RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 30, 1895.

The Library continued to serve its former subscribers up to June 1st, when it was opened to the general public. The registration of readers, however, began with the year, or, to speak exactly, on April 26, 1894.

26,064 names had been registered.

Up to April 30, 1895,
This involved the num-

bering, filling-in and arranging of 100,000 cards, many of which had to be handled twice.

As this report is meant ultimately for the information of the public, I have thought it well to present with reasonable

fullness the details of the practical working of the Horary in each department. It is proper that the people stonb know how their work is done in every public institution: it is desirable that our citizens should have some idea of the amount and kind of labor involved in the administration of a large library; and especially is it necessary that they should know the simple forms by which they may sure the privil eges to which they are entitled and the means by which their property is cared for at the same time that it is male available to every resident of St. Louis.

CONDITIONS AND RULES.

Any person of decent appearance and behavior may, without previous application and without any other formality than writing his name and address on a call-slip. obtain books and periodicals to read or consult in the rooms. A card entitling the holder to draw books for home reading will be issued on application to any person who resides or pays taxes or has permanent employment in St. Louis, and who can furnish a reasonable assurance that he will comply with the rules and regulations.

Applicants must sign the following blank:

THIS APPLICATION MUST BE FILLED OUT IN INK, AND APPROVED, BEFORE CARD IS ISSUED.

No.....

I, the undersigned, apply for a reader's card in the St. Louis Public (Free) Library.

CROSS OUT WHAT DOES
NOT APPLY.

(am a resident of the city,

I

am a taxpayer in the city,

(have permanent employment in the city, and hereby agree to comply with all the rules and regulations of the Library, to make good any loss or injury sustained by it through issuing a card entitling me to draw books, and TO GIVE IMMEDIATE NOTICE OF CHANGE OF RESIDENCE.

Signature (in ink)

Residence.....

Occupation.

Place of business....

THIS CARD WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IF SOILED OR FOLDED.

The rule requires as security for the prompt and safe return of books "a cash deposit or a guaranty signed by a resident of the city known to be responsible.”

The guaranty reads as follows:

Public Library,

St. Louis,.

.189..

I, the undersigned, hereby agree to be responsible for any loss of or damage to the books of the St. Louis Public (Free) Library issued

to.....

...

and for any penalties incurred by h........ through violation of the rules of the library.

Signature (in ink)
Residence.....

A city ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to take books from the Library "except in accordance with the rules," or to fail to return them when notified, or to damage books or other library property. Experience thus far justifies the liberal policy of the Board, for out of 331,000 books issued for home reading, only three were not returned. The precaution that might have prevented this loss would probably have deterred some thousands of readers from using the library.

WORK OF REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT.

The application being approved, a "reader's card" is issued to the applicant, which he must always present in drawing or returning a book. This card has on one side the reader's name with a synopsis of the rules relating to cards and their use: the other side bears the holder's number and is ruled into thirty spaces for recording the issue and return of books. When the registration ranged from 60 to 150 a day, reader's cards could not be issued immediately, as they have been the last month with an average registration of about 30 a day. The reason for this becomes apparent on an explanation of the work involved.

The application cards are arranged in drawers in alphabetical order. When the "reader's card" is not delivered at once it is kept with the application card until called for.

At first the guaranty was printed on the back of the application card, which necessitated writing another card for the "guarantors' index." Now, being on a separate card, it

from the above total registration the following deine More enoud be made, in order to ascertain the number of

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

The records of the order and catalogue departments show almost as large a ratio of increase as those of the issue department. During the last full year of the old library the net growth was 3,324 volumes, and the average of the previous five years was less than 4,000 volumes. The first year of the free library shows a net gain of nearly 12,000 volumes. The announcement that the library is growing three times as fast as heretofore will undoubtedly be gratifying to our citizens; but it will convey to the average reader no idea of the amount of work involved in the selection, purchase and cataloguing of such a large number of books.

SELECTION OF BOOKS.

The lists presented to the Committee on Books are drawn from three sources: (a) Books directly and formally recommended by readers; (b) The general call for books not in the collection or of which there is not a sufficient number of copies; (c) Lists prepared by the librarian.

Persons who use the library are requested to recommend books which they consider desirable additions. From time to time specialists are invited to inspect the catalogue and point out deficiencies in their respective departments. The person who recommends a book is notified when it is ready for issue and is thus given an opportunity to be the first to draw it.

All the assistants are instructed to note calls for books not in the collection, or of which there are not enough copies, and also to call attention to inquiries that can not be answered for want of books containing the desired information. Twothirds of the past year's additions consisted of additional copies of books most in demand. The highest number of copies of any book added to the regular collection was 68 copies of the Count of Monte Cristo; next to this in adult fiction was Vanity Fair, 50 copies; followed by Les Miserables, 37; David Copperfield, 36; Henry Esmond, 29; Ivanhoe, 27; Uncle Tom's Cabin, 25, and Scarlet Letter, 22. Among books for children Little Women takes the lead with the addition of 53 copies, followed by 49 of Jo's Boys,. 44 of Tom Sawyer, 41 of Under the Lilacs, 36 of Little Men,