Annual report of the Cleveland Public Library for 1879

              E L E V E N T H A N N U A L R E P O RT
BOARD OF MANAGERS
LIBRARIAN
PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY
CLEVELAND, OHIO.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 1879.
C L E V E L A N D :
LEADER PRINTING COMPANY, 146 SUPERIOR STREET.
1879.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
BOARD OF MANAGERS
LIBRARIAN
UBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY
CLEVELAND, OHIO,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 1879.
C L E V E L A N D :
LEADER PRINTING COMPANY, 146 SUPERIOR STREET.
1879.
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 , D.D.
COL. J O H N HAY.
COL. W. F. H I N M A N.
DR. H. MCQUISTON.
DR. WM. MEYER.
W. J. S T A R K W E A T H E R.
LIBRARIAN,
I . L. B E A R D S L E Y.
REPORT OF LIBRARY BOARD,
lo the Honorable Board of Education of the City of Cleveland:—
GENTLEMEN: The Library Committee of the City of Cleveland, in
obedience to the law under which they were appointed, herewith submit
a statement of their receipts and disbursements from May 1st, 1870, the
time when the balance of the Library Fund was transferred to their
credit, to September 1st, 1879, the end of their official year.
They subjoin an abstract from the minutes of the committee, exhibit-ing
in an aggregate form the expenditures during the past year for the
following items:
Salaries $5,752 33
Books 1,577 27
Binding 699 70
Insurance 141 90
Fuel 250 52
Gas 277 87
Furniture 941 50
Expenses (moving) 331 27
Fixtures for new building 519 47
Miscellaneous expenses 279 97
Total expenditures $10,771 80
The account with the Library Fund prior to May 1st, 1879, was kept
by the Secretary of the Board of Education, and will, undoubtedly, be
included in his report.
For a full and detailed statement of the present condition of the
Library, and of all the material facts connected with its management
since it has been under the control of the committee, they beg leave to
refer the Board to the elaborate and able report of the Librarian, which
accompanies this communication.
By order of the Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
S. J. ANDREWS,
Chairman.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEITPS.
Balance transferred to Library Board, May 1, '79.. $2,055 67
Balance of $6,000 appropriation over cost of repairs, 1,681 98
Amount of half tax for present year 2,743 44
Balance derived from Library income 68 44
Total Receipts $6,549 53
DISBURSEMENTS.
Salaries from May 1st to September 1st $2,469 60
Books bought 199 18
LABOR—
Paid for labor in moving Library... 90 50
J. N. Fuller, cleaning carpets 7 02
H. Beckenbach, moving Library and
fitting up 233 75— 331 27
Insurance 93 75
Gas, from March 1st to September 1st 64 05
Coal (Martin, Morris & Babcock) 250 52
Binding (Wm. Payne) 243 48
Blank Books and Printing 48 50
FIXTURES—
Carothers & Bro., Rem. Gas Fixtures 59 10
Y. P. Mathivet, Plumbing 77 01
G. A. Selzer, Gas Fixtures 284 21
Cleveland Window Glass Co., Glass. 28 00
W, S. Tyler, Screens for heat'g pipes. 59 15
Thomas Jones, Polishing & setting
mantels 12 00— 519 47
FURNITURE—
S. P. Russell, Glass and setting 8 80
Herig & Sons, Desk 268 50
Furniture 170 50
Rice & Burnett, " 10 33
H. Beckenbach, " 316 00
Sterling & Co, Carpets 90 75
Lowrie, Shurmer & Co 20 00
T. Whitehead, Pedestal 50 00
L. Cooks, Covering screen 6 62— 941 50
Total Disbursements $5,161 32
Balance to Cr. of Library Fund August 31st. $1,388 21
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Honorable Library Board:
In presenting for your consideration my annual report,
for the official year ending August 31st, of the institution over
which, by your partiality, I am continued as Librarian, it is
with peculiar satisfaction that I am permitted to place on
record the evidence of the advance that has been made during
the past year toward that permanence and prosperity which,
under continued liberal and enlightened management, is,
beyond a doubt, assured in the future. An institution like
this needs a permanent home adapted to its service, sufficient
in size, with light, ventilation, accessibility and convenience,
and by the wisdom and favor of the Board of Education it is
in possession of such a building. Under the operation of a
law passed at the last session of the Legistature a sufficient
income will be assured, after the end of this year, besides
paying all expenses, to permit the purchase of the valuable
current literature of the day as fast as published, and add
such other books as the wants of the public may suggest, as
well as make needed additions to the German department;
and, finally, the outlay can extend to the establishment of a
reading-room containing the leading newspapers and maga-zines
for which the proper fixtures are already provided in
accordance with the new law. Undoubtedly the periodical pub-lications
which can be supplied at small expense are amongst
the most valuable contributions to knowledge, with the lead-ing
newspapers, will add largely to the popularity and useful-ness
of the institution.
