TENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
L I B R A R I A N
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY
OF
C L E V E L A N D , O.
FOR THE TEAR ENDING AUGUST 31,1878.
CLEVELAND:
William Payne, Printer and Binder,
1878.
LIBRARY BOARD.
HON. S H E R L O C K J . A N D R E W S , PRESIDENT.
REV. J . W . B R O W N .
COL. J O H N H A Y.
COL. W . F . H I N M A N .
DR. H . M C Q U I S T O N.
W. J . S T A R K W E A T H E R .
DR. W I L L I A M . M E Y E R .
LIBRARIAN,
I . L. B E A R D S L E Y .
L I B R A R I A N ' S REPORT.
T o THE H O N O R A B L E L I B R A R Y B O A R D:
Gentlemen :—I have the honor to submit, for your information,
my Third Annual Report since I became Librarian, and first to your
Honorable Body:
The number of volumes in the Library at the end of the last
current year, was 25,467 against 25,117 volumes at the end of the
previous year, showing net accessions, above all waste, of 350 vol-umes.
The following tabulated statement will exhibit, in detail,
the present condition of the book department:—
Vols, in Con- Drawn
Library demned. Missing, and not Recovered.
Ret'd.
4 4
3 2
18 45 8
16 5 11
5 1 2
2 .....
1
2 1
8 1 6
3 1
6 3 6
3 2 3
38 10
1
Travel 1,487
Social Science and Special History... 880
Belles Lettres 109
Fiction 6,294 98
Juvenile 2,062 37
Essay and Miscellany 996
Wit and Anecdote 241 1
Records of Rebellion 136
Natural History 419 1
Biography 1,509
Collected Foreign Biography 331
Theology and Ecclesiastical History. 885
Poetry 912
History 769
German 1,393 4
Physical Geography and Geology 223
4 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. 1 . 8 7 7 -
Architecture, Music and Art 307 5 1
Education and Hist, of Literature... 321 7 2
Astronomy, Engineering and Math's.. 205 4 4
Natural Philosophy and Chemistry... 208 • 2 1
General Science and Useful Arts 211 5
Physiology, Hygiene & Domestic Sci. • 246 12 2
Elocution, Etiquette and Games 217 1
Mental and Moral Philosophy 217
162 3
Botany, Horticulture and Agricul.... 189 3 1
Ancient Hist., Archseol. and Mythol.. 269 1 1
77 2 1
IN LIBRARY PROPER 21,275 141 151 70 67
In Reference Room.... 3,636
Librarian's Office 116
Unclassified 73
Duplicates 55
Old Books 271
Odd Volumes 41
2-5,467
The purchases during the year were 452 volumes; donations,
37 volumes; reports, &c., bound, 22 volumes. Total volumes, 511,
of which 271 were placed in reference room, 22 in Librarian's oftce,
73 yet unclassified, and the balance of 145 volumes were distributed
in their appropriate places in the library proper. Recovered, of
missing, 70 volumes.
The loss of 151 volumes under the head of missing, is more
apparent than real, as well as the seeming recovery of 67 volumes
of previous losses. In the tabulated statement above, it will be
observed that the losses and recoveries in many of the classifica-tions,
are identical in number, and it is uot improbable that many
volumes last year were misplaced rather than gone. It will be
remembered that the Library was peremptorily closed on the 30th of
June, 1877, and the Assistants, all but one, discharged, and the
Librarian was left to perform an amount of labor so excessive as to
forbid that it should be done with the exactness which would
otherwise have characterized that portion of the report.
The list of condemned books the previous year amounted to
1,023 volumes. Last year it was but 141 volumes, 135 of which
1 8 7 8 . LIBRARIAN S REPORT. 5
were fiction and juvenile, and almost entirely OL a class of literature
that possesses the least value. Of the 70 volumes drawn and not
returned, 50 are of the same classification, and of the 151 volumes
missing, 72 are German and English fiction. It will thus be seen
that the losses in number are greatly reduced, and the value of but
an insignificant sum.
