Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-04-06
WHAT THE PUbL|CL |bRARY IS
 DOING FOR PEO PILE OF PINE BLUFF
Annual Reports of Library Officers Show Increasing De-
 mand Upon Public Institution

made to the library during the year,
 many volumes, on religion, theology
 history, biography and others too
 numerous ftr listing. Other valuable
 material, not from point of cost, but
 use, are pamphlets on municipal questions, and topics of current in-
 terest, these include reports and dis
 cussions of what other cities have
 done with civic Improvements of ev-
 cry kind, and questions of interest,
 to all progressive cities. These
 pamphlets are being indexed by au- thors subjects, and titles, thus bring
 ing the valuable information they contain to the of the public. Along this line clipping bureau has been started, and the collection upon var jed subjects, now covers almost every question of interest. These number more than 1000.
 These clippings have been tabu- lated, classified, and indexed, and are easily accessible for ready refer ence. This material includes items from all parts of the country, and in them will be found a store of infor- nation from the world of industry and commerce on the subject of mini mum wage, labor, laws, current his- torical problems, etc.
 The receipts from the city and county, date from December 1st, 1917 and only with the help from other sources, as itemized in the treasurer's report, were we able to meet all ob- legations of the fiscal year, and even this amount is inadequate to carry the work on, and up, in proportion to the increased circulation of the year.
 The book circulation from Jan. 1st, 1918 to April 1st 1919 was 26120 vol umes, estimating that each book aver faged $1.00 in cost, the library return ed to the city $26,120 worth of read. ing material, for the amount of their appropriation, which was a fraction over 03 per capita. Whatever may be thought of this line of reasoning which gives the figures quoted, it must still be admitted that a cir culaton of 26120 volumes of good It. erature throughout city the size of Pine Bluff, means increased intelli- gence among it's citizens.
 All of this has been done, Ladies and Gentlemen, upon very limited in- come, wisely, and judiciously handled by our finance committee of which Mrs. Allie F. Dreyfus is chairman, by cloest economy have we been able to increase the scope of our work, upon our present revenue.
 ] The library to do full justice to borrowers, readers, the public schools the rural schools, the users of the reference, and information depart- ments, needs an income of not less than $250.00 per month, this amount was a fixed income, the library would be able to double it's present advan- tages and service to the public. The library is not private insti- tuition, emphatically no! it is for the public, and for the adult students who when they were young did not have the advantages of schools, col leges, etc. It is for the people who are the seekers of knowledge, but to lwhom the possession of many books is luxury beyond their reach.
 Because of the desire to place the
 library privileges within reach of
 every one, the membership have been
 put at $1.O0 per annum, less than .O2 per week, and this does not pay
 for volume of fiction non-fiction
 history or biography, nor the sub
 scription price of one good magazine and yet members have the right tc
 draw out, and read any book, ol magazine, in the library, for one year. In these days of high costs o1 living, the library is the one thing ir
 which each man, woman and chile
 could afford to hold a membership. ,t It is to be hoped that we will be |. able to report more than 1000 new borrowers before the end of another lyear.
 In conclusion it is proper that
 should commend the splendid worl , done by your librarians, Mrs. c. c
 Wilcox (who left us last Sept.) Mrs w. s. Ballard, and Mrs. c. F. Rath bun who is now in charge, theil work has been faithful, loyal ant : conscientious, and they have pleased , as we'll as served the public.
 thank the officers, and member : of the executive committee for thei j, help, and and last but not least, ou : especial thanks are due our advis ory board, for their material help, ant 3 sincere interest.
 Respectfully submitted, ,, MRS. c. w. PETTIGREW, { President 9 Mrs. Rathbun's Report. r To the Pine Bluff Library Associa 1 tion, Board of Directors, Execu :, tive Committe:
 ! Ladies and Gentlemen:-
 It is my honor to submit the follow l ing report, of the work done by tn : Pine Bluff Library, from January list 1918, to April 1st, 1919.
 Tc show that the Library is al } educational and municipal factor il : the community, it is necessary to giv 2 detailed report of the various acti : vities of this institution, for the fiji teen months past.
 The library now contains 6625 vol 3 umes, 1880 of which have been adde