It was predicted by a few that the removal of the Library
would lessen the circulation on account of being away from
the business center, but the increase of books drawn in three
months from the opening, May 1st, of 2,870 volumes over the
same period last year, is an indication that it was less detri-mental
than was supposed. The percentage of new tickets
6 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
issued to residents of the West Side did not decrease, nor the
proportional number of books drawn.
The whole number of books given out during the year was
.108,175 against 105,339 the previous year, being an increase
of 3,736 volumes, but the less number of days the Library was
kept open gives the result of 422 drawn per day against 354
the previous year, or an average daily increase of 68 volumes.
This institution stands the eighth in a list of thirty of the
prominent, free and circulating libraries in this country in the
number of its circulation, and is the fourteenth in point of
size. The percentage of fiction drawn last year was 54.85,
nearly the same as the previous year, and in the whole num-ber
of libraries mentioned above^ this stands lowest in the
amount of light reading drawn. !• Believing that a library like
this, connected with and forming a portion of our educational
system, wields a potent influence for good or evil, I look
upon the position that the Librarian occupies as one of pecu-liar
responsibility, and I have endeavored to thoroughly in-form
myself as to the methods by which the best results may
be attained. Without much prepossession in favor of novel
reading, I yet think that it subserves a useful purpose as
affording recreation and amusement to those who have no
time nor inclination to bestow upon works of a more instruc-tive
character; and to such persons, if light reading could not
be had, all books would be avoided. There are some facts
not without significance. Readers of fiction take less care of
books; they are more careless about returning them promptly,
and oftener subject themselves to fines. Seven out of eight
of the delinquent books during the past year were novels. I
may add that, having observed closely, for several years, I am
prepared to say that the class we designate as novel readers, and
who are steady drawers of sensational books, few or none ad-vance
to a better class of literature. Out of 233 volumes con-demned
183 are fiction. Of Dickens' works, considerable over
250 volumes,, only 4 were condemned; of Scott, 150 volumes;
of Irving, 120 volumes; Miss Yonge, 70 volumes; Cooper,
100, not a single volume was condemned, while the list of
worn out books is almost entirely of the most sensational
character.
7 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
In the Conventions of Librarians which have been held the
past two years much attention has been given to the subject
of novel reading, and the weight of opinion is strongly in
favor of a more close discrimination in the selection of proper
reading for free libraries.
In the Boston Public Library, the greatest institution of its
kind in the world, the percentage of fiction given out last
year was 71. The trustees in their report say: " While the
standard historical and social life stories continue to attract
the cultivated, it is not surprising that the sensational, vis-ionary
and vapid narratives should find a full reception from
the less critical and consequently more numerous class of
readers." Results were sought in regard to the circulation of
fiction, and it was ascertained that of the popular and sensa-tional
writers " the apparent average delivery of each volume
was about 40 in the year, while the great mass of the less
attractive but really better class of novels did not find over 13
readers in the year." This is certainly not an encouraging
condition, and the question elicited is a pertinent one: i{ Is a
remedy to be sought for this condition of things, or is this
the natural result of the popular reading of fiction not im-moral?"