For several months before there was a printed German cata-logue,
it was necessary to permit persons to go to the cases to make
selections, and to this necessity may be attributed most of the losses
in missing. Printed catalogues, in both English and German, are
now complete, and there is no reason why any person should be
permitted to have access to the cases. The rule adopted forbidding
admission will be rigidly enforced, and I hope at the close of this
year, to make a still more favorable showing.
The Library was opened September 10th, 1877, with the Libra-rian
and two Assistants to attempt to meet the wants of the
public. With such inadequate help there was necessarily much
delay and disappointment, and complaints were unavoidable, but
the report of the monthly drawings indicates the excessive labor
imposed upon the Librarian and Assistants, and it is a pleasure to
testify that the two latter performed their heavy tasks with a zeal,
a cheerfulness, a courtesy that was admirable, and deserving of this
public acknowledgement.
Two additional Assistants commenced work March 5th, one
on the 6th, one on the 11th, one on the 18th and one on the 19th,
making the whole number eight, one of whom has charge of the
Reference Room. One resignation took place May 31st, the vacancy
continuing the balance of the current year.
DRAWINGS.
VOLUMES DRAWN.
September, (20 days)
October
4,819
8,738
8,989
10*384
11,841
11,278
November
December.
January...
February.
6 LIBRARIAN'S REPOHT. 1877-
March 12,063
April 10,869
May 9,517
June 8,378
July 8,463
Total, 105,33P
During the year the^Library was kept open 269 clays, with an
average drawing, per day, of 354 volumes. The largest day, March
23, was 701; the smallest July 18, 155 volumes.
This is but a meagre showing in comparison with the previous
year, in which over 189,000 volumes were given out. The special
reason for the great falling off is of course evident in the reduction
of the working force from eleven to three during most of the year.
But there are other reasons which operated, to some extent, in
reducing the drawings. One is the different system adopted of
requiring ticket holders to make written orders from catalogues for
books wanted, and denying access to the cases, and still another in
the continued reduction in the number of volumes too light to have
any literary value, but at the same time very attractive to a certain
class of readers. (I would not be understood as opposed to the
purchase of books only for the educated, or of a character to deprive
the less cultivated of every facility for finding recreation and amuse-ment
in reading, but there are discriminations to be made in selec-tions,
and with great liberality there is a line to be drawn, to which
I respectfully invite the attention of your Honorable Board.) Again,
for the past eighteen months the additions have been so slight and
the Library has so lost ground in keeping up with new publications,
that public interest has become much lessened, and its usefulness in
consequence g'reatly impaired.
Such an institution, to become of high practical value, cannot
stand still. It must keep up with this era of tireless literary
activity, and to fulfill its mission it requires money, but not more
than a city so large and wealthy as this is able to afford. It has
needed an independent Board of Management, capable and willing
to administer to its interests, and I believe the reading public are
gratified that I now have the honor to present my report to the con-sideration
of such a body. It requires steady, hard and intelligent
1878. LIBRARIAN^ REPORT. 7
application on the part of the Librarian, and he will make every
effort not to be found remiss in the performance of the trust reposed
in him.
MEMBERSHIP TICKETS.
At the commencement of the year a new system of issuing
books was adopted, which involved the necessity of re-registering
all the names of drawers, and the issuing of new tickets. The total
issue was 6,000, distributed as follows:
September 1,590
October 870
November 624
December 571
January 616
February 422
March 319
April 409
May 190
June 199
July 190
Total 6,000
The tickets represent 14,963 readers. Of the above 105 have
been surrendered, the parties having left the city; 539 are held sub-ject
to call, of which 211 are subject to fines amounting to $61.40.
Number of notices sent to delinquents 2,390. Of ticket holders
513 changed residence once; 33 removed twice; 9 removed three
times and one four times.
CLASSIFICATION OF CIRCULATION.
A comparative statement, for the past three years, will show
that there has been an improvement in the quality of the books
read. Special effort to that end is steadily made, with what, I trust,
will be thought a gratifying result. It compares favorably with
any Library in the country:
1876. 1877. 1878.
