Miss Lawrence's re-
port on the activities of this depart;
ment gives occasion for congratula-
tons. First OF all there is a circula-
ton Of 1854 volumes and a reading
room attendance of 1S,422. to which
shoald be added 1911 whom the story
hour attracted. r.
As the chil6ren's librarian has ex-
pressed IL, the story hour is an Open
Sesame to the joys of literature The
regular Friday story was continued
throughout the year. A Morse cycle of
stories Cor Older boys and girls with
an attendance uf 402 given on Wednes-
days 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
attendance at each session averaged
over thirty.
Library instruction planned for the
9Th grades of the public schools was
made to include St Andrews Priory,
Iolani school, the Korean Compound,
also the young zen studying for the
ministry under the direction of the
Hawaiian Board.
For many months the library has
beea getting :agether collection of /,
pictures designed to supplement books
of history and travel end other sub
jects taught in the schools. Last Sep
TENDER the collection had become /
large enough TO warrant bringing it !,
to the notice of the teachers. The pic .
lures are leaned in groups of IL and
may be kept for ole month. There
was an immediate call for them and f
we hone to be able. to make this real !,
ly valuable part Of our work in the
next two years. We now have 500 i,
nictures nolInTpd randy fOr any teach.