I doubt whether the percentage of fiction given out
of this Library can be materially decreased if the proportion
of novels on the shelves is maintained. It could be easily
and largely increased, but whether for public benefit I respect-fully
leave to the judgment of your Honorable Board. »
In regard to juvenile reading the problem is a more diffi-cult
one to solve. Like older persons, the imaginations of
the young seek .for highly seasoned food, and there is such an
eager desire for sensational reading on the part of youth that
it has been deemed a necessity to restrict drawings, on the
part of those attending school, to once a week. There are
upwards of 2;000 volumes of juvenile books in the Library,
and the drawings last year amounted to 13.50 per cent, of the
whole circulation. The purchase of the more exciting books
was discontinued three years ago, since which time those in
the Library have been mostly worn out and condemned; and it
remains to be determined whether such works shall again be
bought or a closer discrimination be made. The quality of
8 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
the juvenile books on the shelves of the Library is, on the
whole, good.
The teachers who are daily brought into communication
with the children could, by unity of action, no doubt accom-plish
much by recommending what should be read, and, to a
certain extent, directing the minds of scholars to a higher
aim than would suggest itself if left to their own crude judg-ments.
In some cases they have been instructed by teachers
to read and report on certain authors, and at once every vol-ume
in request would be drawn from the Library, and it has
been a matter of surprise to me with what intelligence infor-mation
has been sought by those of almost tender years.
Were the supervision suggested practically carried out, there
is scarcely a question that when their school days were ended
the scholars would make their first essay in real life prepared
to be benefited by the higher education the Public Library
affords. Books are the next higher grade and commence
where the discipline of school ends. This, in my opinion, is
the true direction in which we may look for an ultimate
lessening of the percentage of unprofitable reading drawn
from the Public Library.
The long time that has elasped since any material- acces-sions
of books have been made has been detrimental to the
usefulness of the Library. The want of books of amusement
has worked no special detriment, but the lack of contempo-raneous
literature of a higher character, being a sequence, as
it were, to what had been previously read, has worked much
injury, and, besides, detracted largely from the popular esti-mation
in which such an institution ought to be held. To
one acquainted with its deficiencies, and the public disap-pointment
in consequence, it cannot but be a matter of sin-cere
regret that its wants could not have been better provided
for.
In history and biography the Library is very deficient.
Many sets of more elaborate history are imperfect and ought
to be replaced as soon as the means will permit. Special his-tory
is in meager supply and is yet in greater demand, and
the same may be said of biography. Of text books, the foun-dations
from which general history is drawn, there are not
9 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
enought to be of any service to the student. That deficiency,
of course, exists more particularly in the reference depart-ment,
but it is hoped will be remedied, partially, at least, at
any early date.
The net accessions to the circulating department during the
year were 819 volumes, and they were mostly to replace
books that were gone. The table published on a following
page will indicate the increase in each classification. Only
139 volumes were added to the reference department.
The prospects of the institution, after the close of the pres-ent
year, are more promising than they have ever been. In
addition to new, elegant and ample quarters, the estimated
income is large enough to insure the purchase of several thou-sand
volumes of new books. The entire expenses of the com-ing
year will not exceed one half the income, which is an
indication of the closest economy in the administration. This
can better be demonstrated by comparison with other libraries,
and I have copied from the annual reports of the following-institutions
the amount of income and value of books bought:
Boston Public Library
INCOME
$ 1 2 4 , 2 0 0 9 1
BOOKS BOUGHT.
$ 1 4 , 4 0 3 00
Chicago Public Library 3 8 , 7 8 7 5 8 9 , 0 7 8 0 6
Cincinnati Public Library 5 8 , 0 5 5 1 8 9 , 9 6 6 5 4
Detroit Public Library 8 , 1 8 0 2 9 2 , 1 2 0 9 1
Lawrence, Mass., Public Library 1 0 , 8 9 5 5 9 2 . 2 6 7 8 9
Mechanics and Tradesmen's, New York... 1 2 2 0 4 2 2 3 , 0 1 4 1 6
Mercantile, New York 2 7 , 3 5 7 5 3 5 , 4 6 7 1 0
Mercantile, San Francisco 2 7 , 8 1 3 4 3 3 , 8 1 0 9 3
Odd Fellows', San Francisco 1 0 , 7 2 4 8 3 1 , 7 2 4 9 1
Springfield, Mass., Public 9 , 2 7 0 2 0 2 , 4 1 4 0 6
Worcester, Mass., Public 1 1 , 2 3 6 4 9 1 , 4 5 2 5 2
Young Men's Association, Buffalo 1 4 , 4 5 0 U 0 2 , 8 6 0 5 3
DONATIONS.