Fiction 60.12 55.80 53.75
Juvenile 15.40 13.20 12.90
History 3.05 3.51 4.25
Biography 3.42 3.56 3.00
8 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. 1 . 8 7 7 -
Religious
Poetry and Drama
Travels
Science and Art....
German
.75 .50 .90
1.05 2.40 2.25
4.16 4.05 5.25
6.50 9.23 8.50
5.55 7.75 9.20
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT.
In consequence of there being no assistant to take charge of
the Reference Department, it was not opened to the public till
Monday, March 25th. During the months in which it was closed,
the demands of those who wished to consult books were very
numerous, and accommodations were extended, where it was possible,
by carrying the volumes to the Librarian's office: but it was simply
impossible to satisfy all the demands. It demonstrated a fact worthy
of note, that the contents of that department are very valuable, and
contain information not to be found elsewhere in our city. The
whole number of visitors during the 107 days this department was
kept open, was 2,572, or an average of 24 per day.
During the time that I have been Librarian a card catalogue
was made of all accessions before the books were placed upon the
shelves. My assistant is engaged, as her time will permit, in pre-paring
cards of the volumes previously on hand, and in due.time I
hope to have the work complete. To prevent confusion and the
dividing of classifications, three or four more cases should be added.
Many volumes are not assigned permanent places for this reason.
Some of the additions during the past year, previously ordered
in London, are of high interest as well as value. Among the num-ber
are a full set of 32 volumes of the journals of the Royal Archseo-logical
Institute of Great Britain; the original edition of Captain
Cook's three voyages, with all the charts, maps and engravings, in
9 volumes quarto, over one hundred years old, and in perfect con-dition;
Fergusson's Temples of the Jews; Jaquemart's History of
Furniture; Peerage and Baronetage of Great Britain; Archaeological
Survey of Western India; Voyage of the Challenger; Master-pieces
of Antique Art; Science and Literature of the Middle Ages;
British Encyclopedia, vols. 1 to 7; Robinson's Parks and Gardens
of Paris; Excavations at Carnac; History of Mining, 2 vols.; Boy-dell's
Shakspeare; British Fishes, 4 vols.; Alpine Plants; Bree's
1878. LIBRARIAN S REPORT.
Birds of Europe; 5 vols; Loue's New and Rare Ferns; Hibberd's
Beautiful ' Leaves; Bateman's Orchids; Ure's Dictionary, part 4;
Beke's Sinai and Arabia: Markham's Frozen Sea, and many others
of not less value.
READING ROOM.
With funds to re-establish the Reading Room, it would no doubt
speedily regain its old popularity. It fell under the same legal edict
as the Library, was closed at the same time, and has remained closed
up to the present. During the last current }Tear of its existence the
total number of visitors was 132,588, or an average of 522 per day.
BINDING.
The Re-binding during the year was, volumes 1,599
New Binding of Documents, &c 32
" " Catalogues 22
Total 1,653
The cost of same was $822.95. As usual the mending is all
done by the Assistants, and is much larger than is usually clone in
other libraries.
CASES AND REPAIRS.
No cases nor furniture were bought, and the cost of repairs
was $13.75.
BOOKS BOUGHT.
The total purchases of Books during the current }^ear, were
452 volumes, nt a cost of $1,215.76.
CATALOGUES.
The general catalogue, now in use more than one year, has been
found in the main to be practically correct. Readers are not em-barrassed
usually in making orders for such books as are wanted,
and the system of drawing by catalogue is generally preferred. A
large number of books catalogued have been condemned and lost,
and it is very desirable that they be replaced as soon as the finan-cial
condition of the institution will permit.
An accession catalogue was printed last spring, which contains
1 0 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. 1 . 8 7 7 -
all the books received up to date, and nearty all now upon the
shelves. A full German catalogue was included, but its usefulness
is impaired owing to the number of volumes gone.
FINANCIAL.
The following is an account of receipts of money, from all
sources, during the }^ear, and reports are made monthly to the Clerk
of the Board of Education:
Fines.