It must be confessed that this institution has never pos-sessed
the purse of Fortunatus. . A record of the gifts be-stowed
upon it would make but a meager showing. By refer-ence
to the list of donations during the past year it will be
seen that the number is but 55 volumes, and these are mostly
1 0 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
Government publications. In presenting the following sum-mary
of donations to other libraries it is with no intention to
criticise the want of liberality on the part of our own citizens.
No one can look upon these noble acts of munificence with-out
feeling that credit is reflected upon the cities where the
record of such liberality becomes a part of their history.
The Boston Public Library received last year donations in
books of 21,206 volumes and 12,453 pamphlets from 674 giv-ers.
The year just closed the donations were 3,680 volumes
and 8,786 pamphlets from 470 givers. Joshua Bates has
given $50,000 worth of books and $50,000 in money. The
total cash donations to the institution amount to $116,000.
The Worcester (Mass.,) Public Library was presented in
the start with 11,500 volumes. The citizens raised and pre-sented
$11,000 to establish a reading-room. Dr. John Green
presented $30,000. The donations last year were 464 vol-umes
of books and 266 pamphlets. Its receipt from dog licen-ses
was . $2,722.18. The Library contains 45,155 volumes, of
which 26,000 are in the reference department.
In Detroit, since 1865, the Public Library has received
from the County Treasurer, from fines and penalties, $.107,-
249.38. From tax levy for erecting a library building, $122,-
405.21. Total number of volumes 39,045.
The Chicago Public Library had received at the end of its
sixth year in cash $200,553.02. Donations last year, 1,332
yolumes and 385 pamphlets. Number of books, 57,984.
The above are Public Libraries of circulation and the list
might be added to largely. For the establishment of free
libraries George Peabody gave to the city of Baltimore
$1,400,000; John Jacob and Win. B. Astor gave New York
$700,000; John Lenox gave $700,000 to found the Lenox
Library and is still adding; Walter N. Newberry left $2,-
000,000 to found a library in Chicago; Joseph Fisher left
Philadelphia $55,000, and Dr. Jas. Rush left the same city
$1,000,000 to maintain a library there; Mr. Howes recently
left the Boston Atheneum $150,000 toward its library, and
the late Asa Packer, of Pennsylvania, left by will $500,000 to
the library of the Lehigh (Pa.,) University.
11 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
111 the year 1800 there were but 80,000 volumes in all Pub-lic
Libraries in the United States. In 1860 there were 27,-
730 public and private libraries, with 13,316,000 volumes;
and in 1870 there were reported 164,815 public and private
libraries, with 45,629,000 volumes. In the two libraries of
this city there are 40,000 volumes, one half as many as in all
the Public Libraries eighty years ago. This statement is not
made as a matter of pride, for we have only one volume in
our libraries to four inhabitants. The Public Library of Bos-ton
alone contains 361,000 volumes, or more than one volume
to each inhabitant. The little city of Worcester, Mass., with
a population of about 50,000, has in its Public Library 46,000
volumes. To continue comparisons with like results would
be an easy task, but would hardly be profitable.
BOOKS.
Present number of Books in Library proper 22,163
In Reference Library 3,775
Duplicates 72
Odd Volumes 61
Old Books 271
Librarian's Office 148
Total in Library 26,490
In Library last year 25,467
Bought during the year 1,186
Donated 39
Recovered of missing 109
Recovered of delinquents 16
26,817
Deduct delinquents 51
Condemned 233
Missing 43— 327
26,490
Net increase during the year vols., 1,023
Cost of 1,186 volumes bought $1,586 18
Average cost yer volume 1 34
1 2 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
The following statement will exhibit the volumes in each
department with accessions, missing, condemned, delinquent
and recovered during the past year:
VOLUMES
IN
LIBRARY.
Accessions.
Condemned.
TaI
03
S
Drawn and
not Returned.
Recovered of
Djawn last year.
Recovered
of Missing.
Travel 1 , 4 9 1
8 8 6
4 1 0
7 4
Social Science and Spec'l History.
Belles Lettres
6
1 4
" 1 1 0 1
Fiction 6 , 6 8 0
2 , 1 3 5
1 , 0 0 7
2 4 2
3 1 7 1 4 0 1 6 3 8
1 1
4
7 3 4 9
5
11
1
1 2 1 4
Records of Rebellion 1 5 0 14
Natural History
Biography and Collected Works.
Collected Foreign Biography. . . .
Theology & Ecclesiastical Hist'y..
4 5 3 3 4 1* 1
1 , 6 2 5
3 4 1
116 2 1
3
1 0 1
9 3 3 4 8 6
9 5 7
7 9 8
4 5 3 1 2 9 1 1
o
- 4
6
2
1 , 3 9 5
2 3 0
2 1 2
3
Physical Geography & Geology.. Architecture "Music and Art
7
3 1 5 8 5
Education & Hist'y of Literature.
Astronomy, Engineering and
3 3 2 11 1 2
2 1 2 7 1 2
Natural Philosophy & Chemistry. 2 1 5 7 2
2 1 5 4 1 4
Physiology, Hygiene and Do-
2 5 1 5 1 2
Elocution, Etiquette and Games.
Mental and Moral Philosophy...
Politics and Law
2 3 5 1 8 1 1 1
2 1 9 2
1 7 8 16 2
Botany, Horticulture and Agri-culture
1 9 5 6
Ancient History, Archaeology
2 7 6 7
8 7 1 0
2 2 , 1 6 3
3 , 7 7 5
8 1 9 2 3 3 4 3 5 1 1 6 1 0 9
In Reference Room
1 3 5
1 4 8 3 2
7 2 1 7
Old Books 2 7 1
6 1 2 0
Total 2 6 , 4 9 0 1 0 2 3
13 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
The accessions were only in part new books, but mostly
purchases to fill the catalogue of missing and condemned.
Never in the history of the Library has the waste been so
small as during the past pear. More books were condemned
than during the previous year; but the missing of forty-three
volumes is made up by the recovery of one hundred and nine
volumes of previously missing. I doubt whether, under the
closest surveillance, a more favorable showing could be made.
The whole number of tickets out at the end of the year was
8,454, it being an increase of 2,454, representing 21,135
readers. Number of tickets surrendered on account of re-moval,
42. 114 are held for fines. Number of notices sent
to delinquents, 2,210.
The Library was open for giving out books 256 days, ten
hours each day. The whole number drawn was 108,175, a
daily average of 422 volumes, against 354 the previous year.
The largest day was, 1,039, December 28th; smallest day, 88,
September 12th. The following is a statement of the drawings
by months for the past two years:
BORROWERS.
CIRCULATION OF BOOKS.
1878. 1879. 1878. 1879.
September.
October...
November
December.
January...
February..
March
4,819 7,120 April
8,738 9,506 May.,
8,989 10,886 June
10,384 11,261 July.
11,841 13,347
11,278 13,787 Total
12,063 13,030
105,339 108,175
10,869
9,517 10,830
8,378 8,916
8,463 9,492
CLASSIFICATION OF CIRCULATION.
A comparative statement of the past four years will show-slight
changes in the classification of books drawn, and make
1 4 LIBRARIAN^ RI^ORF.
a favorable showing in comparison with the reported circular
tion of other libraries:
1876. 1877. 1878. 1879-.
Fiction 55.80 53.75 54.85
Juvenile 13.20 12.90 13.69
History 3.51 4.25 5.44
Biography , , . . 3.42 3.56 3.00 3.13
Religious 75 .50 .90 .52
Poetry and Drama .. ., 1.05 2.40 2.25 2.65
Travels 4.16 4.05 5.25 5.68
Science and Art , 6.50 9.23 8.50 6.82
German , , , 5.55 7.75 9.20 7.22
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT.
This department, when the small number of books it con-tains
is taken into consideration, stands high in popular
estimation. The whole number of visitors, during the year
of 256 days, was 10,469, or an average of 41 per day. Num-ber
of volumes consulted, 15,147, or a daily average of 63
volumes.
As this department increases in size, it will grow more and
more in popular favor, and it is not too much to suppose that
it will, in time, become the most important treasury of infor-mation
in this city. Every arrangement for the convenience
of the public, so far as completed, is all that could be desired.