September 10th to October 30th $ 38 45
November 27 35
December 29 10
January 22 55
February 17 95
March 21 60
April 19 45
May 20 85
June 19 90
July 20 55
August 13 45
Total Fines collected..$251 20
Subscriptions $ 1 50
Catalogues sold 8 35
Lost books (6 vols.) paid for 4 50
Damages to books collected 1 25
Old books and papers sold 13 42
Total, $280 22
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
Postage and Postal Cards $39 52
Stationery 16 63
Labels for books 11 50
Repairs 2 20
Setting Glass 1 70
Miscellaneous 8 47
Total, $80 02
ADMINISTRATION.
The working force of the Library is at present seven persons,
besides the Librarian. Eight Assistants were elected by the Board
1878. LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. 1 1
of Education last Spring, one of whom resigned on the first of June,
and the vacancy yet continues. The following constitutes the per-sonelle
of the service, with the date of first election:
I . L. BEARDSLEY, Librarian, September 1, 1 8 7 5.
MARIA T . BUBBELL, First Assistant, March 1, 1 8 7 5.
MARY F . HUTCHINSON, Reference Department, January 8, 1 8 7 4.
EMMA E . KENNEY, Assistant, February 9,1876.
IDA M. REZNER, " March 5, 1878.
ALICE L E VAKE, " " 11, 1878.
MRS. ROSE KELLY, " " 18, 1 8 7 8.
CAROLINE P . KIRKWOOD, " 19, 1878.
The list of gifts to the Library have never been liberal, nor
with considerable effort on my part has there been success in obtain-ing
government and state documents with any regularity, and there
are manjT vacancies in publications which ought to be found in full
in their appropriate places. Correspondence with our last two
members of Congress, Hon. H. B. Payne and Hon. Amos Townsend,
has resulted in some benefit, and through their efforts I believe we
shall be better recognized by the different "departments of the Gov-ernment
in Washington in future. Courtesies from other libraries
would no doubt have been more numerous had our annual reports
been printed separate from those of the Board of Education, thus
permitting exchanges to be mad°. The following is a list of dona-tions
during the past year:
DONATIONS.
Books. Pamph-lets.
Beardsley Library,
Board of Education
West Winsted, Ct..
Chicago
Cincinnati
Dayton
Detroit
Waterbury, Ct
Washington, D. C.
Springfield, Mass..
Washington, D. C
1
1
1
1
Bronson, Library,
Bureau of Education,
City Library Association,
Coffin, C. C.
Congressional Library,
Eckman, W. H.
Feron, J. J.
City Clerk, Cleveland
City
2
3
1 2 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. 1.877-
Financial Ref. Association, Liverpool, England 1
Mercantile Library Association, San Francisco 1
" " Philadelphia 1
" " New York 1
Payne, Hon. H. B. Department Reports, U. S. 4
Public Library, Boston.... 5
Chicago 1
" " Lawrence, Mass 1
Toledo 1
" " Worcester, Mass ' 1
Nicholson File Company, Providence R. 1 1
Townsend, Hon. Amos Department Reports, U. S. 13
Unknown, 4
U. S. Treasury Department, 1
U. S. Interior " 3
Young Men's Association, Buffalo 1
37 18
I have endeavored, in the foregoing Report, to place before your
Honorable Board all the information in regard to the Institution
under your management that I thought might be of interest, and
perhaps of assistance in shaping the policy of its administration in
the future. I trust the completeness of detail embodied in it will
be accepted as evidence that nothing essential to a proper perform-ance
of my duties is overlooked, nor that I do not devote my time
wholly to the service for which I am paid. Captious or ignorant
persons may indulge in personal unfavorable criticisms, but I be-lieve
the public at large is satisfied with the promptness and cour-tesy
with which its wants are met. In my own belief the service is
not worse performed than in the best managed like institutions in
the country. I shall be happy to receive any suggestions your
Honorable Board may be pleased to make, and it will be my pleasure,
at all times, to defer to its superior judgment.
I. L. BEARDSLEY,
Librarian.