Only 135 volumes were added during the year, and none of
these were of an expensive character.
READING ROOM.
All the furniture necessary for opening the Reading Room
is in place, and lists of papers and magazines made, with esti-mated
expense; and it will probably be opened to the public
about the commencement of the coming year.
BINDING.
Number of books re-bound during the year 1,756
Number of new books bound 102
Total volumes 1,858
15 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
Cost of binding for the year ! $699 70
Number of volumes mended in the Library 6,530
FINANCIAL?
Receipts from fines $213 90
Catalogues sold 4 69
Subscriptions 4 50
Books lost and paid for 3 65
Old papers sold 1 80
Total $228 45
PAYMENTS.
1 Clock $4 50
1 dozen Towels 2 30
1 Hand saw 1 25
1 pair Plyers 1 00
Rubber stamps 7 00
Painting hot air pipes 2 65
Ice bill 6 25
Cane seating 2 chairs 1 25
Trimming coal 9 00
2 Signs 2 00
Setting glass 1 25
Frames for Rules 2 50
Freight 2 23
Express charges 2 15
H. Beckenbach's bill 125
4 Nos. of " Chefs d'CEuvre of Art " 4 00
60 Nos. of '' Picturesque Europe " 30 00
Cartage on empty boxes 4 10
Recovering books 5 50
Labels 11 20
Postage 9 32
Postal cards 23 50
Stationery 14 14
Miscellaneous 11 67
Amount to Library Fund 68 44
Total $228 45
CATALOGUES.
In addition to the printed classified catalogues, two new
catalogues were made during the past year, one of titles and
1 6 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
one of authors, embracing all the books except the later pur-chases,
arranged alphabetically, without regard to classifica-tions
of departments, but complete as to subjects. They were
prepared for our own use, and enable the assistants to readily
find any book in the Library in a few moments' time. The
card catalogue of the Reference Library is complete, except
that there is no assignment of places for the books, which
cannot well be done till more shelf room is provided. There
is no trouble, however, in finding any volume wanted. The
work of preparing a subject catalogue of this department is
well commenced, and will be completed as rapidly as possible.
LIBRARY SERVICE.
I. L. Beardsley, Librarian September 1st, 1875.
Maria T. Hubbell, First Assistant March 1st, 1875.
Mary F. Hutchinson, First Assist. Reference Dep't. Jan'y 8th, 1874.
Lizzie Hall, Assistant Reference Department April 21st, 1879.
Emma E. Kenny, Assistant February 9th, 1876.
Ida M. Rezner, " March 5th, 1878.
Alice Le Yake, " March 11th, 1878
Mrs. Rose Kelly, " March 18th, 1878.
Caroline P. Kirkwood, Assistant March 19th, 1878.
Anna Umbstaetter, Assistant October 21st, 1878.
DONATIONS. PAMPH-BOOKS.
LETS.
American Water Color Society 1
Apprentices' Library, New York 1
Bauder, L. F., Cleveland 1
Board of Trade, Omaha, Neb 1
Boston Public Library 5
Burns, Hon. A. M 1
Detroit Public Library 1
Dexter, F. B., New Haven, Conn 1
Eckman, W. H., Cleveland 3
Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Yt .. 1
Friend's Library, Germantown, Pa 1
Indianapolis, Ind., Public Library 1
Leader Printing Co., Cleveland 1
Leicester, Mass., Public Library 1
Marble, Manton, New York 1
Mercantile Library Association, New York 1
17 LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
PAMrir-
BOOKS. LETS.
Mercantile Library Association, Philadelphia 1
Newton, Mass., Free Library 1
Odd Fellows' Library Association, San Francisco 2
Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md 1
Pope Manufacturing Co 1
St. Louis Public Library 3
Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C 2
Springfield, Mass., Public Library 1
Steiger, E., New York 1
Taunton, Mass., Public Library 1
Toledo, O., Public Library 1
Townsend, Hon. Amos 22
United States Interior Department 11 1
" Patent Office 3
" " State Department 2
" " Treasury Department 1
" " War Department . 4
Watertown, Mass., Free Library 1
Young Men's Association, Buffalo 1
Total 55 28
PUBLICATIONS.
Catholic Universe Cleveland.
Christian Register Boston, Mass.
Die Deutsch Zietung Wheeling, W. Ya.
Irish World New York.
Trade Review Cleveland.
Unitarian Review Boston, Mass.
With a sincere appreciation of the kindness and courtesy
extended to me by your Honorable Body, I am,
Very respectfully yours,
I. L. BEARDSLEY,
Librarian.
BRIEF HISTORY OP THE LIBRARY.
Believing that a brief history of the institution since its
establishment would not be without interest, I have compiled
from the annual reports such information as I have been able
to obtain, and placed in a tabulated form the chief statistics,
sub-dividing the expenditures far enough to impart an intelli-gent
idea of the relative cost of keeping up the adminstration
of the Library and the additions to its permanent value.
Previous to the year 1868, under the provisions of a general
law, a small school library was kept in the High School
Building which proved of little benefit except to the scholars*
No person being specially appointed and paid to take care of
the books, they were rapidly wasted, and the law establishing
school libraries, so far as it applied to cities, was of little
benefit. In the school reports, previous to 1868, I find no
mention made of the library, but learn that it was kept open
on Saturday afternoons of each week and was under the charge
of Sidney Norton.
In March, 1867, an act of the Legislature was passed " to
provide for the enlargement and maintenance of school libra-ries
in cities of the first and second class." The specific pro-visions
of this act were, that in "cities of over 20,000 popula-tion,
at the last "Federal census, the Boards of Education of
such cities are authorized annually to levy a tax of one tenth
of a mill on the dollar valuation of the taxable property of
such cities aforesaid," and that the amount of said tax when
collected shall be expended, under the Board of Education,
for the purchase of such books as are suitable for Public
School Libraries, the bills for which, with attendant expenses,
shall be certified by the President and Secretary and paid by
the City Treasurer." Under further provisions of this act a
Librarian and assistants were elected and the present School
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY. 1 9
Library was opened to the public on the 18th day of February,
1869.
This law was framed, as I learn, by Rev. Anson Smythe,
then Superintendent of Public Schools, and W. H. Price, Esq.,
President of the Board of Education. The defects of the sys-tem
of establishing School Libraries in cities were evident,
and the design of the framers of this act was to provide a sure
income to be appropriated for the purchase of boohs for a
Public Library which should insure its steady growth, and
enable it in time to take its place as one of the important
institutions of the city. A question having- afterward arisen
as to the meaning and intent of the second section of the act,
which required the Board of Education to spend the money
derived from the tax "for the purchase of such books as are
suitable for Public School Libraries, the bills for which, with
attendant expenses, shall be certified to and paid," the subject
was referred to the Attorney General, who decided that, in
the intent and meaning of the law, the proceeds of the tax
must be spent in the purchase of boohs, and that attendant
expenses meant binding, but no more.
The Library made a satisfactory growth, the Board of Edu-cation
carrying out the provisions of the act and voting the
necessary means to pay expenses. That act, as interpreted,
I believe is still in force in every first and second class city in
the State except Cleveland.
On the 3d day of April, 1867, an act was passed by the
Legislature authorizing Boards of Education to elect Boards
of Managers of Public Libraries, of which the President
should be a member ex-officio. On the 2d day of October,
1871, such Board of Managers was elected, and the following
gentlemen constituted the Board: A. Gr. Hopkinson and
Dr. Elislia Sterling, for one year; J. H. A. Bone and S. H.
Mather, two years; Rev. S. Woolcott and A. Thieme, three
years. This Board held its last session and sent in its resig-nation
on the 14th of , July, 1873, when the management
reverted to the Board of Education.
L. M. Oviatt was elected Librarian in 1868 and resigned
the place in 1875, the present Librarian succeeding him on
the 1st day of Septembei\of that year.
2 0 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY. 20
In May, 1877, the question haying again arisen as to the
meaning of the second section of the act of 1867, the subject
was referred by the Board of Education to the Committee on
Judiciary and the City Attorney. A report was made that,
in their opinion, to appropriate any money from the school
fund for paying the expenses of the Library was illegal; that
the " attendant expenses " in the purchase of books meant all
expenses.
As there was no library fund the institution was closed, and
from June 30, 1877, to September 10th, no books were given
out. At the last named date it was reopened to the public
with the Librarian and two assistants. During the session of
1877-78 two acts were passed by the Legislature which essen-tially
permitted the Board of Education to do just what had
been done in the past, only that there was a limit to $7,000
of the amount that might be appropriated from the school
fund. Under the last act the present Library Board was
created, when the necessities of the institution were made
apparent if the Library^was ever to fulfil the purposes of its
creation.
A new bill was prepared, under the direction of the present
Honorable Board, and approved by the Board of Education,
which became a law on the 8th day of April last. The pro-visions
of this act vests the entire management of the Library
in the Library Board, and under it will be derived a fairly
liberal income, which will permit of a generous expenditure
in books, rapidly augmenting their number and advancing the
institution to the position it ought to hold in this large and
rich city.
The Library has been removed three times; in 1873 from
Northrup and Harrington's Block to Clark's Block on Supe-rior
street; in 1875 to the City Hall, and, in April of this
year, to the present appropriate and ample building, where it
is likely to remain.
The following tables furnish such statistical information as
I have been able to collate from the annual school reports
since 1869, and, no doubt, can be depended upon as correct,
except in a few immaterial cases of no special importance:
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY. 2 1
YEAR.
No. of
Assistants
GROWTH
OF
LIBRARY
NO. OF BOOKS
GIVEN OUT.
COST OF
BOOKS.
BINDING. SALARIES. EXPENSES.
1869 2
2
2
5
6
6
11
14
14
8
8
2,163
7,030
10,311
12,756
16,435
20,415
118,834
22,769
25,117
25,467
26,490
$4,376 52
2,991 52
5,846 09
3,983 43
4,863 36
4,108 82
3,976 61
8,063 31
8,119 65
1,474 67
1,586 18
$256 35
• •Si--
706 85
1,350 53
1,164 88
992 50
822 95
699 70
$1,623 50
1,988 32
2,500 00
3,998 92
4,618 95
4,641 96
6,056 84
6,599 05
5,492 61
3,363 69
5,752 33
$3,847 14
1,390 83
1,785 02
1,826 28
3,509 96
2,093 69
3,797 16
3,289 70
1,638 96
833 72
1,641 24
1870
65,552
100,678
84,475
111.217
173,281
156,000
167,052
189,197
105,339
108,175
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1S76
1877
1878
1879 Total... . 1,260,966 $49,390 16
$5,993 76
$46,636 17
$25,653 40
t According- to estimate of the President of the Board of Education, there should have
been nearly 23,000 volumes; but the number was determined by actual count.
Three of the Assistants in the years 1876 and 1877 were employed for night and Sunday
work.
The following Table shows the leading items of expense
from the year 1869:
YEAR.
MISCELLANEOUS
EXPENSE.
RENT. GAS. INSURANCE.
FURNITURE
AND
CASES.
TOTAL.
1869 $507 36
379 60
i^84 81
718 99
1,090 96
730 41
771 29
272 16
366 34
403 47
279 97
$600 00
600 00
600 00
600 00
666 67
644 47
2,135 24
1,875 00
$45 81
86 03
129 41
242 19
300 29
189 26
118 30
435 17
408 63
128 40
277 87
$61 40
109 90
105 80
160 80
282 00
516 80
189 00
95 00
170 00
165 00
141 90
$2,632 57
215 00
265 00
104 30
1,170 04
12 75
583 33
612 37
693 99
136 85
941 50
$3,847 14
1,390 53
1,785 02
1,826 28
3,509 96
2,093 69
3,797 16
3,289 70
1,638 96
833 72
1,641 24
1870
1871.
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877..
1878
1879 Total.... $6,205 36 $7,721 38 $2,361 36 $1,997 60 $7,367 70 $25,653 40
RECAPITULATION.
Number of Books given out 1,260 966
Cost of Books $49,390 16
Cost of Binding 5 993 ^g
S a l a r i e s 46,636 17
Expenses, which includes cases and furniture 25 653 40
Total cost of Library to September 1st, 1879 $127 673